With a program that brings together filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences passionate about cinema, the 16th edition of JIIFF begins in José Ignacio, Uruguay.
For 2026, the festival’s programmers selected six films in competition and three feature films out of competition. As every year, the awarded film of the Official Competition will be chosen by the audience through their vote; we invite the audience to submit their ratings at the end of each screening.
We are honored to announce the presence of American actor Willem Dafoe, star of The Souffleur, a film competing in JIIFF’s Official Competition. The film is directed by Argentine director and producer Gastón Solnicki, and will be presented by both during their visit to José Ignacio.
Also visiting JIIFF is Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan, who will give a masterclass aimed at directors of photography and students from Uruguay and the region. Ryan is one of the most versatile DPs in the industry and has shot several films previously programmed at JIIFF, such as The Favourite (Yorgos Lanthimos), Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos), and Bird (Andrea Arnold).
On Friday, January 30, the JIIFF Short Film Competition screening will take place, organized in partnership with Fundación Diciembre. It features a selection of the best Uruguayan productions made in 2025, which will be screened at the festival as national premieres.
From January 28th to February 1st, the industry program Working JIIFF will take place, during which more than 50 international audiovisual industry professionals will arrive in José Ignacio.
Also during JIIFF week, the film workshop ¡Corte! will be held for children and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 18. Guided by local experts, participants will learn how to make a short film in one week and experience all stages of filmmaking, including the premiere.
JIIFF reaffirms its commitment to contemporary cinema, the development of new audiences, and the strengthening of ties between creators, professionals, and the public. The festival continues to establish itself as an international meeting space that fosters talent, promotes diversity of perspectives, and positions José Ignacio as a cultural reference point in the region.
Thank you for joining us and being part of this new edition.
Starting Monday the 19th at 8:00 p.m., reservations will open for the screenings of The Souffleur (11:00 p.m.), Woman and Child (11:00 a.m.), and Amélie and the Secrets of the Rain (3:00 p.m.). On Thursday the 22nd at 12:00 p.m., reservations will open for the screenings of Un poeta (11:00 a.m.), Urchin (11:00 p.m.), and Un Futuro Brillante (11:00 p.m.), as well as for the JIIFF 2026 Short Film Competition. All of these screenings take place at Pavilion VIK, with limited capacity and free admission. Screenings scheduled outdoors at Bajada de los Pescadores and Bodega Oceánica José Ignacio do not require prior reservation. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and folding chairs.
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In 2026, JIIFF programmers selected five films in competition and four out of competition. All of them were selected to be seen and experienced across three locations in José Ignacio: Bajada de los Pescadores, Bodega Oceánica José Ignacio, and Pavilion VIK. As every year, the awarded film of the Official Competition is chosen by the audience through their vote.
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On Friday, January 30th, JIIFF's Short Film Competition screening will take place, organized in partnership with Fundación Diciembre. It features a selection of the best Uruguayan productions made in 2025, which will be screened at the festival as national premieres. On that day, the directors and producers of the seven selected short films will be present in José Ignacio to introduce their works.
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On Friday, January 30, JIIFF will host Irish DP Robbie Ryan, who will give a free MasterClass on Cinematography designed especially for cinematographers and students specializing in the field from Uruguay and the region. Capacity is limited. To participate, interested parties must complete an online form available on our website.
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A new edition of the film laboratory for children and teens between 8 and 18 years old. In one week, and running parallel to the 16th edition of JIIFF, students learn to film a short movie that is later screened on the festival's big screen. The laboratory’s goal is to encourage teamwork while learning about the different stages of the filmmaking process: research, creativity, development, screenwriting, filming, editing, post-production, and projection.
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A section within Working JIIFF designed to strengthen fiction feature film projects at the development stage. It is aimed at pairs of emerging directors and experienced producers from across Ibero-America. Over five days, the selected participants work to strengthen their projects through consultations, mentoring sessions with highly recognized professionals, and participation in networking opportunities to help consolidate the realization of their films.
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A workshop within Working JIIFF created to encourage the training of professional fiction screenwriters and directors up to 32 years of age. Guided by local and international experts, the selected emerging talents will conceive and develop their projects. José Ignacio serves as the meeting place to inspire stories.
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In its upcoming edition, JIIFF Lab 2026 is proud to continue supporting the development of outstanding film projects from across Ibero-America through the Pfeffer del Sur Fund. Thanks to the generous support of the Pfeffer Family, a grant of US$ 50,000 (fifty thousand US dollars) will be awarded to one fiction feature film project participating in JIIFF Lab. At the conclusion of the lab, a final pitching session will be held, during which a jury of industry experts will select one project to receive the award.
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For the first year at Working JIIFF, the technical services and film equipment solutions company Musitelli awards a prize of $50,000 in filming equipment in Uruguay to one of the selected projects for JIIFF Lab 2026. This action reaffirms Musitelli's commitment to the development of the national and regional audiovisual sector, promoting new productions, co-productions, and especially supporting emerging talents.
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In May 2025, JIIFF had a strong presence at the Cannes Film Festival, consolidating for the third consecutive year its role as an international platform for Uruguayan and Latin American cinema. Aboard the Alhambra, moored in front of the iconic Palais des Festivals, JIIFF established its Cannes headquarters thanks to the generous support of its Main Benefactors, María and John Pfeffer, transforming the boat into a space for networking, dialogue, and international visibility.
Do you want to join our allies?. Our Sponsors and Benefactors support us in continuing to generate impactful actions. Today, Uruguay is a regional and international attraction in the audiovisual ecosystem, and JIIFF is a driving force of this change. Contact: info@joseignaciofilmfestival.com
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