I CERTAMEN INTERNACIONAL DE CORTOMETRAJES OPEN HOUSE ZARAGOZA FILMOHZ 2026 (1)

Festival start: 24 September 2026      Festival end: 27 September 2026

FILMOHZ 2026 aims to promote dialogue between architecture, the city, and audiovisual language through the selection, screening, and recognition of cinematic works that explore new forms of representation, interpretation, and narration of built space.

The festival seeks to establish itself as an international meeting point for filmmakers, architects, visual artists, researchers, and creators who understand architecture as a narrative, emotional, cultural, and social dimension.

Cash Prizes: 2,900€

• FILMOHZ 2026 First Prize: €1,600

• Second Prize: €800

• Special Jury Prize: €500

The jury may grant honorary mentions without financial award.

Prizes shall be subject to the tax withholdings legally applicable under Spanish legislation and, where appropriate, international tax regulations.

I OPEN HOUSE ZARAGOZA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

FILMOHZ 2026
“Architecture Through Other Perspectives”
#FromOtherPerspectives


1. ORGANIZING ENTITY
The 1st Open House Zaragoza International Short Film Festival “Architecture Through Other Perspectives” (hereinafter, FILMOHZ 2026) is organized by Open House Zaragoza within the framework of the Open House Zaragoza International Festival of Architecture and City.

The technical and artistic coordination of the festival is the responsibility of Open House Zaragoza.

For any inquiries related to this call for entries, interested parties may contact:
Email: cine@openhousezaragoza.org
Official website: Open House Zaragoza


2. PURPOSE OF THE CALL
FILMOHZ 2026 aims to promote dialogue between architecture, the city, and audiovisual language through the selection, screening, and recognition of cinematic works that explore new forms of representation, interpretation, and narration of built space.

The festival seeks to establish itself as an international meeting point for filmmakers, architects, visual artists, researchers, and creators who understand architecture as a narrative, emotional, cultural, and social dimension.


3. OBJECTIVES

General Objective
To promote the dissemination of architecture and reflection on the urban environment through cinema as an emotional, cultural, educational, and artistic tool.

Specific Objectives
• To highlight architecture as an emotional narrative element in audiovisual media.
• To encourage cinematic creation linked to the city, territory, and landscape.
• To foster interdisciplinary dialogue between architecture, cinema, and contemporary thought.
• To bring architecture closer to non-specialized audiences.
• To encourage the participation of emerging and professional creators.
• To strengthen Zaragoza’s cultural positioning as a space for creative innovation.


4. PARTICIPANTS
Natural or legal persons of any nationality who can prove ownership of the necessary rights for the public exhibition of the submitted works may participate.

Participation may take place:

• Individually
• On behalf of production companies
• On behalf of audiovisual collectives
• On behalf of academic centers or authorized institutions

The person or entity submitting the registration shall be responsible for the accuracy of the information provided.


5. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WORKS
Submitted works must comply with the following requirements:

5.1 Categories

The following types of short films will be accepted:
• Fiction
• Documentary
• Animation
• Experimental cinema
• Narrative video art

5.2 duration
The maximum duration shall be 20 minutes, including credits.

5.3 Production Date
Works must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

5.4 language
Works whose original language is not Spanish must be submitted with subtitles in either Spanish or english.

5.5 Maximum Number of Entries
Each participant may submit a maximum of two (2) works.

5.6 Rights
The registered person declares, under their own responsibility, that they:

• Hold the public exhibition rights for the work
• Have obtained the necessary authorizations from third parties
• Guarantee that the work does not infringe intellectual property rights, image rights, or any other legally protected rights

The organization shall be exempt from any claims arising from non-compliance with this clause.


6. THEMATIC LINES
The works must address, directly or indirectly, the relationship between architecture, place, and audiovisual narrative.

Special consideration will be given to proposals related to:

• Architecture as narrative and emotional construction
• Cinematic representation of the city and built place
• Place and memory
• Places of social conflict
• Architecture and psychological perception
• Ruin, abandonment, and urban transformation
• Urban innovation
• Territorial regeneration processes
• Relationships between public, private, and collective space
• New forms of architectural representation through audiovisual language
• Hybrid projects combining art, architecture, and cinema

The thematic interpretation shall be broad, prioritizing conceptual and artistic quality.


7. REGISTRATION
Registration must be completed exclusively through the Festhome platform.

Submission Period

From May 25, 2026 to July 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (CET).

Late submissions will not be accepted.

Required Materials

Registration must include:
• Contact information
• Synopsis
• Technical and artistic information sheet
• Director’s bio-filmography
• Official poster
• Between 2 and 5 promotional stills
• Private screening link
• Access password (if applicable)
The organization may request additional documentation.


8. ENTRY FEE
The entry fee shall be €30.


9. SELECTION PROCESS
A selection committee appointed by the organization will carry out a preliminary evaluation of all submitted works.

The official selection will be announced during the second half of August 2026 through:
• Email
• Publication on the official website
• Official social media channels

The decision shall be final and irrevocable.


10. SUBMISSION OF SCREENING COPIES
Selected works must be submitted in digital format with the following specifications:

• Format: MP4 (.mp4)
• Codec: H.264
• Minimum resolution: Full HD (1920x1080)
• Audio: Stereo 48 kHz
• Maximum file size: 10 GB

The organization may request DCP or alternative formats if technically necessary.

Failure to submit materials within the deadline may result in disqualification.


11. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The committee and jury will assess:

• Relationship between architecture and audiovisual narrative
• Cinematic quality
• Narrative strength
• Formal originality
• Conceptual coherence
• Ability to evoke emotion and generate reflection
• Aesthetic innovation
• Artistic relevance


12. JURY
The jury will be composed of independent professionals from the fields of architecture, cinema, contemporary art, cultural criticism, and cultural management.

Its composition will be published before the festival takes place.

Jury members must abstain in cases of conflict of interest.

Their decision shall be final and not subject to appeal.

13. awards

• FILMOHZ 2026 First Prize: €1,600

• Second Prize: €800

• Special Jury Prize: €500

The jury may grant honorary mentions without financial award.

Prizes shall be subject to the tax withholdings legally applicable under Spanish legislation and, where appropriate, international tax regulations.


14. AWARD CEREMONY
The awards ceremony will take place during the official closing ceremony at CaixaForum Zaragoza.

Awards must be collected in person by accredited representatives.

In justified cases, the organization may authorize delegated representation.


15. SCREENINGS
Selected works will form part of the official FILMOHZ 2026 program and will be screened on September 26, 2026 at CaixaForum Zaragoza and at venues officially designated by the organization.

The organization may modify venues or dates for technical, logistical, or force majeure reasons.


16. SCREENING AND PROMOTIONAL RIGHTS
Registration implies free and non-exclusive authorization for:

• Screening during the festival
• Use of excerpts of up to 90 seconds
• Distribution of trailers
• Use of promotional images for institutional communication purposes

Any further use beyond those expressly stated shall require prior written authorization from the rights holder.


17. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Authors shall retain full intellectual property rights over their works.

Participation does not imply any transfer of economic rights beyond the uses expressly provided for in these regulations.


18. DISQUALIFICATION
The organization may exclude works that:

• Fail to comply with these regulations
• Provide false information
• Infringe third-party rights
• Contain unlawful material
• Fail to meet technical requirements


19. DATA PROTECTION
Personal data will be processed by Open House Zaragoza exclusively for the management of this call for entries.

Participants may exercise their rights of access, rectification, deletion, objection, restriction, and portability by written communication to cine@openhousezaragoza.org.

Data processing shall comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and current Spanish legislation.


20. ACCEPTANCE
Participation implies full acceptance of these regulations.

The organization shall resolve any unforeseen issues, and its decision shall be final.

In the event of interpretative discrepancies, the official Spanish version shall prevail.