Festival Internacional De Cortometraje UVAQ (18)

Festival start: 09 June 2025      Festival end: 13 June 2025

OPEN CALL

The Universidad Vasco de Quiroga (UVAQ) invites you to participate in the 18th Edition of the Festival Internacional de Cortometraje UVAQ (FICUVAQ), which will take place from June 9 to June 13, 2025, in a hybrid format (online and in person) in the city of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.

Before registering, please read this call for entries carefully. Registration and participation in the festival imply full acceptance of these rules.

Cash Prizes: 1,211$

The festival will award a total of $25,000.00 MXN distributed among the following categories:

CATEGORY

Best Documentary Short Film: $5,000.00 MXN

Best Fiction Short Film: $5,000.00 MXN

Best Animated Short Film: $5,000.00 MXN

Best Experimental Short Film: $5,000.00 MXN

Best UVAQ Consciousness Short Film: $5,000.00 MXN

* Winners will receive laurels, a statuette, and an official certificate of recognition.

* The jury may grant honorable mentions and declare categories vacant if deemed necessary.

* If a winner is not present on the day of the award ceremony, they may collect their statuette at Universidad Vasco de Quiroga (Santa María Campus, Morelia, Michoacán). If unable to do so, shipping costs will be at their expense.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. Open Call for Submissions:

* Students and alumni of Universidad Vasco de Quiroga.

* Students of film, communication, animation, visual arts, multimedia, and related fields from public and private universities.

* Filmmakers, independent creators, and professionals from Mexico and abroad.


2. Participants:

* Short films produced from 2023 onwards are eligible.

* Short films from all countries are welcome.

* Incomplete projects or works that participated in previous editions of the festival will not be accepted.

* Each work must be submitted in only one category.

* All production formats are accepted, from smartphones to any type of camera.

* There is no limit on the number of submissions per filmmaker, producer, or distributor, but each work must be registered separately.


3. Not Accepted:

* Music videos or works with commercial or promotional purposes, such as advertisements or brand promos.

* Projects that fail to meet the specified technical or legal requirements.

* Works that do not meet the quality standards established by the festival.


4. Additional Notes:

* It is not mandatory for the works to premiere in Mexico.

* Short films previously screened at other national or international festivals may participate.


REGISTRATION

1. Registration Period: January 27 to April 18, 2025.

2. Submission Platform: festhome.

3. Procedure for Students:

* Send an email to ficuvaq@uvaq.edu.mx with a copy of your valid student ID.

* Email subject: "[Short Film Title], festhome - Student Code Request."

* Include your full name for identification.

* You will receive a unique code for free registration.


4. Procedure for UVAQ Professors:

* Their short films will only be showcased as part of a special screening, not as competitors.

* Send a photograph of your valid official university ID to receive a free registration code.

5. The short film must be registered by a representative (preferably the producer or director). In case of winning, the prize will be awarded in their name.

CATEGORIES AND duration

1. Documentary Short Film:
* Informative or educational themes.
* Maximum duration: 15 minutes, including credits.

2. Fiction Short Film:
* Imaginary events and characters.
* Maximum duration: 10 minutes, including credits.

3. Animated Short Film:
* Techniques: 2D, 3D, Stop Motion, Claymation, among others.
* Maximum duration: 10 minutes, including credits.

4. Experimental Short Film:
* New ways of expressing emotions or experiences.
* Maximum duration: 10 minutes, including credits.

5. UVAQ Consciousness Short Film:
* Themes addressing environmental or social issues.
* Maximum duration: 10 minutes, including credits.

The Selection Committee may make exceptions to the duration if deemed necessary.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND DOCUMENTATION

For each selected work, the following must be provided:

1. Short film in a minimum resolution of Full HD (1080p, H.264).
* Synopsis in Spanish and english.
* Technical sheet: credits, city, state or province, country, year of production, and duration.
* Poster in JPG format (300 DPI).
* Three stills in JPG format (300 DPI).
* Photo of the director in JPG format (300 DPI).
* Trailer (optional).
* Press kit (optional).

2. subtitles:
* Works in a language other than Spanish must have Spanish subtitles.
* Works in Spanish must have english subtitles.

3. Legal Restrictions:
* Submitted elements must be original or have acquired rights (music, images, texts, etc.).
* The registrant is responsible for the rights.
* Any work involving plagiarism will be disqualified.


SELECTION PROCESS

1. Selection Criteria:
* Concept
* Interpretation
* Technical and artistic excellence
* Originality and innovation

2. Notification:
* Selected authors will be contacted via email and the submission platform.
* The official selection will be announced on May 15, 2025, on the festival's website and social media platforms.

3. Screening of Selected Works:
* Selected works will be screened at local venues and available on the official website ficuvaq.com during the festival week.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. The awards Committee (jury) will consist of three experts in the field.

2. The decisions of the selection and awards committees are final and non-negotiable. Feedback on non-selected works will not be provided.

3. The Organizing Committee will determine the dates, times, and venues for the screenings of selected short films. This information will be announced on the festival’s website and social media.

4. All selected works will be kept in the festival’s film archive.

5. No short film may be withdrawn from the program after its official selection.

6. The festival will not pay screening fees for participating materials.

7. Selected works may be included in non-profit showcases organized by the festival during 2025 and 2026.

8. Submitted materials may be used for promotional purposes of the festival (up to 20% of the total duration).

9. Any unforeseen circumstances will be resolved by the Organizing Committee.

For questions or inquiries, email ficuvaq@uvaq.edu.mx.

Participation and registration in the 18th Edition of the Festival Internacional de Cortometraje UVAQ imply full acceptance of these terms and conditions.