Festival start: 13 October 2026
Festival end: 28 September 2025
The International Film Festival of Pasto (FICPA), which celebrates its 22 edition in October 2025, is a prominent competitive event that brings together the best of national and international cinema. With official categories covering a wide range of topics, from human rights to the environment, including animation and children's films, FICPA offers a unique platform for diversity and cinematic expression. Located in the picturesque city of Pasto, Colombia, globally recognized for its iconic Carnival of Blacks and Whites, the festival not only celebrates the art of cinema but also highlights the rich cultural heritage of the region. As the oldest event in southwestern Colombia, FICPA awards the coveted Sol de los Pastos (Sun of the Pastos) prize, establishing itself as a must-attend event on both the local and international cultural calendar.
The Festival awards a variety of prizes that reflect the rich culture and traditions of the region. In the official Sol de los Pastos category, a unique statuette representing the sun is presented, with a film frame at its center, allowing awardees to look through it. This wooden sculpture, adorned with tamo and Pasto varnish, a Colombian artisanal technique undergoing international recognition, is a piece without commercial value. Winning films receive this statuette, while non-winners are awarded with a diploma. In the Official Churo Cósmico Selection, national films selected in each category receive a statuette or plaque representing a monkey with its tail coiled in a spiral, symbolizing the inward-outward movement and cosmic thinking of the indigenous communities of Pasto. In the official Cámaras de Barniz category, Sol de los Pastos statuettes are awarded in different sizes and colors. Additionally, Colombian productions have the opportunity to receive an automatic grant from the FDC of up to one million pesos for travel and accommodation expenses.
22 PASTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FICPA 2026
CALL FOR ENTRIES
1. PRESENTATION
The Pasto International Film Festival – FICPA reaches its 22nd edition in 2026, consolidating itself as a regional benchmark in the circulation and promotion of film culture. It is an international competitive event that brings together national and international films and filmmakers through a diverse program offering multiple categories and participation opportunities.
FICPA is the oldest film festival in southwestern Colombia and the main audiovisual exhibition platform in the department of Nariño, held annually in the city of Pasto (Colombia). Its trajectory positions it as a key platform for encounters between creators, audiences, and audiovisual industry professionals.
For 2026, relations and exchanges with Mexico and Ecuador, as well as with university institutions from other regions of Colombia, will be strengthened.
2. OPENING AND CLOSING DATES
Opening: 05/05/2026
Deadlines:
Standard national and international call: 07/01/2026
Extended deadline only through international platforms: 07/08/2026
Closing date for Cámaras de Barniz category (Nariño productions): 07/08/2026
Under no circumstances will works be accepted outside these dates.
3. LANGUAGE
Spanish or subtitled in Spanish.
4. WHO CAN AND CANNOT PARTICIPATE
ELIGIBLE:
Open-theme productions.
Productions from any country.
Short films up to 30 minutes.
Feature films and medium-length films from 31 minutes onward.
NOT ELIGIBLE:
Productions completed and premiered before 2022.
Advertising productions.
Television series or TV programs.
5. SECTIONS AND CATEGORIES
5.1. SOL DE LOS PASTOS SECTION
This is the national and international section of the Pasto International Film Festival – FICPA. It brings together a curated selection of works distinguished by their aesthetic quality, narrative strength, and thematic relevance.
The Official Selection Sol de los Pastos proposes a dialogue between diverse cinematographies, connecting Colombian cinema with international and Andean perspectives, while providing audiences in southern Colombia access to films that generally do not circulate in commercial theaters or reach the region. This section consolidates the festival as a space for encounter, reflection, and circulation of contemporary cinema.
Selected works compete in the following categories:
5.1.1. Heartbeats of Colombian Cinema
Competitive section exclusively dedicated to Colombian cinema, aimed at strengthening its circulation, visibility, and positioning in southern Colombia. Heartbeats of Colombian Cinema gathers fiction and documentary feature films and short films reflecting the territorial, cultural, social, and aesthetic diversity of Colombian cinema.
The section seeks to foster encounters between Colombian filmmakers and audiences in Nariño, a territory historically excluded from regular exhibition circuits, thus contributing to cultural decentralization and recognition of Colombian cinema as artistic expression, collective memory, and creative industry.
Categories:
Best Colombian Fiction Feature Film
Best Colombian Documentary Feature Film
Best Colombian Short Film
This section prioritizes recent works with national and international projection that contribute to consolidating Colombian cinema as an artistic, cultural, and industrial expression.
5.1.2. Echoes of the World
Competitive section dedicated to international cinema, presenting fiction and documentary feature films and short films from different countries and cultural contexts. Echoes of the World promotes cultural and cinematic exchange, broadening audience perspectives and generating dialogue between local and global realities.
Within this section, the Andean Feature Film category stands out, bringing together works from countries of the Andean region — Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Colombia — strengthening regional integration and exchange of cinematic experiences from a shared territorial and cultural perspective.
Categories:
Best International Fiction Feature Film
Best International Documentary Feature Film
Best Andean Feature Film
Best International Short Film
This section highlights cultural diversity, artistic quality, and thematic relevance.
5.2. Cámaras de Barniz Selection – Nariño Cinema
Competitive section dedicated to regional cinema from the department of Nariño, aimed at strengthening local audiovisual creation processes, encouraging new talent, and consolidating a distinct cinematic identity.
Cámaras de Barniz recognizes both professional filmmakers and students and emerging creators, promoting generational renewal, training, and circulation of locally produced content. This section serves as a strategic platform to showcase cinema made in the provinces while strengthening the regional audiovisual ecosystem.
Competition categories:
GOLDEN SUN for Best Nariño Short Film (Open Category)
GOLDEN SUN for Best Nariño Music Video
SILVER SUN for Best Nariño University Short Film
BRONZE SUN for Best Nariño School Short Film
5.3. Churo Cósmico Selection – Thematic Section
The Churo Cósmico, as an ancestral symbol of the Andean territory, represents the movement of life, time, and the connection between the natural, human, and spiritual worlds. Its spiral and organic shape evokes processes of growth, transformation, and continuity.
Under this concept, the Churo Cósmico section organizes its curatorial proposal into five categories:
IDENTITIES
SOCIETY AND FREEDOMS
WORK, ECONOMIES AND FUTURE
ANIMATION
CHILDREN’S CINEMA
6. SUBMISSION METHODS
Through the international platforms Movibeta, Festhome, and FilmFreeway: only for Colombian and international productions (submission fee required).
Through the form available on the website (www.ficpa.co): only for Nariño, Colombian, and Andean productions (free submission).
If preselected, participants must sign an authorization for final selection and exhibition. Submission through international platforms authorizes exhibition of the production.
7. AWARDS AND JURIES
In the Sol de los Pastos category, a unique statuette representing the sun with a film frame at its center is awarded, allowing winners to look through it. This wooden sculpture is decorated using a Colombian artisanal technique. Winning films receive this statuette, while non-winning films receive a diploma. The jury is composed of members of the Nariño audiovisual sector.
In the Churo Cósmico category, winning national films receive a statuette or plaque representing a monkey with its tail coiled in a spiral, symbolizing movement from the inside outward and the cosmic worldview of the native communities of Nariño. The jury is composed of the festival curatorial team.
In the Cámaras de Barniz category, Sol de los Pastos statuettes or other awards are granted. The jury is composed of national and international guests.
Andean Feature Film
Feature Films >46' 200'<
Fee-8%
Standard5$4.6$
01 Jul 26
Late10$9.2$
08 Jul 26
Submissions deadline
08 Jul 26
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0.4$
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The Andean Feature Film category is aimed at fiction films produced in countries that share the majestic Andes mountain range, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Open to any theme and filmed in any region of these Andean countries, this category is a milestone in the world of cinema, with FICPA being a pioneer in its inclusion within film festivals. In the 2024 edition, this category is reintroduced with special significance, standing out as the event's most important international selection. The goal is to select one representative film from each country, thus celebrating the diversity and richness of Andean cinema. Spanish or with subtitles in this language.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM (FICTION)
Short and Feature Films >46' 200'<
Fee-8%
Standard5$4.6$
01 Jul 26
Late10$9.2$
08 Jul 26
Submissions deadline
08 Jul 26
Save up
0.4$
Submit
The National/International Fiction Feature Film category provides a space for the convergence of Colombian cinema and international cinema, seeking to explore creative and proactive perspectives. More than a competition, this category is an opportunity for collaboration and exchange among filmmakers from diverse cultures and contexts. It fosters an atmosphere of camaraderie and companionship, where mutual learning and the building of lasting connections are valued. The participation of a wide variety of films from around the world is eagerly anticipated at FICPA, thus enriching the cinematic experience for all attendees.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
Short and Feature Films >46' 200'<
Fee-8%
Standard5$4.6$
01 Jul 26
Late10$9.2$
08 Jul 26
Submissions deadline
08 Jul 26
Save up
0.4$
Submit
The National/International Documentary Feature Film category provides a convergence space to explore the realities and perspectives of documentary filmmaking at both national and international levels. This space not only celebrates the diversity of voices and narratives present in contemporary documentary filmmaking but also promotes intercultural dialogue and global understanding. More than just a competition, this category is conceived as a meeting ground for filmmakers committed to the pursuit of truth and authentic expression. The exchange of ideas and experiences is encouraged, thus creating an environment of collaboration and mutual enrichment. We eagerly anticipate the participation of a wide range of documentary films, offering revealing and inspiring insights into the world around us.
Short Documentary Film
Short Films >1' 45'<
Fee-8%
Standard5$4.6$
01 Jul 26
Late10$9.2$
08 Jul 26
Submissions deadline
08 Jul 26
Save up
0.4$
Submit
The Short Documentary Film category, whether at a national or international level, provides a platform to explore and share impactful and authentic stories in a brief yet powerful format. This space celebrates the documentary's ability to capture the essence of reality and convey deeply human experiences in a short period of time. Beyond being merely a competition, this category represents a gathering of filmmakers committed to telling genuine and meaningful stories. The exchange of ideas and perspectives is encouraged, thus creating an environment of collaboration and mutual enrichment. We are excited to receive a wide range of short documentary films, each with the potential to move, inspire, and open our eyes to new realities and viewpoints.
Short Fiction Film
Short Films >1' 45'<
Fee-8%
Standard5$4.6$
01 Jul 26
Late10$9.2$
08 Jul 26
Submissions deadline
08 Jul 26
Save up
0.4$
Submit
The Short Fiction Film category is a space dedicated to creativity and cinematic storytelling in a brief yet impactful format. From thrilling dramas to witty comedies, this genre offers a wide range of possibilities to explore captivating stories and unforgettable characters. More than just a competition, this category is an opportunity for emerging and established filmmakers to share their unique vision of the world through the art of cinema. Experimentation and innovation are encouraged, creating a vibrant and enriching environment for the filmmaking community. We are excited to receive a variety of short fiction films that will delight, entertain, and leave a lasting impression on the audience
Experimental Short Film
Short Films >1' 45'<
Fee-8%
Standard5$4.6$
01 Jul 26
Late10$9.2$
08 Jul 26
Submissions deadline
08 Jul 26
Save up
0.4$
Submit
The Experimental Video Art category is a space dedicated to creative exploration and innovation in the world of audiovisual art. This genre challenges traditional conventions of cinema and visual narrative, inviting artists to experiment with forms, structures, and concepts to express ideas in unique and provocative ways. From abstraction to performance, experimental video art provides a platform for creative freedom and unrestricted personal expression. More than just a competition, this category is a journey of discovery and exploration, celebrating the blurred boundaries between film, art, and technology. Artists are encouraged to push the limits of the known and open up new possibilities for artistic expression. We are excited to receive a variety of innovative and visionary works that will challenge, inspire, and captivate audiences with their originality and creativity.
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.
-8%
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. 