Festival start: 31 October 2026
Festival end: 07 November 2026
The festival aims to promote cinematographic culture through short films.
The Friends of Ribadesella Cultural Association was born in 1986, with the vocation of disseminating culture among the citizens of Ribadesella and its council, its statutory objectives being very broad (giving conferences, organizing exhibitions, publishing books, protecting cultural and historical heritage , artistic, ethnographic, natural or scientific of the town; also activities of a sporting or social nature) currently having about a thousand members, who support our cultural trajectory.
Cash Prizes: 2,500€
El Certamen contemplated the first ones in metal attentive to each of the themes established in the bases,
Premio Pagadín: 1300 euros
Accesit Guajes: 500 euros
Premio Atalaya: 700 euros
RULES of the 4th Film Contest dedicated to the world of Short Films organized by the Cultural Association Friends of Ribadesella, ACAR.
1. The Cultural Association Friends of Ribadesella announces its 4th Film Contest
The Contest aims to promote film culture through short films, encouraging creativity, audiovisual experimentation, and emerging talent. It seeks to be a meeting place for filmmakers and the public, promoting cinema as a means of artistic and narrative expression.
The Friends of Ribadesella Association was established in 1986 with the aim of spreading culture among the citizens of Ribadesella and its municipality. Its statutory purposes are broad, ranging from organizing conferences and exhibitions to publishing books and protecting the local cultural, historical, artistic, natural, and scientific heritage. It also promotes sports activities and social initiatives. Currently, it has more than one thousand members who support its trajectory.
2. Official Sections:
The contest will feature the following sections:
Official Section “Pagadín”
It will award the Best Short Film, regardless of genre, narrative form, or theme.
Within this section, the Honorable Mention “Guajes”
will recognize the best short film from the Official Section “Pagadín” specifically aimed at a young audience under 16 years of age.
A work will be considered aimed at this audience when, due to its narrative approach, thematic treatment, audiovisual language, and content appropriateness, it is suitable for viewers under that age.
Official Section “Atalaya”
Intended to recognize short films that maintain a clear and significant connection with Ribadesella.
Works that meet at least one of the following criteria may participate:
1.- Having been filmed entirely or partially in the municipality of Ribadesella and Works that meet at least one of the following criteria may participate:
1.- Have been filmed, in whole or in part, in the municipality of Ribadesella and its surrounding area, with identifiable outdoor locations.
2.- Be set in Ribadesella or maintain a significant narrative connection with the town and its surroundings.
3.- Incorporate narrative, cultural, historical, or visual elements that clearly and substantially indicate their connection to Ribadesella.
The organization may request justification or proof of such a connection.
The jury will give special consideration to the organic integration of the relationship with Ribadesella within the artistic proposal, avoiding accessory or merely circumstantial references.
3.- Common provisions for the Official Sections
In the “Pagadín,” “Guajes,” and “Atalaya” sections, short films of fiction, animation, documentary, or any other form of audiovisual expression may participate.
Advertising works are excluded.advertising or promotional works, as well as trailers, teasers, incomplete pieces, or unfinished works. Works submitted in previous editions of the contest will also not be eligible.
The organization and/or the contest jury reserve the right to reassign a work to the section they consider most appropriate if they deem that it does not correspond to the category in which it was entered.
4-duration of the works
Short films submitted to the contest must have a maximum duration of 20 minutes, including credits.
5.-Participation requirements
Each participant may submit only one original work.
The production date of the works must not be earlier than January 1, 2023.
The person submitting the work declares:
• That they legitimately hold the necessary rights for its participation.
• That the work is original.
• That it is free from third-party claims.
The organization will not be responsible for conflicts arising from non-The organization will not be responsible for conflicts arising from the failure to comply with these guarantees.
6.-Use of Artificial Intelligence
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed at any stage of the creative or technical process.
However, it must be explicitly declared at the time of registration if the work has incorporated AI, briefly specifying the scope of use.
The deliberate omission of this information may result in disqualification.
7.-Registration Periods
*Official Section “Pagadín” and Accésit “Guajes”
From 28.02.2026 until 23:59 (Spanish Peninsular Time) on 01.07.2026
*Official Section “Atalaya”
From 28.02.2026 until 23:59 (Spanish Peninsular Time) on 01.09.2026
Registrations received outside the specified periods will not be accepted.
8.-Registration
Registration must be carried out exclusively through the Festhome online platform.
Any expenses arising from registration will be the responsibility of the participant.Registration implies full acceptance of these rules.
9.- Selection and Screening
Selected works will be publicly screened during the days of the festival, according to the official schedule. Participation implies authorization for such exhibition within the framework of the festival.
10.- Promotional Material
The organization may edit and distribute printed or digital material related to the selected works. Authors or producers authorize the use of a clip up to one minute long for the promotion of the festival in media and distribution channels.
11.- subtitles
All works must be submitted with Spanish subtitles, even when the original language is Spanish, in order to facilitate accessibility for people with hearing disabilities.
12.- awards
* Official Section "Pagadín" Award: 1,300 euros net
* “Guajes” Runner-up (within the Official Section "Pagadín"): 500 euros net
* Official Section Award “Atalaya”: 700 euros net
The prizes are cumulative, so the same work may be awarded in more than one section or category as long as it meets the requirements established in these rules.
The jury may declare any of the prizes void if it considers that the submitted works do not reach the required level of quality.
12.- Subsequent exhibition rights
The awarded works will grant the Asociación Cultural Amigos de Ribadesella (ACAR) the non-exclusive right of public exhibition and dissemination on its website during the year following the contest, solely for cultural and non-commercial purposes.
The works that are awarded in the Official Section “Atalaya” will likewise grant the association the right of preservation as part of its audiovisual heritage, with the aim of organizing in the future cultural and non-commercial exhibitions or retrospective screenings related to this section.
In any case, and even if the presenIn any case, and even if the present authorization is included in the rules, the organization will first contact the producer or director to communicate and coordinate any screening after the contest.
13.- Communication of Selected Works
The communication of selected works will be made by email to the participants, at least two weeks in advance of the contest start date.
The contest will take place between October 31, 2026, and November 7, 2026, with the latter date corresponding to the awards ceremony.
The works selected for screening must be submitted in MP4 format within the deadlines communicated by the organization, and through the online platform Festhome.
Failure to meet technical requirements or established deadlines may result in the exclusion of the selected work.
14.- Jury
The jury will be appointed by the and will be composed of people with experience and knowledge in the audiovisual and cultural field. The organization's Secretariat will participate in the deliberations with a voice, but without a vote.
15.- Decision and awarding of prizes The jury's decision will be final. The prizes will be announced publicly during the closing and awards ceremony, which will be held on November 7, 2026, at the Casa de Cultura in Ribadesella. of Directors of the organizing association and
Atalaya
Short Films >1' 20'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
01 Sep 26
Save up
0€
Submit
Films the theme of which is linked to Ribadesella, and its council (... the exteriors of the film are shot in Ribadesella and/or its council, ... or the characters are linked to Ribadesella and/or its council, ... or the story that is told in the film it is linked to Ribadesella, … or Ribadesella and/or its council is shown in any other way throughout the film presented)
Pagadín
Short Films 20'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
01 Sep 26
Save up
0€
Submit
Free theme films
Special Mention “Guajes” (within the Official Section “Pagadín”)
Short Films 20'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
01 Sep 26
Save up
0€
Submit
It will recognize the best short film in the Official “Pagadín” Section whose proposal is specifically aimed at children and young people under 16 years of age.
A work will be considered aimed at this audience when, due to its narrative approach, thematic treatment, audiovisual language, and content suitability, it is appropriate for viewers under that age.
