LA HOGUERA: FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE INDEPENDIENTE Y DE AUTOR DE CATRAL (1)

Festival start: 12 February 2027      Festival end: 28 February 2027

LA HOGUERA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF INDEPENDENT AND AUTEUR CINEMA OF CATRAL

IDENTITY

La Hoguera International Festival of Independent and Auteur Cinema of Catral (hereinafter referred to as “Festival La Hoguera”) was established in Catral (Alicante) to create a space for cinema that asks no permission: cinema made with conviction and a personal point of view, that embraces formal experimentation, and that stands apart from strictly commercial circuits.

The festival does not seek products designed to fit commercial expectations, but films with a voice. Works that burn from within. During the festival, Catral becomes a meeting point between filmmakers and audiences who understand cinema as an act of freedom: films made out of necessity, not formula.

Because, before becoming an industry, cinema was, and still is, people gathered in the dark around a story.

Cash Prizes: 3,000€

The festival management will appoint an official jury made up of film and audiovisual arts professionals, responsible for awarding the prizes.

The following awards and endowments are established:

● Screening fee (screening rights): Each of the 8 films selected for the Official Selection will receive €375 in exhibition rights.

● First Prize for Best Film: €3,000.

● Best Director Award: Non-monetary award.

● Best Actor Award: Non-monetary award.

● Best Actress Award: Non-monetary award.

● Best Screenplay Award: Non-monetary award.

● Emerging Flame Award: Presented by the Catral charitable electric cooperative, with monetary compensation.

FESTIVAL RULES

1. PURPOSE

The festival’s main objective is to defend, promote, and give visibility to auteur cinema and independent production. We aim to create a space for exhibition, dialogue, and recognition for filmmakers who commit to unconventional narratives and a strong artistic vision.

The first edition of Festival La Hoguera will take place from 12/02/2027 to 28/02/2027. Catral will host the festival screenings.

The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held on 28 February.

2. SECTIONS

The festival is structured into the following sections:

2.1) Official Selection (Competition): The festival’s only competitive section. It will comprise a total of 8 selected films, chosen for their originality, independence, artistic quality, and the personal vision of their creators.

2.2) Short Film Showcase (Non-competitive): A parallel exhibition section, without prize eligibility, bringing together a curated selection of short films aimed at enriching the program and giving visibility to creators working in short format. The showcase combines local works — short films made in the Vega Baja region — with national and international proposals, all aligned with the festival’s philosophy and identity.

2.3) The films included in the program will be screened in person at the Festival’s venues in Catral during the festival dates.

3. AWARDS AND SELECTION FEE

The festival management will appoint an official jury made up of film and audiovisual arts professionals, responsible for awarding the prizes.

The following awards and endowments are established:

● Screening fee (screening rights): Each of the 8 films selected for the Official Selection will receive €375 in exhibition rights.
● First Prize for Best Film: €3,000.
● Best Director Award: Non-monetary award.
● Best Actor Award: Non-monetary award.
● Best Actress Award: Non-monetary award.
● Best Screenplay Award: Non-monetary award.
● Emerging Flame Award: Presented by the Catral charitable electric cooperative, with monetary compensation.

Award conditions:

1. The jury’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

2. Payment of prizes and selection fees will be made upon presentation of an invoice. The amounts stated in these rules are gross and subject to applicable Spanish tax withholdings at the time of payment, for both tax residents (personal income tax – IRPF) and non-residents (non-resident income tax – IRNR).

2.1. Payment to Non-Residents: Beneficiaries with tax residency outside Spain must provide a certificate of tax residency issued by their country’s tax authorities in order to apply any relevant Double Taxation Agreements. Failing that, the statutory non-resident withholding tax (IRNR) will apply.

2.2. Bank Charges: Payment will be made by bank transfer. For international transfers outside the SEPA zone, any fees or charges from the recipient or intermediary bank will be borne by the beneficiary.

3. Awarded works must include the festival logo on their promotional materials and in the film credits.

4. PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

4.1) Production year: Works produced from 1 January 2025 onward may be submitted.

4.2) Rights: To participate, entrants must hold the exhibition rights to the submitted film.

4.3) Multiple entries: There is no limit to the number of films a director or production company may submit, but a separate entry must be made for each work.

4.4) Duration: Works with a running time of over 60 minutes may be submitted.
4.5) Language: Films in a language other than Spanish must include subtitles in Spanish or English.

5. SUBMISSION

5.1) The submission period will remain open from the publication of these rules until 31/10/2026.

5.2) Submissions must be made online through the platform enabled at festhome.com.

5.3) An online viewing link must be provided (password-protected if necessary). The password must remain unchanged until the selection results are announced.

6. SELECTED FILMS (OFFICIAL SELECTION)

6.1) Selection committee: Made up of the festival management and industry professionals, who will choose the 8 films that will make up the competitive Official Selection, as well as the works for the parallel Showcase. The decision will be notified by email in December.

6.2) Once a film’s participation has been confirmed by those responsible for it, it may not be withdrawn from the program.

6.3) Materials: Selected films must submit, within the deadlines set by the organization, promotional materials (poster, trailer, stills, synopsis) and the screening copy in the agreed format.

6.4) Publicity: Rights holders authorize the use of excerpts and photographs from them for dissemination in media and social networks for the sole purpose of promoting the festival.

7. PERSONAL DATA PROCESSING

7.1) Data controller: Asociación Punto C, based in Catral.

7.2) Purpose: To manage participation in the festival, the awarding of prizes, and the sending of event-related communications.

7.3) Rights: Participants may exercise their rights of access, rectification, erasure, and objection by writing to: info@lahoguerafilm.com.

8. ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES

8.1) Mere participation in the festival implies full acceptance of these rules.

8.2) The organization disclaims all legal responsibility for the content of the works; legal responsibility lies with those who submitted the film. Works that incite any form of discrimination will not be accepted.

8.3) The organization reserves the right to resolve any matter not covered by these rules, as well as to modify the program if circumstances require it.