International African Film Festival In Argentina / FICAA 2026 (18)

Festival start: 15 August 2026      Festival end: 30 August 2026

International African Film Festival in Argentina // FICAA 2026
Registration rules for the 2026 edition.


Call for entries is open until 28 February 2026.

This Festival, organised by Observatorio Sur, aims to promote the culture, history and film production of African and Afro-descendant filmmakers, as well as productions by authors of other nationalities who, through their work, offer new perspectives on the realities of Africans and Afro-descendants.We invite film directors, filmmakers, documentary makers and video artists to submit their material offering different perspectives on Africa.
The festival will be held in cinemas in August 2026 in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Neuquén (Patagonia) and Córdoba, as well as on tour.

We welcome independently produced works made in African countries or related to the African continent, its people and its diaspora.

The aim of this festival is to promote the culture, history and film production of African filmmakers, filmmakers of African descent and filmmakers of other nationalities whose works open a window onto the different realities of Africans and people of African descent.
FICAA is a space for dissemination, reflection and encounter around African cinema, conceived from its aesthetic, political, historical and cultural diversity. Based in Argentina, the festival offers a plural and critical perspective that recognises the multiplicity of film traditions on the African continent and its diasporas.

The Festival will grant the following prizes:

• Best Feature Film Award

• Best Short Film or Medium-Length Award

• Jury Mentions in each category

• RAFMA Award: Argentine Network of Audiovisual Festivals and Exhibitions

RULES & TERMS AND CONDITIONS
International African Film Festival in Argentina // FICAA 2026
Registration rules for the 2026 edition.

1.- FICAA 2026 OPEN CALL
This Festival, organised by Observatorio Sur, aims to promote the culture, history and film production of African and Afro-descendant filmmakers, as well as productions by authors of other nationalities who, through their work, offer new perspectives on the realities of Africans and Afro-descendants.

2. - FESTIVAL DATE: It will take place in August 2026.

3. - VENUE: Various venues in the City of Buenos Aires. Touring in some provinces of Argentina.

4.- SECTIONS AND CATEGORIES
The Festival programme will include competitive and non-competitive sections. The films programmed will be included in the section deemed appropriate by the selection committee.
Fiction, documentary, experimental and animated films are eligible to participate.

The competitive categories are:

- Short and medium-length films (up to 40 minutes in length).

- Feature films (over 40 minutes in length).

Independent productions made in African countries or related to the African continent, its people and its diasporas are accepted.

5. - GENERAL REGISTRATION CONDITIONS

a) Works with no production deadline may participate. Each participant may register more than one work.

b) Registration will be open from 20 November 2025 to 28 February 2026.

c) Applicants must register their films by completing the forms on the following platform: FestHome . Register for free Argentine films using this form.

d) It is necessary to send a link to the film for online viewing (Vimeo, Dropbox, Wetransfer or other online sharing platforms). The link will only be used by the programming team for the selection process.

e) Once the work has been selected, the owner will be asked to provide a high-quality copy for screening at the Festival. Screening formats will be digital.

Once the work has been selected and no response has been received from the person who registered the film according to the form, the Festival will have the right to screen the selection screener if its quality is optimal.

f) Films must be submitted in their original version, with subtitles in Spanish or english for viewing.

TRANSLATIONS: Given that the Festival is aimed at an Argentine audience, films will be screened with subtitles. The Festival will require a version subtitled in Spanish. Otherwise, the selection committee will evaluate its translation and subtitling according to priorities and resources.

g) Once registered and selected, no film

6. – REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Selected ecis must submit the following materials:

• 3 photographs or stills from each film (300 dpi)
• 1 photograph of the director and producer (300 dpi)
• Official poster
• Synopsis in Spanish
• 1 promotional clip or trailer.
• Optional materials (press kit, original music tracks, etc.)

These materials may be published on the Festival website and social media to promote the event. In the case of texts and audio recordings, they may be used for dissemination in the press, on radio and on television.

7. – JURY

a) The jury shall be composed of prominent figures from the audiovisual media, the arts and culture, both national and international, Afro-descendant communities, and researchers in the field.

b) Persons directly related to the works in competition are disqualified from serving on the jury.

c) The jury's decision is final and cannot be appealed.

8. – awards

The Festival jury will award the following prizes:

• Best Feature Film Award.
• Best Short Film or Medium-length Film Award.
• Jury Mentions in each category.
• RAFMA Award: Argentine Network of Audiovisual Festivals and Exhibitions

9. - ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS - TRANSFER OF RIGHTS
Registration for the 2026 International African Film Festival in Argentina // FICAA 2026 implies acceptance of these terms and conditions and the transfer of the screening rights of the material submitted for the purposes of broadcasting this edition, as well as future editions from the date of selection of the material.

Likewise, by signing these terms and conditions, the owners of the work agree to transfer the screening and reproduction rights of the work to the International African Film Festival in Argentina // FICAA (within the national territory) as well as for advertising purposes.

10. - RIGHTS OF PARTICIPATING WORKS
By submitting the application form, the director and/or producer declares that they own the intellectual property rights and/or exploitation rights of the work. The organisation is not responsible for issues that violate the respective laws in relation to this point.

a) Participants declare that they are the sole and true owners of the audiovisual works submitted to the festival, whether they are the author or the assignee thereof. In the event of falsehood in the sworn statement,

11. - TRAVELLING SCREENINGS
After the Festival, selected films may be included in non-profit travelling screenings organised throughout the year across the country. In the case of international screenings, authorisation will be requested from the filmmakers.

12 > ACCEPTANCE
PARTICIPATION IN THE 2026 INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL IN ARGENTINA // FICAA IMPLIES KNOWLEDGE AND FULL ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. ANY EXCEPTION, DOUBT OR CONFLICT WILL BE EVALUATED AND RESOLVED BY THE FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
Enquiries: festival@observatoriosur.com .