Cortesina Festival de Cortometrajes (5)

Festival start: 01 July 2026      Festival end: 04 July 2026

CORTESINA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL aims to support and promote film culture, as well as to highlight and advocate for the role of women in cinema. It is still difficult for film sets and clapperboards to speak in the feminine, for screenplays to tell how women see the world, and for actresses to portray characters conceived by women. But little by little, this is changing, with new voices that deserve to be recognized.

Cash Prizes: 2,400€

First Prize for Best Short Film in the Official Section: €600 + trophy

Second Prize for Best Short Film in the Official Section: €400 + trophy

Third Prize for Best Short Film in the Official Section: €200 + trophy

Best International Short Film Award: €300 + trophy

Audience Award: €300 + trophy

Helena Cortesina Tribute Award: trophy

FantaElx Special Mention*: €200 + trophy

Alicante Short Films Special Mention*: €200 + trophy

Mirada Joven 2025 Special Mention: €200 + trophy

The short film receiving the FantaElx Special Mention will be selected for the November 2026 edition of the Elche Fantastic Film Festival.

The Alicante Short Films Special Mention will be awarded to a short film shot in the province of Alicante and will receive selection in the Crevillente Short Film Festival in June 2027.

The organization of the “5th Helena Cortesina Short Film Festival” reserves the right to grant any special mentions it deems appropriate.

1. Films

1.1 duration and Genre
Short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes are accepted in the following genres: fiction, documentary, and animation. Preference will be given to debut works by new directors; productions in which women hold positions of responsibility within the filmmaking team; and works whose themes aim to highlight the situation of women in society.

1.2 Production Date
Works must have been produced after January 1, 2024.

1.3 Nationality and language
All short films must have subtitles in Spanish or Valencian.


2. Submission

2.1 Submission Platforms
Film submissions must be made through the Festhome platform. No other submission methods will be accepted, except for production companies, distributors, film schools, and public institutions with a catalogue of at least five short films, which may send screening links (screeners) to the email address: cortesina.festcortometraje@gmail.com

3.0
Selected films in the Official Section grant their consent for their works to be screened in parallel activities of a social nature organized by the Festival itself.