Festival start: 12 November 2026
Festival end: 14 November 2026
CIMASUB 2026. The 50th edition of the San Sebastián International Underwater Film Festival, to be held on 12, 13 and 14 november 2026, is organised by the Subacuáticas Real Sociedad, and aims to raise awareness of the underwater world, and raise awareness of respect and care for our seas and oceans, through the dissemination of audiovisual works.
Cash Prizes: 4,000€
DOCUMENTARIES (More than 15 minutes long. Recommended maximum: 40 minutes)
· 1st prize, with golden banister + REAL SOCIEDAD FUNDAZIOA Prize of 1,000€ + S.M.Y. ONDINA Prize, Cruise in Indonesia and 50% companion (valued at more than 6,000€) + FOOTAGE.film Prize, Pack 4K PRO, with licence to use film footage (valued at 990€).
· 2nd prize, with silver railing + 200€.
· 3rd prize, with bronze rail + 100€.
SHORT FILMS (Up to 15 minutes long)
Videos with voice-over
· 1st prize, with golden railing + S.M.Y. ONDINA Prize, Cruise in Indonesia and 50% companion (valued at more than 6,000€) + FOOTAGE.film Prize, HD CREATOR Pack, with licence to use film footage (valued at 290€).
· 2nd prize, with silver banister + 200€.
· 3rd prize, with bronze rail + 100€.
Music videos (without voice-over)
· 1st prize, with golden railing + Atmosphere Resorts & Spa Prize, 4 nights in Deluxe Suite for 2 persons. Breakfast included. Package of 10 dives per person. Return transfers by plane Dumaguete-Atmosphere (valued at more than 2,500€) + FOOTAGE.film Prize, HD CREATOR Pack, with licence to use film footage (valued at 290€).
· 2nd prize, with a silver banister + 200€.
· 3rd prize, with bronze banister + 100€.
Special prizes:
· CANTÁBRICO: Best work carried out in the Cantabrian Sea, with white railing + 300€.
· ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Best work with ecological denunciation, with white banister + 300€.
· JOURNALISTIC WORK: Best journalistic work, with white banister + 100€.
· WOMAN VIDEOGRAPHER: Best work by a woman, with white banister + 100€.
· YOUNG PROMISE: Best amateur work, with white railing + 100€.
The winners who attend the awards ceremony in San Sebastian will receive a Txapela and a Real Sociedad de Fútbol T-shirt.
The jury is sovereign in the awarding of prizes. The prizes may be modified according to the news provided by the sponsors of the event.
The jury reserves the right, but not the obligation, to award further prizes on the grounds of the quality or interest of the works submitted. These prizes will consist of a white handrail + the possibility, depending on the level provided, of a prize of up to €200.
Special prizes are not compulsory, the jury reserves the right not to award them if it sees no reason to award them or if the works to be awarded one of the special prizes have already been awarded a higher prize.
DOCUMENTARIES (More than 15 minutes long. Recommended maximum: 40 minutes)
· 1st prize, with golden banister + REAL SOCIEDAD FUNDAZIOA Prize of 1,000€ + S.M.Y. ONDINA (Indonesia) Prize, Cruise in Indonesia and 50% companion (valued at more than 6,000€) + FOOTAGE.film Prize, Pack 4K PRO, with licence to use film footage (valued at 990€).
· 2nd prize, with silver railing + 200€ + LEMBEH Resort (Sulawesi, Indonesia) Prize, 4 nights accommodation in (garden room), 5 guided dives by boat (with air), transfers to and from the airport, full board, for 1 person and 50% discount for the accompanying person (Valued at more than 1.800€).
· 3rd prize, with bronze rail + 100€.
SHORT FILMS (Up to 15 minutes long)
Videos with voice-over
· 1st prize, with golden railing + S.M.Y. ONDINA (Indonesia) Prize, one cruise and 50% companion (valued at more than 6,000€) + FOOTAGE.film Prize, HD CREATOR Pack, with licence to use film footage (valued at 290€).
· 2nd prize, with silver banister + 200€.
· 3rd prize, with bronze rail + 100€.
Music videos (without voice-over)
· 1st prize, with golden railing + ATMOSPHERE Resorts & Spa (Negros oriental, Philippines) Prize, 4 nights in Deluxe Suite for 2 persons. Breakfast included. Package of 10 dives per person. Free transfer between the Dumaguete airport to the resort (valued at more than 2,500€) + FOOTAGE.film Prize, HD CREATOR Pack, with licence to use film footage (valued at 290€).
· 2nd prize, with a silver banister + 200€.
· 3rd prize, with bronze banister + 100€.
Special prizes:
· ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Best work with ecological denunciation, with white banister + 300€ + SEVEN SEAS (Indonesia) Prize, a free place on board on any itinerary between 8 and 12 nights (except Forgotten Islands) and a 50% discount for a companion (valued at approximately $10.500).
· CANTÁBRICO: Best work carried out in the Cantabrian Sea, with white railing + 300€.
· JOURNALISTIC WORK: Best journalistic work, with white VASCO railing + 100€.
· WOMAN VIDEOGRAPHER: Best work by a woman, with white railing + 100€.
· DISCLOSURE: Best new videographer in the Cimasub, with white railing + 100€.
***The winners who attend the awards ceremony in San Sebastian will receive a Txapela and a Real Sociedad de Fútbol T-shirt.
Documentaries
Short and Feature Films >16'
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Standard10€9.2€
1.7€
08 Jul 26
Late20€18.4€
3.4€
08 Aug 26
Extended30€27.6€
5.1€
08 Sep 26
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
08 Sep 26
Save up
8.3€
Submit
WHAT IS VALUED:
· The script: Originality, theme, argument, narrative, plot, message, etc.... The judges will especially value the adaptation of the script to show the underwater wealth or denounce the delicate situation of our oceans.
· Fauna and flora: The quantity and variety of species that appear in the work, both fauna, flora and ecosystem of the area. Also the way in which they are integrated in the script and in the work.
· Technique: The editing and post-production, image quality, lighting and resources used. Variety of shots, integration in the script, cadence, rhythm and integration of music, voice-over or effects.
· Overall impression and artistic value: Effect on the viewer. The impact produced by the work will be valued.
· Awareness-raising: The work must show ecologically denouncing content, showing the difficult situation of our oceans and their inhabitants. If possible with a positive message showing solutions to this problem.
REQUIREMENTS:
· The work should have a significant amount of underwater images or prominence of the sea.
· Only MP4 files with a maximum size of 15 Gb and a minimum resolution of 1920x1080 (FullHD) and a frame rate of 25 fps are supported.
· Each entrant may submit as many works as he/she wishes. To do so, the entry form must be completed and submitted once for each work submitted.
· A synopsis must accompany the work in order to be able to add the text in the programme and in the publications on our website and social networks.
· All works that are not voiced in Spanish must be accompanied by the script with the time code, for translation and subtitling. SRT format recommended.
· The works must be original works by the author or the production company.
· Works less than 2 years old are recommended. They will be better valued.
· Scenes that are suspected of mistreatment or manipulation of the species will not be allowed.
Short Films
Short Films 15'<
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Standard10€9.2€
1.7€
08 Jul 26
Late20€18.4€
3.4€
08 Aug 26
Extended30€27.6€
5.1€
08 Sep 26
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
08 Sep 26
Save up
8.3€
Submit
WHAT IS VALUED:
· The script: Originality, theme, argument, narrative, plot, message, etc.... The judges will especially value the adaptation of the script to show the underwater wealth or denounce the delicate situation of our oceans.
· Fauna and flora: The quantity and variety of species that appear in the work, both fauna, flora and ecosystem of the area. Also the way in which they are integrated in the script and in the work.
· Technique: The editing and post-production, image quality, lighting and resources used. Variety of shots, integration in the script, cadence, rhythm and integration of music, voice-over or effects.
· Overall impression and artistic value: Effect on the viewer. The impact produced by the work will be valued.
· Awareness-raising: The work must show ecologically denouncing content, showing the difficult situation of our oceans and their inhabitants. If possible with a positive message showing solutions to this problem.
REQUIREMENTS:
· The work should have a significant amount of underwater images or prominence of the sea.
· Only MP4 files with a maximum size of 15 Gb and a minimum resolution of 1920x1080 (FullHD) and a frame rate of 25 fps are supported.
· Each entrant may submit as many works as he/she wishes. To do so, the entry form must be completed and submitted once for each work submitted.
· A synopsis must accompany the work in order to be able to add the text in the programme and in the publications on our website and social networks.
· All works that are not voiced in Spanish must be accompanied by the script with the time code, for translation and subtitling. SRT format recommended.
· The works must be original works by the author or the production company.
· Works less than 2 years old are recommended. They will be better valued.
· Scenes that are suspected of mistreatment or manipulation of the species will not be allowed.
Music videos (without voice-over)
Short Films 15'<
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Standard10€9.2€
1.7€
08 Jul 26
Late20€18.4€
3.4€
08 Aug 26
Extended30€27.6€
5.1€
08 Sep 26
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
08 Sep 26
Save up
8.3€
Submit
WHAT IS VALUED:
· The script: Originality, theme, argument, narrative, plot, message, etc.... The judges will especially value the adaptation of the script to show the underwater wealth or denounce the delicate situation of our oceans.
· Fauna and flora: The quantity and variety of species that appear in the work, both fauna, flora and ecosystem of the area. Also the way in which they are integrated in the script and in the work.
· Technique: The editing and post-production, image quality, lighting and resources used. Variety of shots, integration in the script, cadence, rhythm and integration of music, voice-over or effects.
· Overall impression and artistic value: Effect on the viewer. The impact produced by the work will be valued.
· Awareness-raising: The work must show ecologically denouncing content, showing the difficult situation of our oceans and their inhabitants. If possible with a positive message showing solutions to this problem.
REQUIREMENTS:
· The work should have a significant amount of underwater images or prominence of the sea.
· Only MP4 files with a maximum size of 15 Gb and a minimum resolution of 1920x1080 (FullHD) and a frame rate of 25 fps are supported.
· Each entrant may submit as many works as he/she wishes. To do so, the entry form must be completed and submitted once for each work submitted.
· A synopsis must accompany the work in order to be able to add the text in the programme and in the publications on our website and social networks.
· All works that are not voiced in Spanish must be accompanied by the script with the time code, for translation and subtitling. SRT format recommended.
· The works must be original works by the author or the production company.
· Works less than 2 years old are recommended. They will be better valued.
· Scenes that are suspected of mistreatment or manipulation of the species will not be allowed.
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.
-8%
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods. 