Estranhos Encontros - Festival De Cinema Independente de São Paulo (2)

Festival start: 16 September 2026      Festival end: 27 September 2026

Estranhos Encontros: São Paulo Independent Film Festival is a young festival that opens a new window for independent cinema in the cultural calendar of a city that is essential to Brazilian and Latin American film. We seek works that explore inventive strategies and approaches to filmmaking, especially those that creatively navigate production limitations. We are interested in filmmakers who engage with the history—or histories—of cinema without nostalgia, seeking ways to make the cinema of the future.

The festival is organized by a team of producers, programmers, critics, filmmakers, and other professionals deeply committed to discovering new films and new practices within the independent cinema landscape.

Jairo Ferreira Award - Best feature film in International Competition

Jairo Ferreira Award - Best short film in International Competition

Brasil Award - Best shot film in National Competition

RULES AND TERMS OF ESTRANHOS ENCONTROS: SÃO PAULO INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

Preamble

Estranhos Encontros: São Paulo Independent Film Festival is an event dedicated to the exhibition and critical reflection on contemporary independent cinema, with an emphasis on auteur works of short, medium, and feature length, artisanal processes, and formally innovative visions. Held at Centro Cultural São Paulo from September 16 to 27, the festival will include screenings, discussions with filmmakers, and roundtables with industry professionals.

Article 1 — Objective

The festival aims to screen films of different lengths, countries, and contexts for audiences in São Paulo, presenting inventive cinema and bringing together filmmakers, programmers, critics, and the public, creating an environment of encounter and exchange.

Article 2 — Sections

Submitted works may be considered for the following sections:
National Short Film Competition — a section dedicated to Brazilian short films distinguished by their aesthetic proposition, with a duration up to 45 minutes.
International Short Film Competition — a section dedicated to short films from all countries, distinguished by their aesthetic proposition, with a duration up to 45 minutes.
Feature Film Competition — a section dedicated to feature-length films from all countries, with a minimum duration of 45 minutes.

Article 3 — Submission Criteria

We accept films that meet the following criteria:
Works with a duration of up to 45 minutes will be considered short films; works of 45 minutes or longer will be considered feature films
Completed between 2024 and 2026
Produced in any country
Of any genre or format (fiction, documentary, experimental, animation, hybrid works)
Submitted by any individual or collective
All films must include subtitles in English or Portuguese.
We kindly request that all filmmakers whose preview file is hosted on FESTHOME enable the download option for their submission. This is essential to allow our selection committee to properly review your film.
We do not require any premiere status.
Submissions will be accepted until June 15, 2026.

Article 4 — How to Submit

Submissions must be made exclusively through the FESTHOME platform.
It is mandatory to include an active viewing link to the film on an external platform (Vimeo, YouTube, or similar).
Films still in post-production may be submitted, provided they are completed by July 20, 2026.
The submission fee directly contributes to the festival’s operational costs. In exceptional cases, applicants may contact the festival by email, and requests will be evaluated individually.
The submission fee is non-refundable.

Article 5 – Juries and Awards

The festival juries, composed of professionals from different fields and backgrounds, will be divided into:
- International Feature Competition Jury
- International Short Film Competition Jury

Each jury will be responsible for selecting one film, within its competition, to receive the Jairo Ferreira Award.

The short film selection committee will be responsible for choosing one film from the Brazil Shorts Competition to receive the Brazil Award.

Article 6 — Selection and Materials

Selection results will be communicated by email by July 10, 2026.
Selected films must provide the following materials within 10 business days (by July 24, 2026):
A download link for the screening copy in DCP format
Four (4) still images, synopsis, technical information, and a short biography of the filmmaker
Signed screening authorization forms
Subtitle file (.srt) in English or Portuguese
Failure to submit any required materials within the specified deadline will result in disqualification.

Article 7 — Exhibition and Rights

Selected films grant the festival the right to exhibit excerpts of the works and promotional materials (such as trailers, photographs, and posters) for publicity purposes.
By submitting a film, the applicant declares that they hold all necessary rights for exhibition of the work and releases the festival from any legal responsibility.

Article 8 — Publicity

In the event of receiving an award, the responsible party (or rights holder) must include the Estranhos Encontros festival name and logo in all promotional materials for the film following the award announcement.

Article 9 — Acceptance

Participation in the festival implies full acceptance of all terms and conditions described in this document.

Article 10 — Unforeseen Cases

Any situations not covered by these regulations will be evaluated by the festival’s direction team, in accordance with principles of transparency, respect for authors, and best practices in independent audiovisual culture.