Xibalbá - Festival De Cine De Terror Latinoamericano (6)

Début du Festival: 24 octobre 2026      Fin du Festival: 31 octobre 2026

XIBALBÁ – VI LATIN AMERICAN HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

In Mayan mythology, Xibalbá is the underworld ruled by the deities of disease and death, equivalent to the underworld in other cultures. It is an important part of the mythical cycle of the twins Hunahpú and Ixbalanqué, narrated in the sacred book Popol Vuh of the K’iche’ Maya culture. The name of this festival was conceived as a tribute to our Mesoamerican culture and its richness, framed within an oral tradition filled with myths, legends, supernatural beings, horror, and fantasy.

Xibalbá Terror was founded in Guatemala in 2021 with the goal of promoting horror cinema created in our region, fostering a space for dialogue and exchange between genre audiences and filmmakers. Throughout its first five editions, the festival has experienced exponential growth, not only in audience reach but also in the variety of events and sections it offers. Xibalbá takes place in six cities across Guatemala, in cultural centers and alternative screening venues. We showcase horror and fantasy short and feature films, including all their subgenres and variations. In addition, we maintain partnerships with other festivals and platforms that strengthen the circulation of Latin American cinema.

Alongside the exhibition and competition of films, the festival features a training and educational space called Xibalbá Industria, where we offer workshops, masterclasses, and talks aimed at filmmakers and artists interested in horror and fantasy cinema. Within this section, we organize the Horror Project Clinic, dedicated to strengthening feature film projects in development, in partnership with other training initiatives across Latin America. We also encourage the production of horror stories through initiatives such as our one-minute film competition.

The festival also hosts a variety of live events, including performances, artistic interventions, and musical presentations, among others. One of the highlights is the Horror Cine-Concert, held annually and designed to transform each evening into an immersive and memorable experience.

For this VI edition, we will continue growing with more screening venues, more cities, and new sections. The underworld awaits us!

The festival program and all related activities can be found on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok: @XibalbaTerror) and on our website: www.xibalbaterror.com

Best Central American Short Film
Best Latin American Short Film
Best Latin American Feature Film

XIBALBÁ, HORROR AND FANTASY CINEMA opens its call for horror and fantasy short and feature films created by Latin American filmmakers to participate in Xibalbá – VI Latin American Horror Film Festival, to be held in October 2026 in different cities across Guatemala.


GENERAL RULES

-The call for entries will be open from May 17 to August 9, 2026.
-Short and feature-length films in the horror or fantasy genres, including all their subgenres and variations, are eligible. Works must be created by Latin American filmmakers, either native-born or naturalized, from any country in Latin America.
-Each participant may submit as many works as they wish.
-Films completed between 2024 and 2026 are eligible.
-Films must be in Spanish or include Spanish subtitles.
-Films must be submitted by filmmakers, producers, and/or distributors, who declare that they own the rights to the work. The participant is responsible for the content of the film and for securing all corresponding rights related to music, image, and third parties.
-Films previously submitted to past editions of the festival will not be accepted.
-Films previously published on social media, YouTube, or any public free-access platform will not be accepted.
-Works generated predominantly through artificial intelligence will not be accepted.


CATEGORIES AND awards

The festival will award the following categories:

-Best Central American Short Film
-Best Latin American Short Film
-Best Latin American Feature Film

The award consists of a Xibalbá Terror statuette, which will be shipped to the winner’s country of origin. No cash prizes will be awarded.

The jury reserves the right to grant honorable mentions or shared awards in any category it deems appropriate.

Films not selected for the Official Competition may still be considered for non-competitive parallel showcases.


SUBMISSION

Submissions must be completed exclusively through the FestHome platform, or by invitation from the organizing committee.

The Festhome profile must include the following information and materials:

-Synopsis
-Poster
-Stills
-Trailer or clip for promotional use
-Screening link or file
-Technical sheet
-Contact information

The submission fee for feature films is USD $10.00, and for short films USD $5.00.

If you are a student at a film school or a related academic program, you may request a fee waiver to submit your short film free of charge by emailing xibalbaterror@gmail.com and attaching your student ID or a letter from your school or university certifying that you are an active student or recent graduate.


SELECTION & JURY

Films selected for the Official Selection will be chosen by a selection committee, whose decision will be final.

Selected films will be notified via email prior to the public announcement. Film representatives must respond to the notification and provide written authorization for exhibition.

The Jury will be composed of renowned national and international filmmakers and will be responsible for granting the awards. Xibalbá Terror will announce the jury members prior to the festival.


SCREENINGS

Screening copies must be delivered within the deadlines and formats agreed upon with the organization.

The festival will take place in person at the end of October 2026 in different cities across Guatemala, in Cultural Centers, Cinemas, Theaters, Auditoriums, and/or public spaces such as parks and plazas. The organization will determine the screening dates and order of exhibition for the films.

Selected films may also be invited to participate in other screening spaces and/or exhibition platforms affiliated with the festival. In such cases, a new screening authorization will be requested.

Xibalbá Terror does not pay screening fees for films in competition.


CONTACT

If you have any questions regarding the call for entries, or if you have a film that does not comply with the rules but you would still like to screen at Xibalbá, you may contact us at xibalbaterror@gmail.com
so we can evaluate your proposal.