4th International Sea Film Festival
12 Sep 2025
Call for entries
30 Nov 2025
Final deadline
2
mths
31 Jan 2026
Notification date
23 Apr 2026
25 Apr 2026
Festival start: 23 April 2026 Festival end: 25 April 2026
The 4th edition of the International Sea Film Festival invites national and international productions—documentary and animated—to participate in its 2026 edition. Eligible films must explore seas and oceans as their central theme, approached from scientific, cultural, or artistic perspectives.
In a global scenario of social and economic crises, climate change, and loss of biodiversity and habitats, it is becoming increasingly necessary to understand and respect the oceans and seas better and value their existence and importance for the present and future of humanity and the planet.
Cash Prizes: 950$
The “Best Film” award will include 500 USD
The “Best Short Film” award will include 250 USD
The "Best animation" award will include 200 USD
General Information
• Submissions are free of charge and open to documentary feature films, documentary short films and animated short films (especially for children and families)
• Submissions can be previously screened or have participated in other festivals.
• Films submitted in previous editions of the Festival may apply again, as long as they were not selected at that time.
• Only films produced after January 2023 will be accepted.
• Submissions must be made via Festhome.
• Productions from any country in the world will be accepted.
Submission Requirements
Each submission must include a marketing kit with the following materials:
• A screening copy of the film.
• subtitles in Spanish or english.
• A synopsis.
• Posters and promotional stills.
Submission period:
From September 12 to November 30, 2025.
Selected films will be announced in January 2026.
Screening Format & subtitles
Accepted video formats:
• .MOV / .MP4
• Codec: H.264
• Resolution: 1920x1080p (progressive)
Audio requirements:
• Stereo 2 CH
• Codec: AAC
• 48,000 Hz – 320 Kbps
Accepted frame rates: 23.98 / 24 / 25 / 30 fps
subtitles:
• In Spanish or english, in .SRT format.
• Max 45 characters per line, up to 2 lines per dialogue.
• Must be accurately synchronized with the video.
• Embedded ("burned-in") subtitles are also accepted, as long as they are legible and visually compatible with the film.
Clean screen copies without subtitles are preferred.
The Festival reserves the right to review and accept alternative formats not listed above.
Official Selection & Screening
• All submissions will be reviewed by a curatorial committee composed of experts in audiovisual arts, marine sciences, and cultural management.
• Selected films will be screened in their original version during the Festival.
• For international films, a screening file with Spanish subtitles is highly recommended.
• No screening fees or taxes will be paid for selected films.
Competition Categories
1. Feature Documentaries
Runtime: 41 to 90 minutes
Focus: Seas and oceans.
2. Short Documentaries
Runtime: up to 40 minutes
Focus: Seas and oceans.
3. Children's / Family Animation
Animated short films up to 7 minutes
Focus: Seas and oceans.
Jury, awards & Conflict Resolution
• Any unforeseen situations will be resolved by the Festival's Executive Committee.
• The jury deliberation will take place during the Festival, with results announced at the awards Ceremony.
• Jury members agree not to disclose their opinions before the official announcement.
awards:
• Best Feature Film
• Best Short Film
• Best Animation
• Jury Special Mention
• Audience Award
No Fee
Submissions deadline
30 Nov 25
There will be a "Best Film" category in which medium-length and feature-length films with a maximum duration of 100 minutes with the seas and oceans as the main theme, can be submitted.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
30 Nov 25
There will be a "Best Short Film" category where short films with a maximum duration of 40 minutes with the seas and oceans as the main theme can be submitted
No Fee
Submissions deadline
30 Nov 25
There will be a "Best Animation" category open to animated short films for children and family audiences, with a maximum duration of 7 minutes, that have seas and oceans as their main theme.
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.
