INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS -COLOMBIA
14 May 2025
Call for entries
31 May 2025
Final deadline
14
days
31 Jul 2025
Notification date
06 Nov 2025
14 Nov 2025
Festival start: 06 November 2025 Festival end: 14 November 2025
Since 2013, the International Human Rights Film Festival – Colombia has offered audiences an audiovisual, cultural, and academic program that contributes to audience development, the strengthening of the film and cultural industries, the creation of spaces for dialogue around life, reconciliation, the promotion and defense of human rights, and the construction of ideas for peace.
The Festival is the ideal platform for Colombia’s and the international film community committed to storytelling with a human rights perspective. It serves as a key space for the promotion, circulation, distribution, and exhibition of audiovisual works with limited commercial demand due to their social and thematic focus.
The Festival takes place simultaneously in the cities of Barranquilla, Medellín, Cali, Bogotá, Manizales, Pereira and Quibdó, as well as in about twenty municipalities across the country.
Colombian Fiction
Best Colombian Feature Fiction Film
Best Colombian Short Fiction Film
Prize: COP 20,000,000 in equipment rental from HD Cinema
Colombian Documentary
Best Colombian Feature Documentary
Best Colombian Short Documentary
Fiction for Children (National and International)
Best Feature Fiction for Children
Best Short Fiction for Children
International Categories (with Spanish subtitles)
Best International Feature Fiction Film
Best International Short Fiction Film
Best International Feature Documentary
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL – COLOMBIA / FICDEH
CALL FOR ENTRIES 2025
PARTICIPATION RULES
The twelfth edition of the International Human Rights Film Festival - Colombia (FICDEH) will take place with in-person screenings in the cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla, Medellín, Cali, Bogotá, Manizales, Pereira, Quibdó, as well as in around 20 municipalities located across various departments of the country.
1. OUR COMMITMENT
Since 2013, FICDEH has offered a cinematic and cultural program that contributes to audience development, strengthens the audiovisual and cultural industries, fosters dialogue around life, reconciliation, and the defense of human rights, and encourages the construction of peace-oriented ideas.
2. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Producers, directors, and distributors from any country who hold all intellectual property rights and all necessary authorizations for the audiovisual work submitted are eligible to participate.
2.1 PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES
Participants declare that they own all rights to the audiovisual work submitted (including all images, sounds, and soundtrack) and have secured all necessary permissions for the work’s inclusion in FICDEH. This includes all rights and authorizations from third parties whose work is incorporated into the submitted piece, or whose image and/or voice appears in it—especially when minors or protected individuals are involved.
FICDEH will consider the person or legal representative submitting the work as the sole contact responsible for all aspects related to the submission and any parties involved in the work’s production.
The Festival accepts no liability for any claims resulting from non-compliance with these regulations. Participants release FICDEH and Fundación Impulsos from any claims or legal actions arising from such circumstances and agree to indemnify and hold FICDEH harmless against legal costs, direct or indirect damages, and potential judgments or settlements.
3. SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Submissions for the twelfth edition of FICDEH are open from May 14, 2025, until May 31, 2025 (midnight, Colombian time).
4. REQUIREMENTS
All submissions must be made through the Festhome platform within the specified dates.
Instructions for submitting each film are available on the platform. For any technical issues, please contact the platform’s customer service directly.
4.1 CONDITIONS
Only works completed after July 1, 2023, are eligible.
Works in foreign languages must include Spanish subtitles. Otherwise, they will not be considered.
Works not related to human rights themes will be automatically disqualified.
Films previously submitted to FICDEH, even if revised versions, will not be accepted.
NOTE: Successfully completing your submission on the platform does not guarantee selection for the Festival program.
5. COMPETITION CATEGORIES
All films must address Human Rights in a constructive and objective manner. We seek creative narratives that transform denunciation into proposals, give voice to protagonists and their stories, and serve as tools for awareness, promotion, and remembrance.
5.1 NATIONAL COMPETITION
Colombian Fiction
Feature-Length Fiction Film
Minimum length: 60 minutes
Award: Best Colombian Feature Fiction Film
Short Fiction Film
Length: 7–59 minutes
Award: Best Colombian Short Fiction Film
This category will receive a prize of 20,000,000 COP in equipment rental from HD Cinema.
Colombian Documentary
Feature-Length Documentary
Minimum length: 60 minutes
Award: Best Colombian Feature Documentary
Short Documentary
Length: 7–59 minutes
Award: Best Colombian Short Documentary
Fiction for Children (National and International)
Feature-Length Fiction
Minimum length: 60 minutes
Award: Best Feature Fiction for Children
Short Fiction
Length: 7–59 minutes
Award: Best Short Fiction for Children
5.2 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION (Films in any language must include Spanish subtitles.)
Feature-Length Fiction Film
Minimum length: 60 minutes
Award: Best International Feature Fiction Film
Short Fiction Film
Length: 7–59 minutes
Award: Best International Short Fiction Film
Feature-Length Documentary
Minimum length: 60 minutes
Award: Best International Feature Documentary
6. SUBMISSION FEES
Fees apply only to international entries:
International Feature Fiction: $15 USD
International Feature Documentary: $15 USD
International Short Fiction: $8 USD
Fiction for Children: $5 USD
7. SELECTION PROCESS
A curation committee appointed by FICDEH will select the works for the official competition based on thematic relevance to human rights and technical quality.
Selected participants must send a digital copy or download link of the film with the following specifications:
VIDEO
File type: .MOV or .MP4
Codec: H.264 – MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: Full HD (1080p) or higher
Aspect ratio: 16:9 (1920x1080)
Frame rate: 24 or 30 fps
AUDIO
Codec: MPEG ACC
Channels: Stereo
Sample rate: 48,000 Hz – 32 bits
DCP (for theatrical projection)*
Delivery must be physical (hard drive).
Resolution: 2K (2048x1080 px)
Audio: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital (5.1 or AC-3), or DTS
Recommended file size: under 10 GB
Subtitles must be embedded in the image.
*FICDEH is not responsible for delivery or return shipping costs of DCP materials.
Promotional Poster or Image
Format: JPG or PNG
Max file size: 500 KB
Dimensions: 1920x1080 px
Resolution: 150 dpi
Official Trailer Download Link
By submitting these materials, you fully authorize the Festival to use them for promotional purposes.
8. JURY
Each category will have a jury composed of at least three international and two national professionals with recognized experience in the audiovisual field. Jurors may not be involved in the production or distribution of any competing film.
9. USE OF SELECTED WORKS & PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
All promotional materials (texts, data, photos) submitted may be used in both digital and print formats (catalogs, press releases, social media, and the Festival website) to announce the official selection. These materials may be edited, translated, or adapted for FICDEH promotional purposes.
Participants authorize the use of up to three minutes of footage from submitted works in any media. The Festival may also produce a promotional montage of selected works for distribution in Colombia and abroad.
All submitted digital or physical materials will be archived and will not be returned.
Selection implies the granting of screening rights to FICDEH, including for participation in non-competitive screenings beyond the Festival when deemed relevant. Appropriate credit will always be given.
10. PROGRAMMING
The Festival reserves the exclusive right to determine the final program.
11. TRAVELING SHOWCASE
FICDEH organizes traveling showcases throughout the year featuring official selections from each edition.
Selected films may be included in non-commercial screenings and events aimed at expanding FICDEH’s reach and impact.
12. ORGANIZATION
The International Human Rights Film Festival – Colombia / FICDEH is organized by Fundación Impulsos. It is a cultural, non-profit event.
Although some venues may charge admission due to internal policies, the Festival maintains a free-entry policy in most cases. No screening fees will be paid to participants.
Submission to the 2025 edition implies full acceptance of these guidelines. Once selected, a film cannot be withdrawn from the program.
The Festival may introduce additional regulations to ensure the event’s optimal execution. The interpretation of all rules lies solely with the Festival organizers.
For more information: info@ficdeh.com
No Fee
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
Standard Fee
8$
-8%
7.36$
6.16$
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
No Fee
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
Standard Fee
15$
-8%
13.8$
11.55$
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
No Fee
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
No Fee
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
Standard Fee
15$
-8%
13.8$
11.55$
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
Standard Fee
5$
-8%
4.6$
3.85$
Submissions deadline
31 May 25
The Fiction for Children category accepts audiovisual works from both national and international creators, including short and feature-length films. Submissions must be intended for young audiences and address social issues or human rights themes from a respectful and creative perspective.
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.
