Cachinus De Cine International Youth Film Festival (9)

Inizio del Festival: 22 aprile 2027      Festival si chiude: 24 aprile 2027

English (Inglés)
The “Cachinus de Cine” Festival is organized by the Cultural Association of Cilleros (A.C.D.C.) and the Town Hall of Cilleros.

The festival "Cachinus de Cine" was born with the hope of bringing the seventh art to the children and youngest so that they have the posibility to learn trough this art to know and understand better the world around them. Also to get the posibility to express their concerns through the images.

It will take place at the beginning of May in Cilleros, a town located in "Sierra de Gata" in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, at the East of Madrid (Spain).
An enclave that are still preserving his nature and tradition over the years.

It is surrounded by rivers of crystal clear water, natural pools and mountains that invite you to explore their paths.

We wish this festival to be a meeting point where we can meet people and cultures from all over the world and get to know ourselves too.

Exchanging concerns and experiences with all the participants is also part of the dream with which this festival is born.

Premi in contanti: 200€

Best Professional Short Film — €200
New Filmmakers Award
Best Professional Animated Short Film – Natxo Menchero Special Award — €200
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Professional Performer
Best Children's Short Film – C1
Best Junior Short Film – C2
Best Animated Short Film Made by Under-18s
Best Child or Youth Performer
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Short Film from Extremadura
Best Short Film from Sierra de Gata
Children's Audience Award
Professional Audience Award
Environment Special Award
Cachinus de Cine Special Award
A.C.D.C. Special Award

FICIJ CACHINUS DE CINE 2027 RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. ORGANISATION

The Cilleros Town Council and the Asociación Cultural de Cilleros (A.C.D.C.) organise the 2027 edition of the Cachinus de Cine International Children and Youth Short Film Festival (FICIJ).

The Festival aims to promote audiovisual creation, support filmmaking talent, bring cinema closer to children and young people, and encourage cultural exchange between filmmakers, educational institutions, young creators and film professionals from different countries.

The Festival will take place in Cilleros, Sierra de Gata, Cáceres, Spain, in late April 2027.

The final dates and any possible changes will be announced sufficiently in advance through the Festival website, social media and official communication channels.

The Festival is divided into two main sections:

Professional Section
Educational Section
PROFESSIONAL SECTION
2. ELIGIBILITY

The Professional Section is open to filmmakers of any nationality and age and aims to provide a platform for the exhibition, recognition and promotion of their work.

Individual filmmakers, production companies, associations, collectives or any natural or legal person holding the necessary rights to the submitted work may participate.

3. MAIN CATEGORIES
Best Professional Short Film

Short fiction and animated films may participate.

New Filmmakers Award

A special award for short films whose director is under 30 years of age on the date the film is submitted.

Eligible films may also compete for any other awards for which they meet the requirements.

Best Animated Short Film

Natxo Menchero Special Award

Eligible films may use any animation technique, provided that at least 75% of the total running time consists of animated images.

Animated films may also compete for the Best Professional Short Film award.

4. FILM REQUIREMENTS

Submitted films must meet the following requirements:

They must have been completed on or after 1 January 2024.
They must not have been submitted to previous editions of FICIJ Cachinus de Cine.
They must be original works.
The subject matter is open.
Maximum running time is 20 minutes, including credits.
Exceptionally, the Selection Committee may accept longer films when their artistic or cultural interest justifies it.
Films must be suitable for screening within a Festival that also has children and young people among its audiences.
Works whose content or treatment is clearly inappropriate for this context, or which promote hatred, racism, sexism, discrimination or the denigration of individuals or groups, will not be accepted.
The organisation may exclude works whose technical quality prevents proper screening, viewing or assessment.
language and subtitles

Films in any language are accepted.

If the original language is not Spanish, english subtitles are recommended.

Films that also provide Spanish subtitles, either embedded in the screening copy or supplied as a separate file, will be particularly appreciated.

5. SUBMISSION

Entries must be submitted exclusively online.

DVDs, USB drives or any other physical formats will not be accepted.

Films may be submitted through any of the following platform:

Festhome: https://festhome.com/f/4516


This platform may charge their own submission or management fees.


Participants are advised to submit each film only once and to avoid duplicate submissions through different platforms.

Submission period

Submissions will be accepted from 21 September 2026 until 23:59 on 31 January 2027.

Submitting a film implies full acceptance of these Rules and Regulations.

6. SELECTION COMMITTEE AND OFFICIAL SELECTION

A committee appointed by the Festival organisation will review all submitted works and select the short films that will form part of the Official Selection of FICIJ Cachinus de Cine 2027.

The selection may take into consideration, among other aspects:

artistic quality;
screenplay;
directing;
acting;
originality;
audiovisual treatment;
technical quality;
interest of the proposal;
suitability for the Festival.

The number of selected films will depend on the quality, length and characteristics of the submitted works and on programming requirements.

Being part of the Official Selection does not necessarily imply finalist status.

The organisation may also select certain works for showcases, special screenings or non-competitive sections.

For films not included in the Official Selection, or for screenings outside those covered by these Rules, prior permission will be requested.

7. JURY

The jury will consist of professionals or individuals connected with film, culture, communication, education or other fields related to audiovisual creation.

Jury members will be appointed by the Festival organisation.

The jury will assess the films in the Official Selection and determine the finalists and winners of the various awards.

Normally, three finalists per category or award will be selected, although the jury may choose a different number depending on the characteristics and quality of the submitted works.

The jury's decision will be final.

The jury may declare any award void if it considers that no film has sufficient merit.

8. JURY SCORING SYSTEM

Each jury member will assess the films individually using the system established by the organisation.

For the main awards, a 1 to 10 scoring scale will be used.

As a general rule, the film with the highest average score in each category will be declared the winner.

In the event of a tie, the organisation's tie-breaking criteria will apply or, where necessary, the jury will carry out an additional assessment.

9. PROFESSIONAL SECTION awards

The following awards are established:

Best Professional Short Film — €200
New Filmmakers Award
Best Animated Short Film – Natxo Menchero Special Award — €200
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Performer, regardless of gender, for performers over 18 years of age
Best Short Film from Extremadura
Professional Audience Award

Films in this section may also compete for the following shared or cross-section awards:

Best Documentary Short Film
A.C.D.C. Special Award
Cachinus de Cine Special Award
Environment Special Award

The same film may receive more than one award when it meets the relevant requirements.

The jury may also grant special mentions when it considers there is sufficient merit.

10. BEST SHORT FILM FROM EXTREMADURA

This award will be available in both the Professional Section and the Educational Section, applying the same criteria in both cases.

Fiction and live-action films

Eligible films must:

have been made by filmmakers, educational institutions, associations or collectives from Extremadura or based in Extremadura; and
have been shot at least 51% within the Autonomous Community of Extremadura.
Animated films

For animated short films, eligible works must:

have been made by filmmakers, educational institutions, associations or collectives from Extremadura or based in Extremadura; and
have carried out at least 51% of the principal production and animation work in Extremadura.

For these purposes, production and animation work may include, among other activities, directing, design, illustration, modelling, animation, photography, stop-motion work, compositing or post-production directly linked to the creation of the film.

The organisation may request documentation proving compliance with these requirements.

The connection with Extremadura may be demonstrated, where appropriate, through an identity document, proof of residence, the registered address of an educational institution, association or collective, or documents relating to residence, studies or professional activity.

Where necessary, the organisation may request additional information regarding filming locations or the place where the animation work was carried out.

EDUCATIONAL SECTION
11. ELIGIBILITY

The Educational Section is intended for works made by children and young people within educational institutions, associations, film schools, youth groups, audiovisual workshops or other organisations working with children and teenagers.

Its aim is to promote creativity, audiovisual education, teamwork and the active participation of children and young people in the filmmaking process.

12. EDUCATIONAL CATEGORIES
Children – C1

Short films made by children up to 12 years of age.

Junior – C2

Short films made by young people aged 13 to 18.

The category will be determined by the age of the group responsible for the main creative decisions of the work.

Adult assistance and supervision are permitted, provided that directing, screenplay writing, filming and the main creative decisions are primarily carried out by the participating minors.

When participants of different ages are involved, the organisation may assign the film to the category it considers most appropriate, taking into account the composition of the group and the creative responsibility of its members.

13. EDUCATIONAL FILM REQUIREMENTS

Films must meet the following requirements:

They must have been completed on or after 1 January 2024.
They must be original works.
They must not have been submitted to previous editions of the Festival.
Maximum running time is 12 minutes, including credits.
Exceptionally, the Selection Committee may accept longer films when their artistic, educational or cultural interest justifies it.
Films must be suitable for all audiences.
Films must not contain content or treatment that is clearly inappropriate within an educational context or that promotes hatred, racism, discrimination, sexism or the denigration of individuals or groups.

The subject matter is open.

language and subtitles

Films in any language are accepted.

If the original language is not Spanish, english subtitles are recommended.

Films that also provide Spanish subtitles will be particularly appreciated.

14. EDUCATIONAL SECTION SUBMISSION

The same submission methods and conditions described in Section 5 apply.

Films may be submitted through:

Festhome


or free of charge through the official Festival form:

https://festival.cachinusdecine.es/enviar/

Submissions will be accepted from 21 September 2026 until 23:59 on 31 January 2027.

15. SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FILMS

The Festival Selection Committee will review the submitted works and choose those that will form part of the Educational Official Selection.

The jury will subsequently determine the finalists and winners.

The assessment of educational films will particularly consider:

creativity;
originality;
screenplay;
storytelling ability;
genuine participation by the minors;
directing and staging;
suitability of the technical resources for the participants' age and available means;
educational and cultural values;
expressive ability of the work.

Particular consideration will be given to the educational and creative nature of the project, so that greater access to technical or professional resources does not in itself constitute an advantage over productions made with more modest means.

16. EDUCATIONAL SECTION awards

The following awards are established:

Best Children's Short Film – C1
Best Junior Short Film – C2
Best Animated Short Film Made by Under-18s
Best Child or Youth Performer, regardless of gender
Children's Audience Award
Best Short Film from Extremadura
Best Short Film from Sierra de Gata

Educational films may also compete for the following shared or cross-section awards:

Best Documentary Short Film
Environment Special Award
Cachinus de Cine Special Award
A.C.D.C. Special Award

The same film may receive more than one award when it meets the relevant requirements.

The jury may also grant special mentions where it considers there is sufficient merit.

17. BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM MADE BY UNDER-18s

Animated films belonging to the Children C1 and Junior C2 categories may compete for this award.

A film will be considered an animated short film when it is created using any animation technique and at least 75% of its total running time consists of animated images.

The directing, main creative decisions and a substantial part of the creation and animation process must be carried out by the participating minors.

Adult technical or educational support is permitted provided that it does not replace the creative work of the minors.

Films may compete simultaneously for the animation award and for the corresponding C1 or C2 category award, as well as any other awards for which they are eligible.

18. BEST SHORT FILM FROM SIERRA DE GATA

This award forms part of the Educational Section and is intended for short films made by educational institutions, associations, collectives or groups of children and young people belonging to the Sierra de Gata region.

The organisation may request information demonstrating the group's connection with one of the municipalities in Sierra de Gata.

The entire film does not need to have been shot in Sierra de Gata. The main eligibility criterion will be the origin of the group, school, organisation or collective responsible for making the film.

Eligible films may also compete for the relevant Children C1 or Junior C2 category award and any other awards for which they qualify.

19. BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

The Best Documentary Short Film award is a cross-section award open to documentary works entered in both the Professional Section and the Children C1 and Junior C2 categories of the Educational Section.

All documentary films will compete together for one single award, regardless of the age of their creators or participants.

Eligible works include short films whose main nature is documentary, including social, cultural, historical, educational, environmental, biographical, informative or creative documentary works.

The organisation may determine whether a film is eligible when there is doubt regarding its documentary nature.

Participation in this category is compatible with any other awards for which the film is eligible.

For documentaries made by minors, the jury will take into account the participants' age, available resources and the genuine level of involvement of the minors in the creative process.

PROVISIONS COMMON TO BOTH SECTIONS
20. SCREENINGS

Films included in the Official Selection may be publicly screened as part of the programme of FICIJ Cachinus de Cine 2027.

Submission and subsequent selection of a film imply authorisation for its public, non-commercial screening during the Festival, without any screening fee being payable to its authors, distributors or representatives.

The organisation may use stills, posters, trailers and excerpts from selected films solely for informational and promotional purposes connected with the Festival.

Participation does not entail any transfer of intellectual property rights, which remain with their lawful owners.

21. COPYRIGHT

The person or organisation submitting a film declares that they hold all rights and permissions required for its participation and screening at the Festival.

This includes, where applicable, rights relating to:

images;
music;
screenplay;
performances;
audiovisual material;
image rights;
any third-party material contained in the film.

The Festival organisation accepts no liability arising from participants' failure to comply with these obligations.

22. PARTICIPATION OF MINORS

For works made by or featuring minors, the person, educational institution, association or organisation responsible for the submission must hold the necessary authorisations from their legal guardians for:

participation in the film;
recording of their image and voice;
public screening of the short film;
use of promotional material associated with the film in connection with the Festival.

The organisation may request proof of such authorisations where necessary.

23. NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION AND FINALISTS

The persons responsible for selected films and finalists will be notified sufficiently in advance using the contact details supplied during submission.

The organisation may publish the Official Selection, finalists and subsequently the winners through its website, social media, the press and other official channels.

Participants are responsible for providing valid contact details and checking communications sent by the Festival.

24. AUDIENCE awards

FICIJ Cachinus de Cine establishes two separate Audience awards:

Children's Audience Award

Short films in the Children C1 category selected for the corresponding screenings will take part in this vote.

Professional Audience Award

The following films will participate:

films from the Professional Section;
films from the Junior C2 category;
Professional Animated Short Films.

If a film falls within more than one of these groups, it will participate only once in the corresponding audience vote.

The exact voting system, screenings and participating films will be determined by the Festival organisation according to the programme of the edition.

The result will be based on the votes cast by the attending audience under the system established by the Festival.

25. CASH awards AND RECOGNITION

The confirmed cash awards for the 2027 edition are:

Best Professional Short Film: €200
Best Animated Short Film – Natxo Menchero Special Award: €200

The organisation may later announce additional cash awards for other categories in the 2027 edition.

Winners will also receive an official certificate and, where applicable, the official Festival statuette.

The final list of awards, cash prizes and additional recognition will be announced by the organisation before the Festival takes place.

The Festival will promote winning films and their creators through its website, social media, press and other communication channels.

26. ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL

Authors, representatives, educational institutions and persons responsible for selected films may request to attend the Festival in person.

The Festival does not guarantee coverage of travel, accommodation or meal expenses.

Depending on available resources, the organisation may:

provide information about accommodation in the area;
arrange special rates or discounts;
offer a limited number of accommodation or meal places when the edition's budget permits.

Specific conditions will be communicated directly to the participants concerned.

27. FINAL GALA AND awards CEREMONY

The closing gala and awards ceremony will take place, unless the programme is modified, on a Saturday in late April 2027 at the Cilleros Auditorium.

The final date will be announced through the Festival's official channels.

Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as possible.

28. CHANGES AND EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

The organisation may make any organisational changes that become essential for justified reasons or due to force majeure.

Such changes will, in all cases, respect the principles of equal treatment of participants and transparency of the call for entries.

The jury may declare an award void if it considers that no work has sufficient merit.

Any circumstance not expressly covered by these Rules and Regulations will be resolved by the Festival organisation.

29. ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES

Submission of a film to FICIJ Cachinus de Cine 2027 implies full acceptance of these Rules and Regulations.

The person submitting the film declares that they are authorised to accept these conditions on behalf of the holders of the rights to the work.

30. CONTACT

For any questions regarding participation in the Festival:

Email:
festival@cachinusdecine.es

Telephone:
+34 699 554 613
+34 679 256 278

Official website:
https://festival.cachinusdecine.es/

FICIJ Cachinus de Cine 2027
International Children and Youth Short Film Festival
Cilleros · Sierra de Gata · Extremadura · Spain