Premios MASHO Guiones 2026 (1)

Festival start: 01 January 2026      Festival end: 28 November 2026

International Short Film Screenwriting Competition that promotes the development of screenwriting and audiovisual storytelling as a means of artistic expression and a driver of social impact, positioning Cartago, Costa Rica, as a creative hub that supports new voices and purposeful stories.

The competition also seeks to foster creativity and writing as tools for social transformation, providing emerging and professional screenwriters from around the world with a space where their stories can inspire, connect, and create change. From Cartago, Costa Rica, EscudoCorona aims to strengthen narrative culture and create real opportunities in the audiovisual industry.

Cash Prizes: 777€

Best Short Film Screenplay Award: Mentorship by renowned Colombian screenwriter Andrés “Lopera” Sánchez (6 hours of mentorship) + US$333 (three hundred and thirty-three US dollars) + MASHO 2026 Award Statuette.

Best Short Film Screenplay by an Emerging Screenwriter Award (1 to 7 scripts written): US$222 (two hundred and twenty-two US dollars) + MASHO 2026 Award Statuette.

Best Short Film Screenplay by a Student Screenwriter Award: US$111 (one hundred and eleven US dollars) + MASHO 2026 Award Statuette.

Special Mention for Best Mini Short Film Screenplay (up to 3 pages): Script review and workshop by Soley Bernal for the winning screenplay + MASHO 2026 Award Statuette.

Special Mention for Best Short Film Screenplay Written by a Woman: US$111 (one hundred and eleven US dollars) + MASHO 2026 Award Statuette.

All award winners and recipients of special mentions will receive a certificate of recognition and the corresponding official laurel.

1. Participants

Writers aged 18 or over, whether nationals or foreign nationals, may participate in the competition.

2. Theme

Short film scripts must address themes related to social awareness and human values.

3. Script Length, Format and Submission

Length: 3 to 15 pages, excluding the cover page (Title, Pseudonym, and Synopsis, with a maximum length of 15 lines).

Format:

Font: Courier New, size 12.
Margins: Left 3.8 cm, Right 2.5 cm, Top 2.5 cm, Bottom 2.5 cm.
Text must be left-aligned and not justified.
4. Language

Short film scripts must be written in Spanish.

Originality and Ownership

Scripts must be original and must not have previously been produced as audiovisual works. Participants must demonstrate ownership of the work by means of an intellectual property registration.

Scripts may have been created up to a maximum of three years prior to the publication of this call, provided that they comply with the stipulated theme.

Rights

The rights to the short film script shall remain fully with the AUTHOR, and the competition and its associated entities expressly waive any economic benefit arising from the potential film exploitation of the script.

For awarded works, the author and the production company shall mutually agree on the inclusion of the award laurel or mention in the opening credits.

Awards may be declared void if no entry is deemed suitable and shall be subject to any applicable tax withholdings and current legal provisions.

Any matter or question that may arise regarding the interpretation of these rules shall be resolved according to the criteria of EscudoCorona Films.

Acceptance

Participation in this competition implies knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of these rules, as well as the privacy policy and terms of participation.

By participating in the competition, the participant expressly agrees to comply with all the rules set forth herein, fully acknowledging that any breach thereof will result in the participant's disqualification from the competition.

The participant accepts responsibility for the conditions set forth herein and shall hold EscudoCorona Films harmless from any liability arising from non-compliance with such conditions.

EscudoCorona Films reserves the right to partially amend these rules in the event of circumstances not expressly provided for herein.

Data Protection

In compliance with current legislation and the provisions of Law No. 8968, entitled Law on the Protection of Individuals with Regard to the Processing of Their Personal Data, EscudoCorona Films informs competition participants that the personal data entered in the registration form will become part of a computerized database, accessible exclusively to the production company EscudoCorona Films. Such data will be processed by EscudoCorona Films in accordance with current legislation on the protection of personal data, for the purpose of maintaining the relationship arising from this competition. The information will only be used for communications related to this competition or to inform participants about future projects and calls.

Likewise, data collected through the Internet shall be subject to the legal notice and privacy policy of EscudoCorona Films, as published on the corresponding websites.

The entities associated with the competition shall not transfer or disclose participants' personal data to third parties, except where such disclosure is necessary for the development, fulfillment, maintenance, and execution of the obligations arising from this relationship, as established under the aforementioned Law No. 8968, or where another legal provision authorizes such transfer.

Participants may exercise their rights of access, rectification, cancellation, or objection regarding their personal data by contacting info@escudocorona.com or escudocoronafilms@gmail.com.

Obligations of Award Recipients

Award recipients shall be responsible for any applicable tax withholdings and current legal requirements, as well as for any legal obligations associated with the awards, both in Costa Rica and in the recipient's country of residence, if different.

In the opening credits of short films that have already been produced, the following award mention must appear: “1st Edition of the International Short Film Screenwriting Competition MASHO AWARDS 2026”, or the Digital Laurel awarded must be included graphically.

If the winner resides outside the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) of Costa Rica, any expenses arising from the payment of the award, whether banking, tax-related, or of any other nature, shall be deducted from the award amount or borne by the recipient.

Cash prizes shall be paid via PayPal to the email address associated with the recipient's PayPal account, or through Western Union using the information requested for this purpose. Any commissions charged by the bank or money transfer company shall be borne by the recipient.

Trophies/statues that are not collected at the awards ceremony may be shipped, provided that the shipping costs are borne by the recipient.

In order for the prize amount to be paid by the organization, the recipient must provide, within the required timeframe and in the required manner, all documentation requested by the competition organizers for the purpose of processing the payment. If the recipient fails to provide the required documentation within 30 days, they shall be deemed to have waived their right to receive the prize money, and the award shall consequently be declared void.