Lusca Film Fest (19)

Festival start: 15 October 2025      Festival end: 22 October 2025

LUSCA Film Fest (former Puerto Rico Horror Film Fest) is the Caribbean's Premier Fantastic Film Festival. LUSCA is open to the public. Accredited national and international press, as well as TV and film buyers and distributors also participate.

In addition to showcasing the best genre films that indie movie making has to offer, this exotic fest also features a number of special events.

Best International Feature Film
Best International Director
Best International SciFi/Fantasy Short Film
Best International Horror/Thriller Short Film
Best International Dark Comedy Short Film
Best International Animation Short
Best International Short film Director
Best International Music Video
International People's Choice
Best Local Feature Film
Best Local Feature Film Director
Best Local Female Feature Film Director
Best Local Feature Film Actor
Best Local Feature Film Actress
Best Local Short Film Female Director
Best Local SciFi/Fantasy Short Film
Best Local Horror/Thriller Short Film
Best Local Dark Comedy Short Film
Best Local Experimental Short Film
Best Local Documentary Short
Best Local Student Short Film
Best Local Music Video
Local People's Choice
Best Local Short Film Original Score
Best Local Short Film Actor
Best Local Short Film Actress
Best Local Short Film Screenplay
Best Local Short Film Editing
Best Local Short Film Cinematography
Best Local Short Film Sound Design
Best Local Visual FX
Best Local Practical & MakeUp FX
Best Local Short Film Animated Short
Short Script Contests
Other Local and International Prizes & Special Mentions

AUDIOVISUAL PROJECTS - GENERAL TERMS

LUSCA Fantastic Film Fest doesn't pay screening fees for any selected movie.

All films in a language other than English or Spanish should be subtitled with English or Spanish subtitles unless dialogue or commentary is unnecessary for comprehension and appreciation.

We usually do not accept works in progress. However, we will consider a work in progress if your film has received press coverage, has generated a lot of buzz, and if you can grant the Festival an exclusive premiere.

It is highly recommended that submitters secure proper synchronization and composition licenses for any music used in their project. The festival may request evidence of appropriate licenses or permissions to verify that all music included adheres to copyright standards. Projects that do not meet these guidelines may be disqualified to ensure the integrity of copyright compliance.

Submissions must include only legally owned or licensed elements, such as music, lyrics, images, performances, and any other copyrighted material. By submitting an audio-visual project to LUSCA, submitters confirm they have obtained all necessary permissions and licenses for the use of copyrighted materials, including but not limited to music rights, image rights, and performance rights. The festival organizers will not be liable for any copyright infringement or unauthorized use of intellectual property within the submitted projects.

Submitters agree to indemnify and hold harmless LUSCA organizers, sponsors, judges, and partners from any claims, damages, or losses arising from their participation in the festival or from the use of their submitted projects. The festival organizers will not be liable for any technical or logistical issues affecting the submission, judging, or screening process.

Submitters warrant that the use of rights granted here and any materials supplied by them will not infringe on the rights of any third party. Submitters agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless LUSCA, its officers, agencies, employees, and sponsors from any claims by third parties alleging infringement of rights. This Release and Hold Harmless Agreement shall bind the submitters' assigns and any representatives.

All entries selected grant the Festival the right to use audio, video, and still images for promotional materials. The Festival will request artwork or promotional material for use in its website once the film is accepted to screen.

Excerpts from films will only be shown on television or any other media for promotional purposes. Permission is granted during submission.

Submission of any project represents agreement with the rules set forth herein.

LUSCA Fantastic Film Festival is open to the public. Accredited national and international press, as well as TV and film buyers and distributors also participate.

LUSCA Fantastic Film Festival is presented by Puerto Rico Film Academy, Inc. and Oceanus Corp. Our main objective is to promote emerging, independant and marginalized audiovisual and storytelling projects through diverse and expansive events throughout the year.

SELECTION & SCREENING PROCESS

You will hear from us by mid-September at the latest, most likely by e-mail. If your contact details change at any time, please let us know so that we can update our records. The program will be published in the first week of October.

All Pre-Selected films must send their completed and signed Acceptance Form and final screening version of the movie (if it wasn’t sent by the submission process) and must be received no later than the first week of September.

We prefer that you submit your projection screener via the Internet. You can use WeTransfer, Hightail, Vimeo, or any other large file transfer platform.

Programming decisions are made by a professional selection committee composed of working industry professionals. It is LUSCA policy not to provide comments on why a film was not selected for the Festival.

FESTIVAL PASSES

Feature Films accepted into the Festival will receive four (4) Complementary Filmmaker Passes if attending the Festival.

Short Films accepted into the Festival will receive two (2) Complementary Filmmaker Passes if attending the Festival.

Music Videos accepted into the Festival will be granted 4 complimentary tickets for the Music Video Competition Showcase and/or any regular screening session in the festival program (excluding special screenings/events).

Animation Short Films accepted into the Festival, participating in the competition, will be granted 4 complimentary tickets for the Cast and Crew for the Animation Competition Cinema Showing and other Animation Competition Related Events.

Short Scripts accepted to the Festival will receive 2 complimentary tickets for any regular festival showing and other Short Script related events.

LUSCA FANTASTIC SHORT SCRIPT CONTEST

Participants shall submit:

1) Brief synopsis of the story in the script in no more than 6 lines.

2) Expanded synopsis of the story in the script in no more than one paragraph.

3) Premise of the story in no more than two lines.

4) Full screenplay with numbered pages in standard script format. Please submit the script file. Scripts cant exceed 10 pages.

LUSCA Fantastic Script Contest - Participation Rules & Terms

The LUSCA Script Contest is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents over 18, residing in Puerto Rico, the mainland U.S., or U.S. territories. Eligible scripts must align with genres supported by LUSCA: fantasy, science fiction, comedy, or bizarre.

Submitted scripts must be written in Spanish and/or English, be unpublished, original, and no longer than 10 pages. They should not be entered in other contests or have any existing production agreements. Only final submissions are accepted, with no changes allowed after registration. If the script has co-authors, any awards will be issued to the main author, who is responsible for distributing them as needed.

Entries must comply with all contest guidelines and be in standard script format; non-compliance will lead to disqualification. Winners will be announced through LUSCA’s website and social media channels.

The contest jury, composed of reputable filmmakers and film experts, will make the final decisions. In case of a tie, LUSCA’s Executive Board will make the final call. The jury’s decision is final and not open to appeal.

LUSCA reserves the right to publish winning scripts. All copyrights remain with the authors, with due credit provided.

Contest winners and selected works will keep all the rights under the Federal Copyright Law and the Intellectual Property Law of Puerto Rico. The only responsibility is to establish that it was a winner of the LUSCA Fantastic Script Contest on a separate card shown for no less than 4 (four) seconds at short film, in case the script is produced.

Submitting a script constitutes acceptance of these rules.