Festival Internacional de Cine Shorts Costa Rica (5)

Festival start: 14 April 2027      Festival end: 24 April 2027

The Shorts Costa Rica International Film Festival is an initiative dedicated to promoting and celebrating the richness of short films, their diversity in themes, styles, and voices, and the outstanding national and international talent behind their creation.

Under the concept of “stories that connect us,” the festival embraces the power of cinema to bring people together, build bridges between different realities, and create shared experiences through stories that resonate with our emotions, contexts, and identities.

The festival aims to strengthen cinematic diversity through the exhibition, education, and promotion of Costa Rican talent, as well as through the participation of international works in the country, bringing audiences closer to the best of short-form cinema.

Our proposal offers both emerging and established creators the opportunity to generate impact within the film landscape, activating a presence in movie theaters and alternative venues across the seven provinces of Costa Rica, as well as in other cities around the world. We recognize the importance of short films as a cultural expression capable of reflecting who we are and how we relate to one another.

We invite you to be part of this platform that promotes and celebrates stories that, from diverse perspectives, connect us.

The Shorts Costa Rica International Film Festival will celebrate its fifth edition in 2027, continuing to establish itself as a platform for showcasing audiovisual talent, fostering connections among filmmakers, and expanding audience access to contemporary short films.

The festival will take place across five stages: CR Shorts Lab, Identidades Competition, Shorts Costa Rica Festival, Shorts Communities, and SHORTS+, offering a comprehensive experience that combines training, exhibition, competition, and distribution.

The 2027 edition will be held from April 14 to April 24, 2027.

Shorts Costa Rica is now open for submissions to its three official competitions: National, Central American, and International.

ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES
Fiction
Animation
Documentary
Music Video
Experimental

COMPETITIONS

NATIONAL COMPETITION
Eligible films must have a director or production originating from Costa Rica.

CENTRAL AMERICAN COMPETITION
Eligible films must have a director or production originating from a Central American country.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Open to short films from all countries worldwide, except Costa Rica and Central American countries.

SUBMISSION FEES
Submission fees vary depending on the category.
A fee waiver option is available for filmmakers facing financial limitations.

National, Central American, and International Competitions
Jury Award (La Rana Dorada):

Official festival statuette
Award certificate
Digital laurel
Accreditation for future festival editions (director or producer)
Unlimited access to the SHORTS+ streaming platform

Audience Award:
Award certificate
Digital laurel
Accreditation for future festival editions (director or producer)
Unlimited access to SHORTS+

Awards are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and not redeemable for cash. The festival reserves the right to modify awards if necessary.

ELIGIBILITY

All listed genres are accepted.
Short films completed on or after January 1, 2026.
Maximum duration: 30 minutes (including credits).
Only completed works will be considered.
Premiere status is not required.
Accepted screening formats: Apple ProRes 422 or H.264.
By submitting, filmmakers agree to screen their film if selected.

SUBMISSION PROCESS
Submissions must be made via FilmFreeway or Festhome only.
Deadline: January 31, 2027 (extended deadline).
At least one still image must be uploaded.
Ensure the screener link is working properly.

Official selections will be announced during the last week of February 2027 via the submission platforms, email, and the official festival website.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Submissions outside official platforms will not be accepted.
Physical formats (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) will not be accepted.
All selected films must include Spanish subtitles (if applicable).

IF SELECTED
Only the submitter will be officially notified.
Submitted information (synopsis, credits, etc.) will be used in all official materials.

The screening copy must match the screener and include Spanish subtitles.

The festival may use up to 10% of the film for non-commercial promotional purposes.

REQUIRED MATERIALS
Minimum of 5 still images (JPG)
1 director photo (JPG)
Film poster (JPG)
Trailer (if available)
Word document (NOT PDF) including:
Short synopsis (Spanish and English)
Technical sheet (country, year, duration, color/B&W, original language, cast & crew)
Director’s bio (max. one page, Spanish and English)
Trailer link (if available)
Website or social media links
Contact name and email

SHORTS+
Selected films may be invited (with prior authorization) to be part of SHORTS+, the festival’s online platform, one month after the festival concludes.
SHORTS+ features exclusive content such as interviews, workshops, and a curated catalog of selected films, as part of the festival’s commitment to ongoing visibility.

UNSPECIFIED CASES
By submitting, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and accepted these regulations.

Any situation not covered will be resolved by the festival organization.