02 Mar 2026
Call for entries
02 Apr 2026
Festival closed
10 May 2026
Notification date
20 Aug 2026
23 Aug 2026
Festival start: 20 August 2026 Festival end: 23 August 2026
Monstro – 6th Jacareí Fantastic Film Festival is an event dedicated to celebrating fantastic cinema in all its forms — horror, fantasy, science fiction, surreal, experimental, and beyond. Held in Jacareí, in the Vale do Paraíba region (São Paulo State, Brazil), the festival has established itself as a platform for exhibition, discovery, and appreciation of films that explore imagination, the uncanny, and the extraordinary.
In its 6th edition, MONSTRO reaffirms its commitment to aesthetic, cultural, and narrative diversity, welcoming local, regional, national, and Latin American productions, while encouraging emerging talents and promoting representation within the genre.
More than a festival, MONSTRO is a meeting point for filmmakers and audiences passionate about cinema that provokes, disturbs, and expands boundaries.
"Monstro" Trophy
Category Awards
Technical Awards
Honorable Mentions
UPDATE – RULES & REGULATIONS: MONSTRO – 6th Fantastic Film Festival of Jacareí
1. Accepted Films and Running Times
Animation
Running time: 3 to 15 minutes
Fantastic Documentary
Running time: 10 to 25 minutes
Brazilian Folklore
Running time: 5 to 25 minutes
Regional (Vale do Paraíba – São Paulo State)
Running time: 5 to 25 minutes
Representation (Women, Black, Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ directors)
Running time: 5 to 25 minutes
Local (Jacareí)
Running time: 5 to 25 minutes
Student Films
Running time: 5 to 15 minutes
Bad Taste (macabre, grotesque, trash, bizarre, gore)**
Running time: 5 to 25 minutes
Children & Youth
Running time: 5 to 15 minutes
Music Video
Running time: 2 to 5 minutes
Latin American
Running time: 5 to 25 minutes
One-Minute Film
Running time: up to 1 minute
2. Year of Production
Only films produced from January 1st, 2025 onward will be accepted.
3. Previous Participation
Films that have already been screened in previous editions of MONSTRO – Fantastic Film Festival of Jacareí will not be accepted.
4. Submission per Director
Each director may submit up to 3 (three) films.
However, only 1 (one) film per director may be selected for the competitive program.
5. Language and Subtitles
International films must include subtitles in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.
6. Theme
Only films that fit within the fantastic cinema genre will be accepted, including (but not limited to): horror, fantasy, science fiction, surrealism, experimental, and related genres.
Films not aligned with this theme will be automatically disqualified.
7. Screening Format
Selected films must be submitted in a high-quality digital file, preferably in .MP4 format (H.264 codec), with a minimum resolution of Full HD (1920x1080).
Other formats may be accepted upon prior consultation with the organization.
8. Submission of Selected Films
Selected films must be sent via download link (Dropbox, Google Drive, or similar), including password if necessary.
Streaming-only links will not be accepted.
Films that are publicly available online (such as YouTube or Vimeo) at the time of selection may be disqualified.
The following materials will also be required:
* 3 still images from the film
* 1 image of the film poster (if available)
* 1 photo of the director
* Director’s bio (short biography)
* Technical sheet including synopsis, crew, and cast
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9. Jury and Evaluation Criteria
Awards will be decided by a specialized jury, composed of professionals and invited guests with experience in film and audiovisual arts.
Films will be evaluated based on:
* Adherence to the fantastic genre
* Originality and creativity
* Screenplay and narrative structure
* Direction
* Acting
* Cinematography
* Art direction
* Editing
* Sound design and soundtrack
* Overall artistic and technical quality
The jury’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.
10. Awards (Main Category)
The festival will grant the Monstro Trophy for Best Fantastic Short Film in the following placements:
* 1st Place
* 2nd Place
* 3rd Place
Additionally, Honorable Mentions may be awarded in other categories at the discretion of the jury and the organization.
If awarded, the winner must receive the trophy in person during the festival ceremony or arrange delivery with the organization in advance.
As an independent festival, the organization does not cover shipping costs or responsibility for trophy delivery.
11. Honorable Mentions
Honorable Mentions may be granted at the sole discretion of the festival organization if a film deserves special recognition.
12. Participation Expenses
The festival does not cover transportation, accommodation, meals, or any other participation-related expenses.
The organization may recommend partner hotels, which may or may not offer special conditions.
13. Copyright and Responsibility
By submitting, the entrant declares that they hold all necessary rights (copyright, image, soundtrack, etc.) required for the exhibition of the film, exempting the festival from any legal responsibility.
14. Image Use Authorization and Archive
By submitting, the director and/or legal representative authorizes MONSTRO – Fantastic Film Festival of Jacareí to use images, excerpts, stills, trailers, and other materials for promotional and institutional purposes across any media.
Selected films will become part of the festival archive for an indefinite period, exclusively for cultural and institutional purposes.
With prior authorization, films may be exhibited online via Monstro TV** on the official festival website.
15. Festival Format
The festival may take place in in-person and/or online (hybrid) format, at the organization’s discretion.
16. Selection Process
The curatorial team and organizing committee hold full authority over selection and awards decisions, which are not subject to appeal.
17. Discriminatory Content
Films promoting any form of prejudice, discrimination, hate speech, or violence against individuals or groups will not be accepted.
18. Program Announcement
The official program of MONSTRO – 6th Fantastic Film Festival of Jacareí will be announced in July 2026 via official channels.
Films competing for the Monstro Trophy will be announced during the festival.
19. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Fully AI-generated works without proven human creative input will not be accepted.
AI tools may be used only as supporting tools (e.g., writing assistance, editing, VFX, sound, etc.), provided that:
* The main creative decisions are made by human creators;
* The use of AI is formally declared during submission;
* No third-party rights are violated.
Works fully generated by AI (including script, characters, images, voices, performances, or direction) may be disqualified at the organization’s discretion.
The organization may request additional information about the creative process.
20. Final Provisions
Any cases not covered in this regulation will be resolved solely by the festival organization.
For inquiries, contact:
festivalmonstrojacarei@gmail.com
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Animated works that explore horror, fantasy, science fiction, or the surreal, in any animation technique.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Documentaries exploring the world of the fantastic — mythology, horror, unexplained phenomena, pop culture, creatures, beliefs, or behind-the-scenes of genre filmmaking.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Fantastic narratives inspired by Brazilian myths, legends, and folklore creatures, reimagined in contemporary or traditional forms.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Produções do Vale do Paraíba Paulista que dialoguem com o fantástico, fortalecendo o cinema regional.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Fantastic films directed by women, Black filmmakers, Indigenous filmmakers, and LGBTQIA+ directors, amplifying diverse voices within the genre.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Films created by filmmakers from Jacareí or produced within the city, celebrating the local fantastic scene.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Fantastic productions created by film or audiovisual students, highlighting emerging talents and new visions within the genre.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
The festival’s most extreme side: macabre horror, grotesque, trash, bizarre, gore, and experimental cinema. Films that provoke, shock, and push the boundaries of taste.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Category dedicated to fantastic films aimed at children and young audiences, exploring imagination, adventure, fantasy, and the extraordinary through creative, sensitive, and inventive storytelling appropriate for this age group.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Music videos with a fantastic, experimental, dark, or surreal aesthetic, where sound and imagery create immersive imaginary worlds.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Fantastic film productions from Latin American countries, exploring myths, legends, dystopias, horror, fantasy, and science fiction through a Latin American perspective.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Short films up to 1 minute in length, exploring fantastic cinema in a fast, intense, and creative format. Brief yet powerful and imaginative storytelling.
No Fee
Submissions deadline
02 Apr 26
Category dedicated to fantastic genre films that do not fit into the festival’s other categories. An open space for works with hybrid, experimental, or alternative approaches within horror, fantasy, science fiction, and related subgenres.
