Festival Internacional de Cine Mbareté (1)

Festival start: 07 February 2026      Festival end: 07 February 2026

"Cine Mbareté is a project dedicated to creating the first international film festival in the province of Formosa, hosted in Laguna Blanca. We dream of this being the first of many editions, an annual event that solidifies our town as a cultural hub in the NEA (Northeast Argentine) region.

This festival stems from the work of a team of locals, students of the Technical Degree in Image, Sound, and Multimedia Design at the Faculty of Arts, Design, and Sciences of Culture (UNNE Chaco), along with collaborators from Chaco and Corrientes. We are united by the conviction that cinema is a powerful tool for community development. 'Mbareté'—which means 'Strength' in Guaraní—represents the power of this collective project.

The Cine Mbareté logo features the Tatú Carreta (Giant Armadillo), a species declared a Provincial Natural Monument in Formosa. It symbolizes resistance, deep roots, and fortitude. Just as the Tatú Carreta tenaciously excavates and transforms its territory, our team moves forward with determination to build a new cultural space from the ground up, with a silent yet powerful force."

The Cine Mbareté Film Festival does not grant monetary prizes. The following honorary distinctions are established:

Official Selection Laurels: Awarded to all works included in the festival’s official program.

Winner Laurel: A special certification granted to the work selected by the Jury as the best in its category (Best Official Short Film, Best University Short Film, Best Music Video).

One statuette will be awarded to the winners of each category. Shipping costs will be covered by the festival.

CATEGORIES The call for entries is open for the following three sections. A single filmmaker may submit more than one work, provided that each meets the specific requirements of the corresponding category.

A) Official Short Film Showcase

Eligibility: Audiovisual filmmakers, producers, and directors over 18 years of age, whether professionals or independent.

Profile: Fiction, documentary, animation, or experimental works that stand out for their technical and narrative quality.

Exclusion: Works produced as curricular exercises or school assignments within an educational institution will not be accepted (such works belong to the University category).

Duration: Maximum of 15 minutes (including credits).

B) University Film Showcase

Eligibility: Exclusively for regular students or recent graduates of Universities, Tertiary Institutes, or Film Schools (public or private).

Completion Date Requirement: The completion date of the work must be after January 2023.

Duration: Maximum of 15 minutes (including credits).

Documentation: The organization may request a certificate of regular student status if deemed necessary.

C) Music Video Showcase

Eligibility: Directors, producers, or musical bands.

Profile: Original audiovisual pieces created for the promotion of a song.

Duration: Maximum of 8 minutes.

Music Rights (MANDATORY): The participant declares under oath to possess the synchronization and exhibition rights of the music, or to have the express authorization of the artist/band. The organization is exempt from any liability regarding claims from third parties (SADAIC/CAPIF/Performers).

MANDATORY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS (For all categories) For pre-selection and screening purposes, the following specifications must be respected:

File Format: MP4 (H.264).

Resolution: Minimum quality FULL HD 1920 x 1080.

Submission: The file must be hosted on a download link (Google Drive, Vimeo, etc.) without a password and with access permissions enabled.

Attached Promotional Material: Upon registration, the following must be attached to the form:

Photo of the director and brief bio-filmography (max. 100 characters).

3 High-quality stills of the work (16:9 landscape and 9:16 portrait formats).

Trailer or representative excerpt uploaded to Drive (password-free).

Brief synopsis (max. 100 characters).

These materials will be used for promotion on social media and event catalogs.

SELECTION AND JURY

Curatorship: A pre-selection committee will evaluate the submitted works and define the "Official Selection" for each showcase.

Notification: Selected participants will be notified via email, and the official list will be published on social media on February 1st, 2026.

Jury: A Jury of qualified Professionals will evaluate the selected works to determine the winners. The decision will be final and unappealable. In the event of not being selected, the work will receive a notification at the provided email address.

RIGHTS AND ACCEPTANCE

Exhibition: Registration implies free authorization to exhibit the work during the festival dates (February 6 and 7, 2026). The event is free and open to the public.

Image Use: The organizers may use excerpts of the works (up to 30 seconds) and graphic material for the dissemination of the event in media and social networks.

Legality: The person registering the work assumes total responsibility for the authorship and intellectual property rights, holding the Festival harmless from any claims.

Conformity: Participation implies knowledge and full acceptance of these terms and conditions. Any unforeseen situation will be resolved by the Organizing Committee.