ANIMAL Film Fest (6)

Festival start: 02 October 2025      Festival end: 04 October 2025

We invite you to participate in the sixth edition of ANIMAL Film Fest, which will take place on October 2, 3, and 4, 2025, with a hybrid format (in-person and online) in the city of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.

We recommend reading the complete call for submissions before registering your short films.
Registration and participation in the 6th edition of ANIMAL Film Fest imply full acceptance of these regulations.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

ROT Movie Makers invites general public, as well as independent and professional filmmakers, film students, communication, animation, visual arts, multimedia and careers related, to participate in the sixth edition of ANIMAL Film Fest, to be held on October 2, 3, and 4, 2025, in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.

AFF is a ROT Movie Makers’ production.

All selected works will receive official selection laurels, and winners will receive winner laurels.

Each category will award a statuette and recognition:

Best Michoacan short film.
Best Mexican short film.
Best international short film.
Best animated short film.
Best Michoacan Screenplay.
Best actress.
Best actor.
Best cinematography.
Best makeup.
Better visual effects.
Best character.
Better film editing.
Best art design.

There will be one unique and final winner per category, and the awards committee may grant honorable mentions if deemed appropriate.

The jury may declare a category void if necessary.

1. Short films must meet all the requirements in the call for submissions to be accepted into the different categories.

2. By submitting their films, participants agree that, if selected, their participation will include both in-person and online screenings.

3. Registration is conducted online via Festhome.

4. Short films from all countries are welcome.

5. There is no restriction on the original production format (ranging from a smartphone to any type of camera).

6. There is no limit to the number of entries submitted by a filmmaker, producer, or distributor. However, each work must be registered separately and in only one category.

7. Registrations for the 6th edition of ANIMAL Film Fest will be open from Friday, January 10, 2025, to Sunday, July 25, 2025.
Note: Registration platforms operate according to their local time zones. Please review the terms and conditions of use for each platform.

8. Participants may submit works in the following categories:

· Michoacan short film.
· Mexican short film.
· International short film.

9. The accepted genres are horror, terror, suspense, and/or thriller. Short films in fiction, documentary, animation, experimental projects, and student films are accepted, provided they fall within these genres.

10. Maximum duration: 30 minutes (including opening and closing credits). The selection committee may make exceptions in specific cases.

11. Incomplete projects will not be accepted.

12. Productions from any year are eligible.

13. Short films that have participated in previous editions of ANIMAL Film Fest are not eligible.

14. Music videos and works with commercial or propagandistic purposes will not be accepted.

15. Registration does not guarantee acceptance into the festival.

16. To be selected, films do not need to be premieres in Mexico; short films that have been screened at other festivals in or outside the country are eligible.

17. Selected short films will be contacted via the email provided during registration.

18. The list of selected films will be published on Monday, August 25, 2025, on our official website (animalfilmfest.com) and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and X).

19. The official selection will be determined by the organizing committee.

20. The awards committee (jury) will consist of three subject matter experts.

21. The decisions of both committees are final and at their sole discretion. Therefore, no explanations will be provided to filmmakers or producers of non-selected works.

22. Once selected, filmmakers will have a designated timeframe, communicated via email, to correct their information.

23. Representatives of the selected works will be asked to sign an agreement authorizing the festival to screen their short films, both in-person and online, during the event.

24. Selected works must provide mandatory materials, including a digital file of the short film, synopsis, technical sheet, poster, and stills.

25. Submitted materials from selected works will be used for festival promotion and dissemination purposes. An excerpt no longer than 20% of the total film duration may be used if a promotional trailer is not available.

26. Films in languages other than Spanish must include Spanish subtitles embedded in the file. Similarly, Spanish-language works must include english subtitles embedded in the file. This requirement is mandatory, and no exceptions will be made.

27. Selected works may become part of the LIMBO showcase organized by ANIMAL Film Fest during 2025 and 2026, leading up to the seventh edition of the festival. This showcase will be non-profit, with no fees for attendees or venues.

28. The festival’s organizing committee will determine the dates, times, and venues for the screening of each selected film, which will be announced on our social media platforms.

29. All selected films will be preserved by the committee as part of the ANIMAL Film Fest archive.

30. No short film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its official selection.

31. ANIMAL Film Fest (AFF) will not pay screening fees for submitted works.

32. The short film must be registered by one representative (preferably the producer or director), as any awards won will be granted in their name.

33. The registrants are responsible for securing the legal rights to their works.

34. Elements of the short film, such as the soundtrack, script, characters, among others, must be original, unless proof of rights acquisition is provided. Any plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.

35. By registering, the participant declares and guarantees that they have the full legal right and authority to submit the project for consideration by AFF and that all necessary consents, licenses, and approvals have been obtained. If the work is accepted by AFF, the participant grants AFF the right to use the material for non-commercial promotional purposes, without limitations.

36. The registrant will indemnify AFF organizers against any claims, demands, costs, damages, expenses (including legal fees), proceedings, or losses resulting from the screening of the film at the festival or third-party claims.

37. All selected works will receive official selection laurels, and winners will receive winner laurels. Each category will award a statuette and recognition:
· Best Michoacan short film.
· Best Mexican short film.
· Best international short film.
· Best animated short film.
· Best Michoacan Screenplay.
· Best actress.
· Best actor.
· Best cinematography.
· Best makeup.
· Better visual effects.
· Best character.
· Better film editing.
· Best art design.

38. There will be one unique and final winner per category, and the awards committee may grant honorable mentions if deemed appropriate.

39. The jury may declare a category void if necessary.

40. The list of winners of the 6th edition of ANIMAL Film Fest will be published on our official website and social media platforms on October 5, 2025.

41. Any awards not collected during the closing ceremony may be picked up at ANIMAL Film Fest’s offices in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. After the festival, there will be a one-month period for the delivery of statuettes and certificates. Details will be sent via email.

42. If unable to collect the statuette in person, shipping costs are the responsibility of the registrant.

43. egistration and participation in the 6th edition of ANIMAL Film Fest imply full acceptance of these regulations.

44. Any situation not foreseen in this call for submissions will be resolved by the festival’s organizing committee.

For more information: animalfilmfest@gmail.com