Festival start: 01 October 2025
Festival end: 11 October 2025
The Calzada de Calatrava Film Festival opens its call for submissions in the following categories:
Short Films – "MADE IN CASTILLA LA MANCHA"
Official Competition – Short Films "Made in Castilla La Mancha":
Short films created by filmmakers who are either natives or residents of Castilla La Mancha; works that have used locations in this region; or productions involving companies with a registered office in Castilla La Mancha.
Official Competition – Short Films selected by CortoEspaña – Fugaz Awards:
National short films with free theme, genre, and technique, selected by CortoEspaña.
International Film Showcase:
Four feature films will be screened, selected by the festival organization from among the award winners at major international film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, New York, Toronto, San Sebastián, Málaga, Seville, and Seminci.
Parallel Activities:
Exhibitions, workshops, conferences, special sections, gastronomy contests, film-themed routes, and film music concerts.
Cash Prizes: 3,400€
JURY AWARDS – NATIONAL SHORT FILMS SECTION
CORTO ESPAÑA – FUGAZ AWARDS
First Prize for Best Short Film: €700.00 and Festival Statuette
Second Prize for Second Best Short Film: €500.00 and Festival Statuette
Best Direction: €500.00 and Festival Statuette
Best Actor: €250.00 and Festival Statuette
Best Actress: €250.00 and Festival Statuette
Audience Award for Best National Short Film: Festival Statuette
“MADE IN CASTILLA LA MANCHA” SECTION
First Prize for Best Short Film "Made in Castilla La Mancha": €700.00 and Festival Statuette
Second Prize for Second Best Short Film "Made in Castilla La Mancha": €500.00 and Festival Statuette
Audience Award for Best Short Film "Made in Castilla La Mancha": Festival Statuette
OFFICIAL SHORT FILM SECTION “MADE IN CASTILLA LA MANCHA”
REGIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION
PARTICIPATION RULES
The City Council of Calzada de Calatrava, the Department of Culture, the Adult Education Center (Universidad Popular), and the Pedro Almodóvar Film Cultural Association announce the 12th “Made in Castilla La Mancha” Short Film Competition of Calzada de Calatrava as part of the Pedro Almodóvar Film Route.
Festival Dates: The Festival will take place from August 1 to August 11, 2025.
I. OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this 12th Short Film Competition is to promote the short film as a means of audiovisual expression and to contribute to its recognition and dissemination, as well as to give visibility to and promote films made in Castilla La Mancha and/or by filmmakers from this region, through the official section “Made in Castilla La Mancha.”
II. GENERAL CONDITIONS
Eligibility Requirements
Short films submitted in this category must meet at least one of the following conditions:
Made by Filmmakers Native to Castilla La Mancha.
The filmmaker must prove this by submitting a scanned copy of their National ID (DNI).
Made by Filmmakers Resident in Castilla La Mancha.
To prove residency, the filmmaker must attach a scanned copy of their National ID (DNI) and a certificate of residence (empadronamiento) issued within the last six months.
Produced in Castilla La Mancha.
Proof must be provided by submitting a scanned copy of the registered fiscal or corporate address of the production company or the distribution entity based in Castilla La Mancha.
Shot on Location in Castilla La Mancha.
The submitter must identify the exact location(s) used. The organization may request additional documentation if necessary.
Duration:
Maximum running time of 20 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
Production Date:
Films must have been made or produced after January 1, 2024. They must not have had a commercial premiere in public theaters, on DVD, video, or television in Spain, nor have they been submitted to previous editions of this Festival.
Genre & Theme:
Short films of any genre, technique, and theme are accepted.
Language:
Films may be in any language; however, the version submitted to competition must include Spanish subtitles. This requirement is mandatory.
III. PLATFORMS / DEADLINES / DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED
Platforms for Submission
Submissions will only be accepted via the following platforms:
FESTHOME
No direct submissions or download links sent to the Festival will be accepted.
Submission Deadline
Final date for submission:
August 22, 2025
Documentation to Upload on the Platform
Each submission must include, in downloadable form:
Full Technical and Artistic Sheet
Complete Contact Information of the Filmmaker or Production Company
Stills/Photographs from the Film
Poster (Artwork)
Trailer
Download Links (for the short film itself)
Social Media Handles: X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
IV. SELECTION OF FILMS
Films that advance to the final competition phase will be chosen by the Jury. These selected films will be eligible for both Jury Awards and Audience Awards as outlined in these rules. The Jury’s decisions are final and unappealable.
Once the selection process is complete, results will be communicated to participants by phone or e-mail starting September 1, 2025. Additionally, results will be published on the Festival’s website (www.festivaldecinedecalzada.es) and on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FestivalDeCinedeCalzada/), and announced through various media outlets.
Once a film is officially selected by the Festival, it may not be withdrawn.
Selected films must enable download on the chosen platform in MP4 format (H.264 codec) at Full HD resolution.
Projection files must be submitted “without timecode overlays (‘moscas’)” and, if the film’s original language is not Spanish, must include embedded Spanish subtitles. Alternatively, a separate SRT file may be provided for integration.
Spanish-language films may also (optionally) provide projection files with English subtitles.
The Festival Organizing Committee may select, outside the main competition, additional films for special parallel sections. Such selections carry no monetary prize or stipend.
V. JURY
The Festival Organization will appoint the Jury members, whose decisions will be final and unappealable.
Individuals with any production, distribution, or other economic interest in films submitted to the Festival cannot serve on the Jury.
The Jury may award special mentions alongside official prizes in each category.
No prize may be declared void. Cash awards cannot be split (ex aequo).
Jury members agree not to publicly discuss their deliberations or the winners until the Festival makes an official announcement.
VI. JURY AND AUDIENCE AWARDS
FIRST JURY PRIZE FOR BEST SHORT FILM
– €700.00 and Festival Statuette
SECOND JURY PRIZE FOR SECOND BEST SHORT FILM
– €500.00 and Festival Statuette
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
– Festival Statuette
Awards Ceremony
The awards will be presented on October 11, 2025, during the closing gala of the Calzada de Calatrava International Film Festival, which begins at 19:00 at the location designated by the organization. Recipients of cash prizes must be present in person to receive the award.
VII. FILM REQUIREMENTS
Programming & Exhibition Rights
The organization reserves the right to screen selected films in as many public sessions as it deems appropriate. The Festival may also use any submitted video and photographic materials for promotional purposes or for non-commercial cultural or social activities. Producers grant public exhibition rights of their films to the Festival—both for this edition and future editions—at no cost to the Festival.
For films chosen for parallel (non-competition) sections, screening is contingent on the filmmaker’s consent; producers grant public exhibition rights under the same no-cost conditions.
Projection Formats
Short films will be screened in MP4 format (H.264 codec, HD), and filmmakers must enable download according to Section IV.
Publicity & Image Rights
Winning films must include the Festival’s laurels in their credits during any subsequent public screenings or on any medium. This requirement will be specified in the award acceptance documentation.
Acceptance of Rules
Submitting a short film to the 12th Calzada de Calatrava International Film Festival implies full acceptance and compliance with these Participation Rules and any annexes.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE & CONTACTS
PRESIDENT
Gema García Ríos (Mayor of Calzada de Calatrava)
gemagarciarios@calzadadecalatrava.es
+34 686 90 40 98
DIRECTOR
Hernán Valdés Parra
festivaldecine@calzadadecalatrava.es
hernanvaldesparra@hotmail.com
Mobile: +34 653 47 04 98
CO-DIRECTOR
Mª del Carmen León Fernández de la Puente
festivaldecine@calzadadecalatrava.es
+34 639 33 05 78 / +34 926 26 22 27
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Blas López Cañabate (President of the Pedro Almodóvar Film Cultural Association)
blas.lopezcbt@gmail.com
+34 672 15 95 95
LOGISTICS SUPPORT
Dolores Cazallas Díaz (Cultural Animator, City Council)
anicsp@calzadadecalatrava.es
Ángela Ruiz Espinosa (Councilor for Festivities)
angelaruizespinosa@calzadadecalatrava.es
EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS
Mari Pepa Ciudad Molero (Councilor for Education)
mpciudadmolero@calzadadecalatrava.es
Isabel García Pérez (Councilor for Culture)
isabelgarciaperez@calzadadecalatrava.es
Signed in Calzada de Calatrava on the date of electronic signing
Gema García Ríos
Mayor – President
City Council of Calzada de Calatrava
Calzada de Calatrava - Short Films from Castilla la Mancha
Short Films 20'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
22 Aug 25
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Short films made by individuals born or residing in Castilla La Mancha, which must be proven with a digital copy of their National ID (DNI) or a certificate of residence.
Short films made by individuals from anywhere in the world, filmed in locations within Castilla La Mancha or produced by a company whose registered legal and tax address is in Castilla La Mancha, which must be duly verified.
