Festival Internacional de Cine de Viña del Mar (38)

Festival start: 23 November 2026      Festival end: 28 November 2026

The Viña del Mar International Film Festival
is a municipal event that dates back to 1963. It is the oldest in the country and the second oldest in Latin America.

It was founded as an initiative of filmmaker and physician Aldo Francia and the Viña del Mar Film Club. It was the birthplace of the New Latin American Cinema and the New Chilean Cinema.

9. AWARDS

9.1 - ABOUT THE JURIES
The juries for the various competitions will consist of professionals associated with the film and audiovisual industry or involved in both national and international cultural sectors.

Jury members are ineligible to submit works to the competition.

The juries for each competition will issue a final and binding decision, awarding the prizes indicated, symbolized in the PAOA as the highest honor of the Viña International Film Festival, in addition to institutional awards granted by the Municipality of Viña del Mar, ADG, ANIMACHI, Chile Guionistas, and SCD. The festival’s management stipulates that the juries in any category may not declare any of the prizes listed below void.

9.2 - ABOUT THE AWARDS
If the winner(s) of cash prizes are not present at the FICVIÑA awards ceremony, the amount corresponding to their category will be sent to them, minus any applicable transfer fees.

Ibero-American Feature Film Competition

The Ibero-American Feature Film Competition includes the following awards:
- Best Feature Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of three and a half million Chilean pesos ($3,500,000), awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Director: Galvano Award presented by the Chilean Association of Directors and Screenwriters (ADG).
- Special Mention from the Film Critics: Galvano Award presented by the jury of film critics.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Galvano Award presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.

Ibero-American Feature-Length Documentary Competition

The Ibero-American Feature-Length Documentary Competition includes the following awards:
- Best Feature-Length Documentary: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of two and a half million Chilean pesos ($2,500,000), awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Screenplay: Diploma awarded by the Chilean Screenwriters Association.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Galvano Award presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.

National Feature Film Competition: DESDE AQUÍ

The national competition for fiction and documentary feature films includes the following awards:
- Best Feature Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and the equivalent in U.S. dollars of one and a half million Chilean pesos ($1,500,000), awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Director: Award presented by the Association of Directors and Screenwriters of Chile (ADG).
- Best Screenplay: Award presented by the Chilean Association of Directors and Screenwriters (ADG).
- Special Jury Mention: A commemorative plaque presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.

Ibero-American Short Film Competition PULSO IBEROAMERICANO

The Ibero-American short film competition PULSO IBEROAMERICANO includes the following awards:
- Best Ibero-American Short Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and a trophy awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Screenplay: Diploma awarded by the Chilean Screenwriters Association.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Diploma of recognition.

Ibero-American Animated Short Film Competition CREANDO UNIVERSOS

The Ibero-American animated short film competition CREANDO UNIVERSOS offers the following awards:
- Best Animated Short Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and a trophy presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Animation Design: A trophy presented by ANIMACHI, the Chilean Association of Animation Professionals and Production Companies.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Certificate of Recognition.

HABITAR Competition:
The HABITAR Competition offers the following awards:
Best HABITAR Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Director: Award presented by the Chilean Association of Directors and Screenwriters (ADG).
- Special Mention from the Jury: Certificate of Recognition

Competition for Best Chilean Original Score for National Fiction Feature Films and Documentaries – SCD

The six finalists in the Competition for Best Chilean Original Score are eligible for the following awards:
- Best Composer for a Fiction Feature Film: An award and 400,000 Chilean pesos presented by the Chilean Society of Authors and Musical Performers (SCD).
- Best Composer for a Documentary Feature Film: An award and 400,000 Chilean pesos presented by the Chilean Society of Authors and Musical Performers (SCD).

1. FESTIVAL OBJECTIVES

The 38th Viña del Mar International Film Festival (FICVIÑA), remaining true to the vision of its founders, has served as a gathering place for Latin American filmmaking since 1963. With this objective in mind, the festival:
- Recognizes the careers of prominent filmmakers in Ibero-American cinema.
- It serves as a forum for discussion and debate on the themes of Ibero-American cinema, contributing to its promotion and development.
- It promotes new cinematic works that drive and highlight cultural and social transformations.
- It cultivates audiences for Ibero-American cinema with a critical perspective.
- It prioritizes the quality of the works in competition across all categories.

2. FESTIVAL DATES

The 38th Viña del Mar International Film Festival (FICVIÑA) will take place from Monday, November 23, to Saturday, November 28, 2026.

3. REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIONS
Any Ibero-American film (from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal) may participate in the categories of feature film and short film, fiction, documentary, and animation.

A short film is defined as any film with a running time of 30 minutes or less. A feature film is defined as any film with a running time of 60 minutes or more.

A requirement is that the film must not have previously participated in or been submitted to the FICVIÑA competition. Films that have been submitted or screened in previous editions of the festival will be disqualified.

Films produced between 2025 and 2026 will be accepted.

Applicants agree to hold the screening rights and relevant legal authorizations for the works submitted to the festival.

Each applicant may submit a maximum of 3 works.
The deadline for receiving submissions is Friday, August 7, 2026; this deadline is final. After the specified date, no submissions of any kind will be accepted by any means.

4. COMPETITION CATEGORIES

4.1.- Ibero-American Feature-Length Fiction Film Competition:
For feature-length fiction films, either in Spanish or subtitled in Spanish, with a minimum running time of 60 minutes and that have not been released in theaters in Chile.

4.2.- Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film Competition:
For documentary feature films, either in Spanish or subtitled in Spanish, with a minimum runtime of 60 minutes and that have not been released in theaters in Chile.

4.3.- National Feature Film Competition “DESDE AQUÍ”:
For Chilean fiction and documentary feature films with a minimum runtime of 60 minutes that have not been released in theaters in Chile.

4.4.- Ibero-American Short Film Competition “PULSO IBEROAMERICANO”:
For fiction, documentary, and experimental short films that are either dubbed or subtitled in Spanish, with a maximum runtime of 30 minutes.

4.5.- Ibero-American Animated Short Film Competition “CREANDO UNIVERSOS”:
For animated short films that are either dubbed or subtitled in Spanish, with a maximum runtime of 30 minutes.

4.6.- HABITAR Regional Competition:
Exclusively for Chilean works, regardless of length or genre, produced in regions of Chile other than the Metropolitan Region. In particular, preference is given to works whose staging highlights the territory in which they are set. In the case of feature films, they must not have been released in theaters in Chile.
4.7.- Best Chilean Original Score Competition for National Fiction and Documentary Feature Films - SCD
For Chilean fiction and documentary feature films. The film must have been released—whether in theaters, at film festivals, or on online platforms—between September 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026. It is a requirement that the film feature original music composed specifically for the feature film. The author and composer of the music must be Chilean, or a foreigner who has resided in Chile for at least 5 years.

5. APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE 2026 SELECTION
All applicants for the preliminary selection of this call for entries must submit their works by Friday, August 7, 2026, at the latest; this deadline is final.

Only the competition for Best Chilean Incidental Music for Fiction and Documentary Feature Films—SCD—has a deadline for submitting works of September 1, 2026; this deadline is non-negotiable.

Submissions for the 2026 pre-selection stage must be made via the online platform:

FESTHOME:
Submissions must be made exclusively through the platform www.festhome.com.

The platform charges a service fee for its use. Each participant is responsible for covering this cost.

APPLICATION FORM:
Only applicants who cannot afford to use the platform may request an application link via email.

APPLICATION FOR THE “BEST CHILEAN FILM MUSIC” COMPETITION FOR NATIONAL FEATURE FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES - SCD:
Submit the material via a Vimeo link or another online screener link with a password. The link must remain active until after the FICVIÑA awards ceremony so that the curators can view the material. Send the link and technical details to: musicadepeliculaficvina@gmail.com

6. PROCESS FOR SELECTED WORKS
Selected works will be screened during the 38th edition of the festival in Viña del Mar in 2026, from Monday, November 23, to Saturday, November 28, 2026, according to a schedule to be determined once the preliminary selection curators’ decisions are known.

The results of the 2026 official selection will be notified via email to the representative of each film between September 22 and 26, and confirmation of receipt of this information is required no later than September 29, 2026.

If confirmation is not received by the stipulated dates, the FICVIÑA organization will have full discretion to select another film as a replacement.

Likewise, representatives of the selected films agree to submit the exhibition and promotional materials detailed in point 8 no later than October 6, 2026. If the materials are not received by the stipulated date, the organization reserves the right to remove the film from the competition.

The results will be officially published by the FICVIÑA organization on a date to be confirmed.

The selected films and winners in each category will receive the FICVIÑA 2026 awards logo via email so that they may include mention of their participation in the festival in their respective promotional materials, film credits, etc.

7. PAY-PER-SCREENING POLICY
Participation in any of the official competitions of the 38th Viña del Mar International Film Festival, FICVIÑA 2026, does not include payment per screening by the organization for selected films.

By submitting an entry and accepting their selection for the competition, the filmmakers, producers, or legal representatives of the selected works declare that they are aware of and accept this condition.

8. SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS
All applicants selected for the official competition must submit their works and materials by October 6, 2026, in accordance with the following requirements:

8.1 Screening copy in a format appropriate for the category in which they are applying:
- Ibero-American Feature-Length Fiction Film Competition: Online DCP and digital ProRes copy.
- Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film Competition: Online DCP format and a digital ProRes copy.
- National Feature Film Competition “DESDE AQUÍ”: Online DCP format and a digital ProRes copy.
- Regional Competition “HABITAR”: Online DCP format or a digital ProRes copy.
- Ibero-American Short Film Competition “PULSO IBEROAMERICANO”: Online DCP format or ProRes digital copy.
- Ibero-American Animated Short Film Competition “CREANDO UNIVERSOS”: Online DCP format or ProRes digital copy.

8.2 Subtitles
All films must include Spanish subtitles embedded in the video, regardless of the language spoken in the film.

8.3 Trailer
In ProRes or H264 digital format, with stereo sound. If a trailer is not available, please submit a clip of no more than 1 minute. Spanish subtitles must be on-screen.

8.4 Synopsis:
Maximum of 500 characters.

8.5 Technical Details for Catalog:
Director
Genre
Year
Country(ies)
Runtime
Screenplay
Production Company
Production
Cinematography
Art Direction
Editing
Sound
Cast (up to 3 names)
Contact
Social media accounts for the film or production company

8.6 High-quality stills from the film:
Minimum 300 DPI, PNG or TIFF format.

8.7 Director Information
First and last names
Stage name, if applicable
Occupation
Gender
Bio and filmography (maximum 500 characters)
High-quality portrait: Full-face shot, face clearly visible, minimum 300 DPI, PNG or TIFF format
Social media
Availability for interviews with FICViña-accredited press: Yes/No

8.8 Press Kit
Optional, for press promotion purposes.
Editorial decisions regarding the catalog are the sole responsibility of the FICVIÑA 2026 team.

9. AWARDS

9.1 - ABOUT THE JURIES
The juries for the various competitions will consist of professionals associated with the film and audiovisual industry or involved in both national and international cultural sectors.

Jury members are ineligible to submit works to the competition.

The juries for each competition will issue a final and binding decision, awarding the prizes indicated, symbolized in the PAOA as the highest honor of the Viña International Film Festival, in addition to institutional awards granted by the Municipality of Viña del Mar, ADG, ANIMACHI, Chile Guionistas, and SCD. The festival’s management stipulates that the juries in any category may not declare any of the prizes listed below void.

9.2 - ABOUT THE AWARDS
If the winner(s) of cash prizes are not present at the FICVIÑA awards ceremony, the amount corresponding to their category will be sent to them, minus any applicable transfer fees.

Ibero-American Feature Film Competition

The Ibero-American Feature Film Competition includes the following awards:
- Best Feature Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of three and a half million Chilean pesos ($3,500,000), awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Director: Galvano Award presented by the Chilean Association of Directors and Screenwriters (ADG).
- Special Mention from the Film Critics: Galvano Award presented by the jury of film critics.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Galvano Award presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.

Ibero-American Feature-Length Documentary Competition

The Ibero-American Feature-Length Documentary Competition includes the following awards:
- Best Feature-Length Documentary: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of two and a half million Chilean pesos ($2,500,000), awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Screenplay: Diploma awarded by the Chilean Screenwriters Association.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Galvano Award presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.

National Feature Film Competition: DESDE AQUÍ

The national competition for fiction and documentary feature films includes the following awards:
- Best Feature Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and the equivalent in U.S. dollars of one and a half million Chilean pesos ($1,500,000), awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Director: Award presented by the Association of Directors and Screenwriters of Chile (ADG).
- Best Screenplay: Award presented by the Chilean Association of Directors and Screenwriters (ADG).
- Special Jury Mention: A commemorative plaque presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.

Ibero-American Short Film Competition PULSO IBEROAMERICANO

The Ibero-American short film competition PULSO IBEROAMERICANO includes the following awards:
- Best Ibero-American Short Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and a trophy awarded by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Screenplay: Diploma awarded by the Chilean Screenwriters Association.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Diploma of recognition.

Ibero-American Animated Short Film Competition CREANDO UNIVERSOS

The Ibero-American animated short film competition CREANDO UNIVERSOS offers the following awards:
- Best Animated Short Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, and a trophy presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Animation Design: A trophy presented by ANIMACHI, the Chilean Association of Animation Professionals and Production Companies.
- Special Mention from the Jury: Certificate of Recognition.

HABITAR Competition:
The HABITAR Competition offers the following awards:
Best HABITAR Film: PAOA, Official Award of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival, presented by the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
- Best Director: Award presented by the Chilean Association of Directors and Screenwriters (ADG).
- Special Mention from the Jury: Certificate of Recognition

Competition for Best Chilean Original Score for National Fiction Feature Films and Documentaries – SCD

The six finalists in the Competition for Best Chilean Original Score are eligible for the following awards:
- Best Composer for a Fiction Feature Film: An award and 400,000 Chilean pesos presented by the Chilean Society of Authors and Musical Performers (SCD).
- Best Composer for a Documentary Feature Film: An award and 400,000 Chilean pesos presented by the Chilean Society of Authors and Musical Performers (SCD).

10. ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES

By submitting the registration form through any of the application channels, the person submitting the registration agrees to participate in the Festival under the conditions set forth in these Rules.

Selected films may not withdraw from the 2026 edition of the festival.

By submitting their work to the festival, filmmakers authorize the use of excerpts from the selected works on television or any other media platform for the sole purpose of promoting the event.

Films in the PULSO IBEROAMERICANO, CREANDO UNIVERSOS, and HABITAR short film categories selected for the 2026 edition may be screened as part of FICVIÑA’s audience outreach and education initiatives, including special screenings for Chilean public, non-profit educational institutions and screenings as part of the FICVIÑA 2026–2027 audience education series. All these screenings are free of charge, and the respective representatives of each film will be notified in writing in advance.

The 38th FICVIÑA 2026 reserves the right to make any decision it deems appropriate in the event of any situation not covered by these rules, whether an applicant, shortlisted candidate, or selected candidate is implicated in any allegation of a violation of rights and ethical codes and/or a legal infraction that harms the festival’s reputation.

11. ORGANIZATIONAL CREDITS

Organized by: Municipality of Viña del Mar, Chile.
Co-organized by: Universidad Viña del Mar, Duoc UC Viña del Mar Campus, and Espacio Cultural Viña del Mar.
Project funded by the Audiovisual Development Fund, Call for Proposals 2026 of the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Heritage.

12. CONTACT

For inquiries or more information about the competitions and screenings, please contact us via email at: competencias@ficvina.cl

For inquiries regarding the competition section for Best Chilean Incidental Music in National Feature Films and Documentaries—SCD, please email: rosario.salas@munivina.cl, musicadepeliculaficvina@gmail.com

You can find all the information about the festival on our website: www.ficvina.cl.