Festival Rizoma 2025 (13)

ONLY FOR SPANISH PRODUCTIONS OR FILMS CO-PRODUCED WITH SPAIN

Festival start: 18 November 2025      Festival end: 23 November 2025

RIZOMA Festival Internacional de Cine & Cultura Entrelazada aims to celebrate groundbreaking work on the international scene, to discover and support new voices in Spanish and Spanish-language cinema and to echo contemporary audiovisual trends. RIZOMA also aims to facilitate the visibility and access to distribution and commercialisation of independent proposals.

Cash Prizes: 1,500€

AWARDS

Additional monetary or in-kind prizes may be added. As of publication:

National Official Section – Best Film receives:

A 2026 premiere at Cineteca Matadero Madrid

A FILMIN VOD contract with €4,000 in funding

RIZOMA Route: A national screening tour in film archives, cultural and commercial venues reaching over 2,400 viewers (participation optional for distributor or producers)

Fnac Prize valued at €1,000

Contemporary Surrealism – Best Film:

€1,000 prize

Special Jury Mention – Surrealism:

€500 prize

Monetary prizes go first to the distributor, or else to the director and producer. Prizes are gross amounts, subject to Spanish tax laws and withholding.

The Fnac Prize (€1,000 gift card) is awarded to the director of the Best National Film, valid at Fnac stores in Spain. In the case of co-directors or collectives, it will be split evenly.

The winning film will receive a new DCP master including festival laurels and/or bumper, plus an MP4 master for platforms, featuring the screening subtitles. This version must be used in future screenings.

RIZOMA Transatlantic Turnstiles, SL, the managing and promoting company of the RIZOMA Festival in Madrid, announces the call for entries for the 13th edition of the festival, to be held from November 18 to 23, 2025.

OBJECTIVES
The RIZOMA International Festival of Interwoven Film & Culture aims to celebrate groundbreaking work in the international scene, discover and support new voices in Spanish-language cinema, and reflect contemporary audiovisual trends.

1.2. Festival Sections
Competitive Sections

National Official Section
New voices in Spanish cinema

Ibero-American Official Section
Cinema from Ibero-America

International Contemporary Surrealism
International and national cinema

Non-Competitive Sections
Based on submitted works, RIZOMA may also program parallel sections and Special Premieres outside of competition.

1.3. awards Granted
National Official Section

Best National Film

Special Jury Mention

Ibero-American Official Section

Best Ibero-American Film

Contemporary Surrealism Section

Best Film

Special Jury Mention

SUBMISSIONS & deadlineS
2.1. The call will be open from Wednesday, May 28, 2025, to Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

2.2. Submissions must be made online via Festhome.

2.3. Applicants will receive confirmation of receipt.

2.4. Selected entries will be notified no later than Friday, October 3, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY
3.1. All sections are open to fiction, documentary, experimental works in DCP or 16mm screening formats.

3.2. Minimum running time for competitive sections: 40 minutes.

3.3. The committee reserves the right to include short films or VR works in non-competitive sections.

3.4. Only works produced after January 1, 2024 are eligible. The committee reserves the right to invite earlier works.

3.5. Films from any country may be submitted. The programming team will decide the appropriate section.

3.6. Competitive films must not have been commercially released, broadcast on TV, or distributed on VOD platforms in Spain.

3.7. Madrid premiere status is required. National or international premieres are positively valued. Exceptions may apply for films with limited prior screenings in Madrid.

3.8. Section-specific eligibility:

National Official Section – XIII Edition
Open to Spanish productions or minority co-productions directed by Spanish filmmakers. Focused on first, second, or third features. Exceptions may apply for directors with more than three features.

Ibero-American Official Section – II Edition
Open to Ibero-American productions or minority co-productions with Spain. Same focus and exceptions as above.

Contemporary Surrealism – VII Edition
Open to works from any country/language. Films must contain surrealist elements, broadly defined by style or theme.

3.9. Films not in Spanish must include subtitled versions in both Spanish and english.

3.10. Each director, producer, or distributor may submit multiple films, each with its own entry.

3.11. Any submitted film may be considered for opening, closing, or parallel sections. The festival reserves the right to determine the number of screenings (1–3 per title).

3.12. Please submit an audiodescribed version, if available.

3.13. Participants must own the international exhibition rights of the submitted work.

3.14. The festival will not accept films that infringe upon the sexual, religious, ethnic, emotional, or human dignity of others.

SUBMISSION PROCESS
4.1. Materials required for submission via Festhome:

A digital copy of the film in Spanish with english subtitles, in any format, up to 20GB (.mov, .mp4, .mkv...). If the original language is not Spanish, both english and Spanish subtitled versions are required.

A minimum of 3 images and a poster in high and low resolution.

Technical sheet, short and long synopsis, director’s and producer’s bio, and highlight quote from the film.

Trailer or clip.

Press kit (optional but recommended).

OFFICIAL JURY
5.1. The festival will appoint an Official Jury of international professionals in cinema, audiovisual arts, and cultural management. Jury members must not have a conflict of interest with the competing films.

5.2. The jury’s decision is final.

5.3. The organization reserves the right to expand categories and prizes.

awards
6.1. Additional monetary or in-kind prizes may be added. As of publication:

National Official Section – Best Film receives:

A 2026 premiere at Cineteca Matadero Madrid

A FILMIN VOD contract with €4,000 in funding

RIZOMA Route: A national screening tour in film archives, cultural and commercial venues reaching over 2,400 viewers (participation optional for distributor or producers)

Fnac Prize valued at €1,000

Contemporary Surrealism – Best Film:

€1,000 prize

Special Jury Mention – Surrealism:

€500 prize

6.2. Monetary prizes go first to the distributor, or else to the director and producer. prizes are gross amounts, subject to Spanish tax laws and withholding.

6.3. The Fnac Prize (€1,000 gift card) is awarded to the director of the Best National Film, valid at Fnac stores in Spain. In the case of co-directors or collectives, it will be split evenly.

6.4. The winning film will receive a new DCP master including festival laurels and/or bumper, plus an MP4 master for platforms, featuring the screening subtitles. This version must be used in future screenings.

SELECTION PROCEDURES
7.1. The festival will appoint a Selection Committee of professionals to view and assess all submissions. Pre-selection results will be emailed by October 3, 2025.

7.2. Participation must remain confidential until publicly announced by the festival.

7.3. Finalist films may not be withdrawn once participation is confirmed.

7.4. Selected films must submit a DCP with english or Spanish subtitles, depending on the original language. If no DCP is available, the festival will produce one (valued at €400) at no cost.

7.5. Universal accessibility versions will be positively considered.

7.6. The festival will provide a digital delivery platform to reduce carbon footprint. Physical shipping and insurance costs are the film’s responsibility.

7.7. Screening copies must arrive by October 24, 2025, to allow for technical tests and QC.

7.8. Selected films will screen during the festival from November 18 to 23, 2025, in Madrid. The festival guarantees an in-theater screening of each finalist.

7.9. RIZOMA will cover domestic travel and 2 hotel nights for one team member (not based in Madrid) per selected film. A €150 travel stipend will be offered.

7.10. Each team will receive at least 2 screening invitations, and up to 6 based on venue capacity.

7.11. In case of copy damage or loss, the festival’s liability is limited to the replacement cost.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCEPTANCE
8.1. The organizing entity assumes no legal responsibility for the submitted content. The person or entity entering the film is fully responsible.

8.2. Selected films grant non-exclusive exhibition rights to the RIZOMA Festival during the festival period.

8.3. Selected films authorize the use of images and excerpts for the catalog, promotional materials, and media coverage.

MODIFICATIONS
9.1. RIZOMA Festival reserves the right to modify or expand the regulations at any time during the call for entries, notifying all applicants accordingly.

For any questions regarding the submission guidelines, please contact:

programacion@rizomafestival.com