Festival start: 09 July 2026
Festival end: 11 July 2026
The “Piedra del Diablo” Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès is an annual short film festival that will take place in Parets del Vallès from July 9 to 11, 2026.
The aim of the festival is to promote new talent, bring cinema to new audiences, foster gender equality, and give visibility to different communities, thereby contributing to the enrichment of the country’s cultural and audiovisual landscape.
With this project, we aspire to create a meaningful cultural experience, establish collaborations with other agents in the sector, and consolidate a proposal with continuity and growth.
Best Film Award – Official Section
● Best Director Award
● Best Actress Award
● Best Actor Award
● Audience Award, decided by in-person voting at the end of the screenings.
● Pedra del Diable Award, presented to an outstanding figure or organization in the audiovisual field.
● Young Talent Award, presented to the most outstanding work by young filmmakers.
RULES OF THE PEDRA DEL DIABLE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL OF PARETS DEL VALLÈS
The Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès (hereinafter, the Festival) accepts films of all nationalities, which may be eligible for the various sections.
The organization reserves the right to include, in the program and out of competition, films that do not meet all the conditions.
FIRST. Presentation of the Festival, editorial line, and purpose of the call
The Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès was created with the purpose of fostering diversity and creativity in short-format cinema. From Parets del Vallès, this event offers a space for exhibition, training, and cinematic dialogue, highlighting national and international works with an auteur, inclusive, and innovative perspective.
Likewise, the Festival acts as a platform for new talent, promoting independent cinema from a creative and socially conscious perspective.
This fourth edition will be held on July 9, 10, and 11, 2026.
SECOND. Sections and awards
The Festival sections are:
Official Section:
● Official Short Film Section
Parallel Sections:
● Children’s Section
● Amateur Section
The Festival will grant the following awards:
● Best Film Award, Official Section
● Best Director Award
● Best Actress Award
● Best Actor Award
● Audience Award, decided by in-person voting at the end of the screenings
● Pedra del Diable Award, presented to an outstanding figure or organization in the audiovisual field
● Young Talent Award, presented to the most outstanding work by young filmmakers
The jury’s decisions shall be final and not subject to appeal.
THIRD. Participation requirements
Short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes may be submitted. Works between 30 and 60 minutes may be considered exceptionally at the discretion of the selection committee.
All genres are accepted, excluding advertising or corporate works. The subject matter is open, provided that it aligns with the Festival’s values.
FOURTH. Submission
Films may be submitted by email at festivalpedradeldiable@gmail.com
and through the Festival website:
https://www.pedradeldiablefest.cat/
Works in post-production (Work in Progress) will be accepted, provided that the final copy is available before May 18, 2026.
If no online screening link is available, applicants must contact the organization for instructions. The programming committee will decide the section in which each work will participate.
The accepted screening formats are: ProRes HD, AVI HD, MP4 HD.
The official submission period will open on March 16, and the announcement of the selected short films will take place on May 18.
Official notification of the selected works will be made before May 18, 2026, through the submission platforms.
If no response is received from the person responsible for the selected work, the Festival will understand that its screening has been authorized.
FIFTH. Grant of screening rights
Promotion: The organization may use excerpts of up to 3 minutes for promotional purposes in cinemas, TV, the internet, or other media.
The material provided by those responsible for the films may be used for the Festival catalog, website, and social media, unless otherwise notified in writing.
The selected works will be included in a private and protected film library and may be used, subject to prior consent, for educational, research, or awareness-raising purposes, while respecting copyright.
Responsibilities: The producers of the selected works grant the rights for their screening during the Festival and for the possible inclusion of trailers in promotional videos, without the need for any additional contract.
The committee will select approximately 24 short films for screening in Parets del Vallès.
Participation in the Festival implies full acceptance of these rules and of the organization’s decisions regarding any unforeseen circumstances.
SIXTH. Selection
The Selection Committee shall be made up of persons appointed by the organization.
It will evaluate the submitted works and decide which ones will form part of the Festival.
It may request additional material or higher-quality copies if deemed necessary. Promotional materials such as synopses, stills, director’s notes, and posters must also be provided.
The selected films will be announced at a press conference in June, where the Festival’s parallel activities will also be presented.
SEVENTH. Jury
Two independent juries will be appointed, one to deliberate on the main award and another for mentions or special recognitions.
Both will be made up of professionals from the cinematic and cultural fields.
Each jury will consist of three members: a chairperson, a secretary, and a member.
The names of the juries will be published on the Festival website and social media.
EIGHTH. Granting of awards
The Jury will issue its decision regarding the award winners, which will be recorded in the Minutes, and the interested parties will be notified so that, within a maximum period of 30 calendar days, counted from the day following receipt of the notification, they may communicate their acceptance of the proposed award.
Please note that the final granting of awards will only take place if the selected parties comply with all legal requirements and those established in these rules, including the submission of the documents referred to in this document and any other documents deemed necessary.
The films selected for competition, both feature films and short films, will be scored by the Jury according to the following evaluation criteria:
– Idea
– Screenplay
– Direction
– Filmmaking
– Performance
– Editing
– Cinematography
– Risk-taking
NINTH. Festival programming and publication of award winners
The organization of the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès will determine the order and screening date of each selected film, reserving the right to screen it during the Festival dates at any of its venues, in accordance with the Festival schedule.
The Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès reserves the right to screen short films in continuous sessions, and may organize screenings of up to twelve short films in a row, maintaining the order it deems appropriate.
TENTH. Acceptance of the conditions of the call
Participation in the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès implies acceptance of these rules in all their conditions.
ELEVENTH. Other provisions
The rules of this Festival are available in Catalan, Spanish, and English.
Award-winning films must mention the prize obtained at the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès in all promotional materials and in the credits of all copies intended for screening in commercial theaters, at other national or international festivals or competitions, as well as in home-video format.
The organization may record audio and video, as well as photograph all activities taking place within the Festival.
Participants in this Festival accept that the Department of Culture of the City Council of Parets del Vallès, as well as the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival of Parets del Vallès, reserve, for non-commercial purposes, the image and reproduction rights of the activities.
Official Section
Short Films 30'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
18 May 26
Save up
0€
Submit
Short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes may be submitted. Works between 30 and 60 minutes may be considered exceptionally at the discretion of the selection committee.
All genres are accepted, excluding advertising or corporate works. The subject matter is open, provided that it aligns with the Festival’s values.
Diablets Section (Children’s Section)
Short Films 30'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
18 May 26
Save up
0€
Submit
The Children’s Section of the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival, called Diablets, is dedicated to bringing cinema closer to younger audiences and sparking their imagination through stories created especially for them. This section brings together a selection of animated and live-action short films from different parts of the world, exploring values such as friendship, creativity, diversity, and respect.
With fun, moving, and educational visual proposals, the Children’s Section aims to offer boys and girls a first experience of cinema as an art form and a means of expression. At the same time, it seeks to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for stories told on the big screen.
In this way, the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival reaffirms its commitment to family audiences and to nurturing new generations of viewers and future creators.
THE DEVIL’S QUARRY (AMATEUR)
Short Films 25'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
18 May 26
Save up
0€
Submit
The La Pedrera del Diable (Amateur) Section of the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival was created with the aim of giving visibility to new talent and creators taking their first steps in the world of cinema. This section brings together short films made by emerging filmmakers and amateur creators who, with creativity and passion, explore audiovisual language through fresh and personal perspectives.
Beyond technical resources, the Amateur Section values ideas, originality, and the desire to tell stories. It is a space open to experimentation and discovery, where developing talent can share their works with audiences and become part of the festival experience.
With this section, the Pedra del Diable Short Film Festival reaffirms its commitment to promoting creativity, access to cinema, and support for new voices in the audiovisual field.
