9/16 Film Fest Vertical (3)

Festival start: 27 June 2026      Festival end: 27 June 2026

"The 9/16 Film Fest is an international film festival in vertical format that aims to foster the creation and promotion of audiovisual content specifically designed in 9:16.

Our objectives are:

- Democratize creation, allowing creativity to flourish independently of available resources.

- Promote collaboration and reward excellence in vertical content, providing a platform for emerging filmmakers.

- Stay at the forefront of technology, following consumer trends, and educating in this format.

The selection is divided into several categories:

- Fiction
- Animation
- Microdocumentary
- One-Minute Video
- Video Art (Music, Dance, Performance...)
- Capaces. (Short films focused on raising awareness and sharing experiences, achievements and challenges of people with disabilities) Category in collaboration with AVIVA

These categories can also compete for:

- "Most Viral" Award
- "9/16" Award (best technical adaptation to the vertical format)

The event also includes non-competitive sections such as screenings, talks, gastronomy..."

Cash Prizes: 3,000€

FICTION: €3,000 in cash
ANIMATION:To be determined
MICRODOCUMENTARY: To be determined
VIDEOMINUTE: To be determined
VIDEO ART: To be determined
CAPACES: To be determined
9/16: To be determined
MOST VIRAL: To be determined

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

9/16 Film Fest is an international short film festival open to both national and international artists.

Format: Works must be created in vertical 9:16 format, with or without sound, and produced after January 1, 2021.

Categories of the 9/16 Film Fest are as follows:

Fiction Short: narrative short films.

Animation Short: short films using animation techniques.

One-Minute Video: tell us a story in under one minute (fiction, advertising, etc.).

Video Art (culture, fine arts, music, etc.): video as a vehicle for artistic creation—concepts, emotions, visual styles, and experimentation with form and content. (Includes: music, dance, performance, etc.).

Micro-Documentary / Vlog: documentary shorts or vlogs.

“Capaces” (Short films focused on raising awareness and sharing experiences, achievements, and challenges of people with disabilities. Category in collaboration with AVIVA Salamanca Foundation, an assistance and services organization for people with disabilities in Salamanca.)

All submitted works may compete for a maximum of 3 awards:

Winner of the category in which it competes.

9/16 Award: short films in any category that best adapt technically to the vertical 9:16 format.

“Most Viral” Award:
• Short films in any category with an average jury score above 5.
• The “Most Viral” Award will be determined based on unique views obtained by the publication of the short film (or an authorized excerpt) on the festival’s official Instagram account, during the period announced by the organization on its official channels.
• Collaborations with profiles: The organization may invite authors to publish or collaborate (“post”), stories, or other joint actions to boost reach, always in a coordinated manner. For this, participants will provide their Instagram profiles and promotional materials (stills, poster, etc.).
• The use of bots, click farms, purchased views, automations, deceptive practices, or any other metric manipulation technique is expressly prohibited.
• If there are reasonable indications or confirmation of such practices, the work will be automatically disqualified from the “Most Viral” Award (without prejudice to still competing for the other awards, unless the organization decides otherwise with justification).

Risk due to Instagram rules:
• Participants accept that Instagram may limit reach, hide, block, or remove posts for violations of its rules (e.g., violent or sensitive content, copyright/music, third-party claims, etc.).
• If the platform removes or restricts the festival’s official publication due to causes attributable to the content of the work (unlicensed music, scenes that violate rules, copyright claims, etc.), the organization may exclude said work from the “Most Viral” Award, as it cannot be measured on equal terms. (The organization will inform the participant when possible).

(Awards are compatible with each other, and the same work may win more than one award, up to a maximum of three.)

The maximum duration for all categories is 5 minutes, except for the One-Minute Video category, where the maximum duration is 1 minute. (Works exceeding the stated maximum duration, including credits, will not be accepted.)

Each category will have a maximum of 5 finalists, who will be nominated for the first prize in the category in which they compete. (Finalists will be selected from among the works “selected” for the festival program.)

Videos may be in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque, or a foreign language. Subtitling: to be determined.

Each participating artist may submit a maximum of 5 works, which may be in the same or different categories.

Selected shorts with an average jury score above 5 will be shown in full on the festival’s networks prior to their festival screening so they can be voted/viewed by the public for the “Most Viral” category. (The organization may publish the full work or excerpts, depending on programming and promotional needs, always maintaining authorship and credits.)

Authors of the works selected for competition may introduce their film, if they wish, before the screening.

Decisions of the Selection Committee and the Jury are final and not subject to appeal.

Screening copies of nominated short films, and therefore participating works, will be incorporated into the Festival archive (without implying any transfer of intellectual property), for advertising and/or promotional use in future editions, under the terms established in the section “Intellectual Property and Rights of Use.”

Production and/or distribution companies of selected or awarded audiovisual works must include a written reference to such selection or award at the beginning of each and every copy they distribute for exhibition in theaters, other film competitions, Blu-ray, television, or VOD (video on demand) platforms, as well as in all printed informational and promotional material (pressbook, posters, etc.). This reference shall consist of a text stating the selection or award granted, accompanied by the corporate image (logo and name) of the 9/16 Film Fest, which will be provided—together with its usage guidelines—by the organization.

The festival will be held in person (venue and dates will be announced on the festival’s official website and social media).

Artists over 18 years of age, or under 18 with authorization from their parents or legal guardian, may submit one or more works (up to a maximum of 5) of which they are the author or for which they hold the intellectual property rights. (The organization may request written authorization and/or supporting documentation at any time.)

Authors: Students and professionals in the audiovisual field may actively participate in the festival, as well as the general public producing audiovisual content and, of course, directors and professionals from the film, communication, television, or journalism industries.

It is not a requirement for works to be unpublished; they may have been submitted or exhibited on social networks or in other national and international festival calls.

Reasons for non-admission or disqualification: The organization may refuse or disqualify works that do not meet the requirements regarding format, duration, production date, subtitling, or technical specifications, as well as those that infringe third-party rights (intellectual property, image rights, etc.).

Conduct, respect, and proper use:
The organization reserves the right to take any measures it deems appropriate in the event of disrespectful, discriminatory, violent conduct, or behavior involving harassment, intimidation, or degrading treatment toward the festival team, jury, collaborators, suppliers, audience, or other participants, whether at the in-person event or through digital channels linked to the festival (including social media and private communications related to the competition).
These measures may include, depending on severity and at the organization’s discretion: warnings, removal of promotional content, limitation of participation in festival activities, disqualification from awards (including “Most Viral”), revocation of prizes pending delivery, and/or exclusion from future editions.
The festival may request that the participant cease the conduct and/or remove offensive or harmful publications related to the festival. Decisions made by the organization in this regard are final and not subject to appeal.
This festival celebrates vertical creativity, but also horizontal respect: respect for people, spaces, suppliers, and the work of others.

SUBMISSION

Submission to the festival and entry of shorts must be completed online via Festhome: https://festhome.com/es

Submission period: from March 27 to May 25, 2026 (for future editions, deadlines will be announced through official channels).

Submission fee: €19 per submitted short, regardless of category, except for the “Capaces” category, which is free.

Additional details: When submitting, participants must provide their Instagram username/profile (if they have one) and an active contact email.

If a work is selected or becomes a finalist, the organization may request additional promotional materials: film stills, poster and/or graphic material, and links to social profiles of the team.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION

Participants must provide the following for their submission to be valid:

The short film, with a maximum length of 5 minutes, or 1 minute if submitted to the One-Minute Video category.

Technical sheet: Short title, year of creation, duration, language, country, details of the creative team (names and roles) and actors/actresses, and a photo of the creative team.

All submitted shorts must include Spanish subtitles in .srt format (to be determined).

Technical requirements for sending copies:

Container format: MP4 or MOV. Compression: H.264

Minimum resolution: Full HD 1080 x 1920 px

Minimum audio quality: 48 kHz – 16 or 24 bit – Stereo

Stills: minimum 3 and maximum 10 high-quality images (JPG/PNG) for promotion on the website and social media. (If stills are not available, the organization may extract them from the submitted work, respecting authorship.)

Instagram profile(s): the participant must provide the Instagram handle(s) of the director and/or producer and/or team (if applicable), for coordination of dissemination actions and tagging within the festival, especially for the “Most Viral” Award.

Only short films or social-media videos created and edited in vertical orientation (9:16) for screening on vertical screens or mobile devices will be accepted.

When registering the work, participants will be asked for a set of details that make up the submission form; therefore, the person submitting online does not need to send anything else by post or email. Any questions will be answered via: inscripciones@916fest.es

(The organization may request a master copy or higher-quality file from selected or finalist works for exhibition and/or in-person screening.)

SELECTED SHORT FILMS

Shorts selected to be part of the festival will be communicated to applicants by email or phone, as will those not selected.

All selected shorts with an average jury score above 5, and which will compete for awards during the festival, will be published on the festival’s official channels: website and social media.

Selected films will appear in the Festival Program and will be screened in public sessions during the festival dates. Screening dates will be announced through the Program, the website, and the festival’s social media.

Selected shorts must provide a screening-quality copy to participate in the “Most Viral” Award by accepting the projection file request on the Festhome platform.

Collaborative dissemination: Selected works may be included in coordinated promotional actions between the festival’s official account and the creators’ Instagram profiles, including mentions, tags, promotional pieces, and posting of stills, always within the framework of promoting the festival and the “Most Viral” Award.

AWARDS

Winners of each category will be announced during the in-person awards ceremony gala.

Juries will be composed of professionals from the film and cultural worlds, and members of the Organization with voice but no vote, and their decision will be final.

The addition of any other award not included in these rules will be announced through the Festival’s communication channels (website, press release, social media, etc.).

If no one from the awarded short film attends to collect the prize or sends a thank-you video, the monetary endowment of the prize will be forfeited. (The organization may set a deadline for submitting the thank-you video and/or for managing prize payment.)

Given the international nature of the festival, some participants may reside outside Spain. The organization will manage prize delivery as far as possible and may require additional information (documentation, address, identification) for shipment or processing.

Costs and limitations: For prizes requiring physical shipping or international logistics, the organization reserves the right to:
a) substitute the prize with a digital/equivalent format (voucher, coupon, code, etc.), or
b) agree with the winner on a reasonable delivery alternative.

Deadlines: the winner must provide the data required for prize management within the timeframe indicated by the organization. Failure to respond or provide the information within the deadline may imply forfeiture of the prize.

Experiential prizes: winner responsibility:
Some prizes may consist of experiences or services (e.g., equipment rental, stays or weekends in rural houses or other accommodation). In such cases, the winner accepts that:
o they must comply with the provider’s conditions (dates, availability, deposit, minimum age, rules of use, etc.);
o they assume responsibility for proper use of equipment, facilities, or accommodation, and for any damage, loss, inappropriate conduct, or violation of the provider’s rules;
o they commit to responsible behavior, understanding that, during the management and enjoyment of the prize, they also act as an image of the festival (respect for staff, facilities, materials, and space/provider regulations).

The festival organization is not responsible for incidents arising from enjoyment of the prize, nor for conditions imposed by third-party providers (cancellations, date changes, availability, deposits, requirements, etc.).

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND RIGHTS OF USE

Participants declare that they hold the intellectual property rights to the images, sound, music, and elements in general used in the shorts, and they will be responsible for any claims of any nature that third parties may make regarding their WORKS and their content. The 9/16 Film Fest is not responsible for third-party content included in the WORKS, understanding that each producing company has obtained the corresponding permissions.

AUTHORS and ARTISTS retain their intellectual property rights over the WORKS and/or CONTRIBUTIONS presented at the festival.

By submitting to the festival, under the terms and requirements set forth in these Terms and Conditions, AUTHORS and ARTISTS authorize the Organization to screen the WORKS during the festival, as well as to use the work and/or excerpts thereof for the promotion and dissemination of the festival on the website, social media, and other communication channels such as television, press, etc.

AUTHORS and ARTISTS grant the Organization non-exclusive rights to use, reproduce in whole or in part, communicate, and any other use and application of their works, without the intention of direct commercial exploitation of the work, and solely for the purpose of promoting, disseminating, and archiving the festival and its editions, without prior consultation and without any obligation of compensation. This authorization is understood to be granted worldwide and for the duration of the festival and its future editions, as determined by the organization.

Likewise, AUTHORS authorize partial or full screening of the WORKS prior to the festival, for advertising purposes or for public voting, within the festival’s digital platforms (social media, website, and others).

AUTHORS and ARTISTS also authorize the Organization to use their name, image, and work without limitation for dissemination for advertising, entertainment, and/or promotional purposes by all means the Organization deems appropriate, in public, private, and/or virtual spaces, before, during, and after the festival, without such use entitling them to receive any remuneration and without prior consultation. In all cases, the organization commits to respecting authorship and maintaining credits whenever technically and reasonably possible.

All participants, by the mere fact of participating, fully accept these rules, as well as the Organization’s resolution of any issue not covered herein.

Personal data provided by participants will be processed by the festival organization for the purpose of managing submissions, communicating with participants, programming, publishing selected works, and managing prizes. Participants may exercise their rights of access, rectification, erasure, and other rights recognized by applicable regulations through the festival’s contact channels.

CONTACT CHANNELS

Contact channels for the festival organizing committee:

Email:
info@916fest.es

comunicacion@916fest.es

inscripciones@916fest.es

Instagram: Participants may also send questions via direct message through the festival’s official Instagram profile: @9.16filmfest

Any additional information or clarification about anything related to the festival will be provided by phone or email to interested parties.

9/16 Film Fest is a cultural project driven by a small, close-knit human team. We will do our best to respond and manage submissions, selection, communications, and prizes as quickly and carefully as possible, but we appreciate patience and respect for response times, especially during high-load periods (submission deadline, selection communications, and festival week).

Yes, these are rules. But we promise the festival is more fun than this text. You bring your 9:16 short; we’ll provide the vertical screen, the enthusiasm, and the party. Any drama—if there is any—should stay inside the short.