Cinefantasy - International Fantastic Film Festival (17)

Festival start: 08 September 2026      Festival end: 13 September 2026

Welcome to the 17th Cinefantasy!

We created CINEFANTASY – INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL to encourage, discuss, and promote the fantastic genre in all its dimensions. Over sixteen editions, we have presented more than 1,600 films, held over 120 educational activities, received thousands of submissions, and welcomed an audience of more than 90,000 people.

Our journey has also expanded beyond São Paulo, with special screenings and exhibitions in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Manaus, and Santos—as well as international editions and collaborations in Spain, Chile, Peru, and Colombia.

Now, in 2026, the 17th CINEFANTASY arrives in São Paulo from September 8 to 13, bringing a vibrant and powerful program with competitive screenings, special showcases, and immersive experiences crafted for every lover of fantastic cinema.

Come be enchanted, surprised, and transported into this magical and extraordinary universe!

The trophy is a tribute to the director José Mojica Marins, known as Zé do Caixão (Coffin Joe), a renowned Brazilian filmmaker in the fantasy genre.

The trophies will be given only to the top prizes of each competitive.

Each qualified jury of the 17th CINEFANTASY - INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL will choose the winners of the following prizes:

Feature Film
a) Best Film
b) Best Feature film by the Popular Jury
c) Best Screenplay
d) Best Direction
e) Best Actress
f) Best Actor

Short film
a) Best film Animation
b) Best film Brazilian Fantastic
c) Best film Student
d) Best film Fantasy
e) Best film Science Fiction
f) Best film Horror

17th CINEFANTASY - INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL

FLY COW PRODUÇÕES CULTURAIS presents the 17th edition of the festival, which will take place from September 8 to 13, 2026, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Submissions are open from December 10, 2025 to June 14, 2026.

REGULATION
I. ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

Directors, producers, and/or distributors may submit works to the 17th CINEFANTASY – INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL.

By submitting a film to the festival, participants agree that, if selected by the curatorial team, the film will be screened as part of the festival program between September 8 and 13, 2026, at the organization’s discretion.

Selected films may have excerpts used, at the organization’s discretion, for promotional purposes in the media, in graphic materials, and on the festival’s official website: www.cinefantasy.com.br

Participants must guarantee that they hold all necessary rights and/or provide authorization from the rights holder.

The festival organization is not responsible for any legal issues related to the submitted films.

By submitting a film, participants confirm that they have secured all licenses, permissions, rights, and authorizations required for public exhibition.

II. SUBMISSION

The submission period for the 17th CINEFANTASY runs from December 10, 2025 to June 14, 2026.

Submissions must be made exclusively through Festhome platforms).

Films in any language other than Portuguese must include subtitles in Portuguese, english, or Spanish.

Directors, producers, and/or distributors may submit multiple films.

The 17th CINEFANTASY features the following competitive sections:

5a. FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

Fiction Feature Films
Produced within the last 24 months
Never screened previously at film festivals in the city of São Paulo
Shot in any format

Documentary Feature Films
Produced within the last 24 months
Never screened previously at film festivals in the city of São Paulo
Shot in any format

5b. SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Short films produced within the last 24 months, with a maximum runtime of 25 minutes, never screened previously at film festivals in São Paulo, in any format.

Categories include:
a) Animation – Films employing any animation technique, from stop-motion to 3D.
b) Brasil Fantástico – Brazilian fantastic films.
c) Student – Films made by Brazilian students enrolled in technical or higher education programs in film, radio and TV, audiovisual, or communication.
d) Fantasy – Works featuring supernatural phenomena and imaginary worlds.
e) Science Fiction – Films exploring speculative themes related to the future, science, and technology.
f) Horror – Films across all horror subgenres: psychological, slasher, gore, supernatural, and contemporary horror.

Only films that fall within the fantastic genre (fantasy, science fiction, or horror) will be accepted, including fiction, animation, and documentary works.

Films that have been screened in previous editions of CINEFANTASY are not eligible.

Submitting a film implies full agreement with the rules and conditions of the 17th CINEFANTASY.

III. SELECTION

The Festival Director will appoint and coordinate the curatorial team responsible for each competitive section.

A minimum of 24 short films and 10 feature films will be selected for the official competition.

The curators will evaluate films based on artistic and technical quality.

Selected participants will be notified by email by July 27, 2026, and may be asked to provide additional documentation.

Selected filmmakers must promptly provide promotional materials (high-resolution images, posters, press kits, etc.). The festival reserves the right to use these materials for promotional purposes.

5a. Foreign-language films must provide a dialogue list with timecodes in Portuguese, english, or Spanish.

Screening dates and times will be determined by the festival organization. No film will be screened more than twice during the competition.

Selected films may also be included in special screenings or partner retrospectives at other festivals as part of the promotion of CINEFANTASY.

IV. awards

The festival will appoint qualified juries to evaluate the selected films:

One jury of three members for feature films.

Six juries, each composed of three members, for the short film categories.

awards will be presented in the following categories:

2a) Feature Film awards
Best Film
Best Screenplay
Best Direction
Best Actress
Best Actor

2b) Short Film awards – Best Film in Each Category
Animation
Brasil Fantástico
Student
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Horror

2c) FANTLATAM Award
Best Feature Film Nominee
Best Short Film Nominee

The juries will evaluate films according to the following criteria:

Narrative & World-Building
Direction & Artistic Vision
Technical Excellence
Impact & Emotional Engagement
Innovation & Experimentation

Jury decisions are final and irrevocable.

In the event of a tie, the jury will determine the winner based on the highest scores in the following order:
Technical Excellence
Direction & Artistic Vision

Winners will be announced during the Closing Ceremony and later published on the festival’s website, social media channels, and via email.

V. GENERAL CONDITIONS

The festival does not cover travel, accommodation, or meal expenses for selected participants.

The organization is not responsible for any damage or loss related to the festival.

The festival reserves the right to modify dates, rules, and conditions if necessary.

Any issues not covered by this regulation will be resolved by the festival’s organizing committee, and its decisions will be final.

São Paulo, December 8, 2025
CINEFANTASY – INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL