Short Film Competition 2026
The call for entries is now open for JIIFF’s 2026 Short Film Competition. This competitive section of the José Ignacio International Film Festival is organized in partnership with Fundación Diciembre and aims to discover new talents in Uruguayan cinema.
The call is aimed at those who are beginning to forge their own path in filmmaking and film production. Eligible submissions include Uruguayan productions and co-productions completed in 2025, that have not yet premiered in Uruguay and do not exceed 20 minutes in length.
The official award of the Short Film Competition is a trip to the 2026 Festival de Cannes, including a participation in the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry Industry activities.
JIIFF is part of the network of leading international film festivals that qualify for the Oscar® awards, and is the first Uruguayan festival to join the list of Academy Award® Qualifying Festivals. Being on this list means that the winner of the Diciembre Award in our 2026 Short Film Competition will be directly eligible for consideration by the Academy® in the Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film, and Live Action Short Film categories.
All selected short films will be provided with one night accommodation so they can attend the festival and present their work.
New submission deadline: December 1st, 2025, by 6:00 PM (local time).
1 Who can apply
1.1 The call is exclusively for Uruguayan productions or co-productions that have not yet premiered and/or been presented in Uruguay.
1.2 The producer or director of the short film must have been born in Uruguay or be a resident of Uruguay for at least 3 years.
2 ELIGIBILITY
2.1 Submitted short films must have been completed in 2025.
2.2 The maximum duration is 20 minutes, including credits.
2.3 Short films must not be or have been available on free online platforms, either national or international (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
2.4 Short films must not have been presented at any screening, showcase, or festival in Uruguay. A national premiere is a mandatory requirement.
2.5 Films may have premiered in another country during 2025.
2.6 Works can be of any genre (documentary, fiction, experimental, essay, animation, etc.). Advertising and institutional short films are not eligible.
3 APPLICATION
To apply, applicants must complete the online form available on the official JIIFF website and include the following information:
- A short biography of the director, including country of residence and date of birth.
- A short biography of the producer, including country of residence and date of birth.
- Phone number of the person submitting the application.
- Photo of the director.
- Photo of the producer.
- Title of the short film.
- Three high-resolution stills from the film.
- Social media handles of the director, producer, and the film (if available).
- Genre.
- Synopsis in Spanish and English, with a maximum of 300 characters.
- Duration of the film.
- Information on whether the film has participated in international festivals; if so, specify which ones.
- Indicate if it is a co-production.
- Screening link and password (works-in-progress may be submitted, but if selected, the final cut must be delivered by December 20th, 2025).
New deadline for submission: December 1st, 2025, at 6:00 PM (local time).
4 Selection
4.1 A committee appointed by the José Ignacio International Film Festival team will select a maximum of seven (7) short films to participate in the Competition.
4.2 The selected works will be announced at the end of December 2025 and will be screened at the sixteenth edition of the José Ignacio International Film Festival in January 2026, for which the filmmakers grant screening rights.
4.3 The selected short films will receive one night of accommodation for both the producer and the director so they can attend the festival and present their work.
4.4 All content used in the film must be original or properly licensed, with the relevant permissions secured.
5 ABOUT THE SELECTED WORKS
5.1 Selected filmmakers must submit: a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) with a minimum resolution of 1080p (ideally 2K or 4K), H264 codec; with English subtitles; a 10-second trailer; and the short film poster.
5.2 Language and subtitles:
If the short film is in Spanish, it must have English subtitles.
If the short film is in English, it must have Spanish subtitles.
If the short film is in any other language, it must have both English and Spanish subtitles.
5.3 Promotion: Selected works may be publicized on digital platforms by JIIFF. Participants authorize the use of their image and project in promotional videos produced by the organizers to promote the Competition and its related activities.
5.4 The festival organization reserves the right to determine the date and order of screening of the short films during the 16th edition of JIIFF.
5.5 Selected films must use JIIFF’s 2026 laurel on their poster, the short film itself, and all materials related to the festival.
5.6 By accepting these terms and conditions, competing short films will be part of the curated Market Catalogue of the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry, networking platform organized as part of the 2026 Festival de Cannes, representing a great opportunity to reach new international markets. Selected short films will receive two (2) accreditations to attend the festival and participate in the industry activities of the section if they wish to participate.
5.7 All short films selected for the Official Competition will receive a three-month free trial access for the FilmConnector platform by Radiator IP Sales. FilmConnector offers a fully integrated platform that optimizes workflows and expands international reach through intelligent partner searches, AI automation, and direct material delivery.
6 ABOUT THE AWARD
The selected short films in the 16th edition of JIIFF will compete for the Diciembre Award, which consists of a trip to the 2026 Festival de Cannes.
Attending the Festival de Cannes is a significant opportunity. Cannes is globally recognized for its prestige and attracts industry professionals, critics, and media from around the world. Through the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry, the festival provides a platform for exposure and recognition, enhancing your status as a filmmaker. It also offers valuable networking opportunities with influential figures who can support your future projects. Participating in the market activities of the festival allows you to gain insight into the workings of the industry, learn from experts, and be inspired by the best of international cinematography.
6.1 Diciembre Award: The award will be given to the winning film of the Short Film Competition by Fundación Diciembre, based on the decision of a jury specially selected by JIIFF. The prize consists of USD 2,500 (two thousand five hundred US dollars), which must be used to cover travel and accommodation expenses for the Festival de Cannes.*The winning project will receive two (2) accreditations for the festival, granting access to programmed films, industry events, and activities at the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry. The film will be highlighted as part of the curated market catalogue, under the banner of JIIFF. In the case of a co-production, the prize will be awarded to the Uruguayan director or producer.
*The prize can only be used for travel expenses to the Festival de Cannes: airfare, lodging, and per diem. The winner will be responsible for booking their own transport and accommodation and must justify their expenses to the JIIFF festival.
6.2 Qualifying Festival for the
Oscar® Awards: In addition to the trip to the next Festival de Cannes edition, the short film that wins the Diciembre Award will be directly eligible for consideration by the Academy® in the categories of Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film, and Live Action Short Film at the next Oscars®, without needing to follow the usual theatrical release path. Some festivals on this qualifying list include Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, Locarno International Film Festival, among others. All participants should consult the Academy® eligibility and qualification rules here https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility
6.3 Radiator IP Sales Distribution Consultancy Award: The winning short film will also receive the “Radiator IP Sales Distribution Consultancy Award” from Radiator IP Sales, an agent who has worked with over 200 shorts and films selected and awarded at major international festivals such as Cannes, Clermont-Ferrand, Venice, among others.
6.4 The Jury: Each edition, JIIFF appoints three local and international industry professionals to select the winning film of the Short Film Competition. If they deem appropriate, the jury may also award a Special Mention. The decision will be announced at the closing ceremony of the 16th edition of the José Ignacio International Film Festival and is final. The jury members may resolve any issues not foreseen in these rules.
6.5 Audience Award: All selected short films will also compete for the Audience Award, a recognition given to the film with the most votes from JIIFF 2026 viewers.
Submitting a film implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.
For more information or inquiries, please contact: cortos@joseignaciofilmfestival.com
