Short Film Competition 2027

Submissions are now open for JIIFF’s 2027 Short Film Competition. This competitive section of the José Ignacio International Film Festival, organized in partnership with Fundación Diciembre, seeks to discover new talent in Uruguayan cinema.

The competition is open to directors and producers in the early stages of their filmmaking careers. Eligible entries include Uruguayan productions and co-productions completed in 2026, not released in the country, and no longer than 20 minutes in duration.

The official prize for the Short Film Competition is a trip to the Festival de Cannes 2027, including participation in the activities of the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry.

JIIFF is part of the network of international festivals qualifying for the Oscar® , and is the first festival in Uruguay to be included on the list of Academy Award® Qualifying Festivals. As a result, the film that wins the Diciembre Award in the 2027 Short Film Competition will be considered directly by the Academy® in the Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film, and Animated Short Film categories.

All selected short films will receive two nights of accommodation to attend the festival and present their work.

Submission deadline: November 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM (local time).

1 Who is it for

1.1 The call is exclusive to Uruguayan productions and co-productions that have not yet premiered and/or screened in Uruguay.
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1.2 The director or producer must have been born in Uruguay or provide proof of a minimum of three (3) years of residency in the country.

2 Elegibility

2.1 Submitted short films must have been completed in 2026.

2.2 Short films must not exceed 20 minutes, in duration, including credits.

2.3 Short films must not be, or have been, available on free-to-view digital platforms, whether national or international (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).

2.4 Short films must not have been screened at any prior screening, showcase, or festival in Uruguay. The national premiere is a mandatory requirement.

2.5 Short films may have premiered in another country during 2026.

2.6 Works of any cinematic genre will be accepted: fiction, documentary, animation (including IA), essay, experimental, among others). Advertising and institutional/corporate short films are excluded.

3 Application

Complete the form with the following information:

Brief biography of the director, including country of residence and date of birth.
Brief biography of the producer, including country of residence and date of birth.
Contact 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.
Social media accounts for the director, producer, and the short film, if applicable.
Genre.
Synopsis in Spanish and English, under 300 characters.
Duration.
Has it participated in international festivals? If so, please specify which ones.
Whether it is a co-production.
Screening link and access password.
Works in progress are accepted. If selected, the final version must be delivered by December 11, 2026. (Links requiring file download for viewing, or links requiring access authorization, will not be accepted.)

The call for submissions will remain open until November 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM.

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 be part of the Competition.

4.2 Selected works will be announced in late December 2026 and screened at the seventeenth edition of the José Ignacio International Film Festival, in January 2027. Submitting an entry implies authorization for it to be screened as part of the festival.

4.3 Selected short films will receive two nights of accommodation for the director and producer, who will be invited to attend the festival to present their work and take part in the industry activities organized by JIIFF.

4.4 All content used in the film must be original or licensed, with the corresponding permissions in place.

5 About the selected works

5.1 Materials: Selected filmmakers must deliver the short film in DCP format, a trailer of up to 10 seconds, and an official poster.

5.2 Technical specifications: DCP 5.1, 2K resolution.
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5.3 Language and subtitles: If the short film is in Spanish, it must have English subtitles. Short films spoken in English must have Spanish subtitles. If the short film is in another language, it must have both English and Spanish subtitles.
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5.4 Promotion: Selected works may be shared with the public on digital platforms by JIIFF. Participants authorize the use of their image and of the project in promotional videos that the organizers may produce for the purpose of promoting the Competition and its related activities.

5.5 The festival organization reserves the right to set the date and order in which works are screened during the 17th edition of JIIFF.

5.6 Selected filmmakers must include the JIIFF 2027 laurel on the poster, on the short film itself, and on all materials related to the festival.

5.7 Acceptance of these rules implies that, if selected, the works will be included in the Catálogo de Mercado curado por el Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry, an international networking platform that promotes short film visibility and connections with industry professionals. Those wishing to attend the Festival de Cannes will receive two (2) accreditations to take part in its activities from May 16-19, 2027.

6 About the Awards

JIIFF convenes a jury made up of three professionals from the national and international audiovisual industry, responsible for selecting the Awarded Film of the Short Film Competition and the Special Mention.

The jury's decision will be announced during the closing ceremony of the 17th edition of the José Ignacio International Film Festival, the decision will be final, and jury members may resolve any situation not covered by these rules.

Selected short films compete for the Diciembre Award, which consists of a trip to the Festival de Cannes 2027, in addition to other prizes and recognitions.

Being able to attend the Festival de Cannes represents a significant opportunity for filmmakers. Recognized worldwide for its prestige, it brings together industry professionals, critics, and media outlets. Through the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry, it offers a space of visibility for short films and creates opportunities to connect with producers, distributors, and other key figures in the sector. Participating in its activities allows filmmakers to understand how the international audiovisual market works, expand their network of contacts, and draw inspiration from new perspectives and experiences.

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) and must be used to cover travel and accommodation expenses at the Festival de Cannes.* The winning project will receive two (2) accreditations for the festival, with the possibility of accessing the programmed films, industry events, and the activities of the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry. The film will be featured as part of the curated industry catalogue, identified with JIIFF's institutional seal. In the case of a co-production, the prize will be awarded to the Uruguayan director or producer.

*The prize may only be used for expenses related to the trip to the Festival de Cannes: travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses. The winner will be responsible for booking their own transportation and accommodation, and must provide proof of expenses to JIIFF.

6.2 Academy Award® Qualifying Festival: In addition to the trip to the next edition of the Festival de Cannes, the short film winning the Diciembre Award will be considered directly by the Academy® for the Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film, and Live Action Short Film categories for the upcoming Oscar®, without needing to complete the standard theatrical release requirement. Festivals in this network include the Sundance Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Festival de Cannes, and the Locarno International Film Festival, among others. All participants must review the Academy®'s eligibility and qualification rules to register through the following link: https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility
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6.3 Audience Award: All selected works also compete for the Audience Award, a recognition given to the film that receives the most votes from JIIFF 2027 audiences.

6.4 Ibershorts Qualifying Festival: The winner of the Diciembre Award and the winner of the Audience Award will be considered for possible selection at Ibershorts, the short film section of the 2028 Málaga Film Festival.

‍6.5 Special Mention, FICVIÑA Award: The jury will grant a Special Mention. As part of this recognition, the short film will be invited to take part in the upcoming edition of the Viña del Mar International Film Festival (FICVIÑA), joining the Ibero-American Short Film Competition.

6.6 Fugaz Awards Qualifying Festival: The winning short film of this call may be submitted to the Fugaz Awards, organized by CortoEspaña. This submission is optional.