Festival Internacional de Cine Universitaria Lanterna (15)

Festival start: 22 April 2026      Festival end: 27 April 2026

To students, university filmmakers, and young creators around the world:

It is with great excitement that we invite you to participate in the fifteenth edition of the LANTERNA International University Film Festival, which will take place on April 2026, at Universidad Anáhuac México, Campus Norte.

This is not just another year. We are celebrating fifteen years of giving voice to bold, powerful, and deeply human stories. Fifteen years of discovering new talent, of seeing the world through the lens of those who dare to express what they feel, live, and dream.

That’s why, for this special edition, we open our call to all university students who want to share their vision through cinema. You may submit short films of any genre, produced between 2024 and 2026, directed or created during your time as a student.

Our goal is to gather the best of contemporary university cinema—films that challenge, that move, that dare to experiment or embrace simplicity with honesty. Cinema made with passion, with limited resources but unlimited creativity. The kind of cinema that connects.

Participation is free and open to students from anywhere in the world. In the coming days, we’ll be publishing the full guidelines, categories, and submission forms on our official website and social media.

We would love to see your story be part of this edition that celebrates the past, present, and future of student filmmaking. And we can’t wait to share this journey with thousands of people who, like you, believe cinema can transform.

With admiration and hope,
Carlotta de Pompeis
Director
LANTERNA International University Film Festival

Acknowledgement and statuette by the festival.

● Registration for short films will have no cost.

● The registration deadline will be February 28, 2026.

● A proof of studies or university credential must be submitted by the director or producer, demonstrating that, the film carried out, is by a university student or graduate of a maximum of 2 years.

● The short film must be in H.264 format in .mp4 with a minimum resolution of 720p.

● Productions that involve religious proselytism, political propaganda, institutional promotion, homophobic promotion, discriminatory and/or commercial profile will not be accepted.

● To be admitted, the materials must be presented in Spanish or english. In the event that the original language is not Spanish or english, the translation or subtitles (in english or Spanish) of the project are required, otherwise their participation will not be considered.

● The participants of the production team must attach an official identification.

● It will be required to attach an electronic press kit for each work registered with the following materials:
o Still photograph of the work that represents the project (color at 300 dpi, in .jpg format)
o Synopsis of the work
o Brief biography of the director
o Photograph of the director (color at 300 dpi, in .jpg format)
o Technical sheet with list of credits

● If the owner of the short film (director/producer) does not deliver the materials requested by FICU LANTERNA on the dates and deadlines indicated, they will be disqualified. Extensions are not accepted for any reason.

*All categories include short film and documentary film.

*We remind you that any work created from other works must receive credit to be qualified as a candidate.

*If the participants are not sure in which category to register their short film, they should register it in the one they think is most convenient according to their description.

*If the FICU LANTERNA committee considers that the category of said short film should be another, they will contact the participants to verify the information.

● The festival is not responsible for copyright.

● It is necessary that the participants read the regulations before submitting their short film, said regulations can be found on the official website of the festival: https://www.ficulanterna.mx/convocatoria

Privacy notice:

The Anáhuac University Mexico, a private institution of higher education that operates through Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores, S.C., with its address at Avenida Universidad Anáhuac 46, Lomas Anáhuac, Huixquilucan, State of Mexico, ZIP Code 52786, will use your personal data to verify your identity, send you information about the event, evaluate your attendance, and fulfill administrative obligations. For more information regarding the processing and the rights you can exercise, you can access the privacy notices through: https://www.anahuac.mx/mexico/proteccion-de-datos-personales/AvisosdePrivacidad/LANTERNA