Alicante International Film Festival is on the calendar this year from May 25 to June 1, 2024, with the deadline for official department submissions now open to distribute a total prize pool of €6,500. This year marks the festival’s 21st edition and, as in past years, includes national and international short film categories along with a feature film section from Spain. The event continues to provide a platform for emerging voices from Canada, the United States, and beyond, inviting submissions that align with the festival’s standards of storytelling, production quality, and artistic impact.
For filmmakers submitting short works, the submission deadline is set for March 24. Entries submitted from anywhere, including Canada and the United States, must have a running time of up to 30 minutes and be completed after January 1, 2022. Submissions may reflect a range of genres and styles, and grace periods or extensions are not guaranteed. The festival seeks both nationally produced pieces and international selections, offering visibility and networking opportunities within the European festival circuit and collaborations with North American film communities.
Among the shorts, there is a possibility of preference for standout pieces that demonstrate strong storytelling, technical craft, and social relevance. Awards include a Best National Fiction Short Film prize of €1,000 and additional €500 prizes across several categories: Best International Fiction Short Film, Best LGTBI International Short Film, Best National Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, plus recognitions for best script, director, actor, and actress. Winners gain prestige and additional opportunities for distribution, festival invitations, and industry recognition that can help propel careers in both North American markets and European cinema circles.
The winning work for Best National Fiction Short Film earns a chance to compete at the 2025 Goya Awards, expanding exposure to one of Spain’s most prestigious national honors. Full competition rules and prize details are available in the official festival documentation. [Source: Festival de Alicante bases and regulations (citation)]
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To participate in the official section, films produced after January 1, 2022 and not released in commercial cinemas or streaming platforms are eligible for the Alicante Film Festival competition. Each submission must be in its original language, and if the film is in a language other than Spanish, it should include Spanish subtitles. Each director may submit only one work, while production companies may submit additional films for other festivals or exhibitions as deemed appropriate. The festival encourages applications from Canada and the United States, highlighting accessibility to European audiences and the chance to build cross-continental collaborations.
The deadline for feature film submissions is April 14. As in previous years, the top feature film is awarded the Golden Tesela prize of €3,000, and the jury also grants five silver medals for best script, best director, best actress, best actor, and best cinematography. The Sergio Balseyro critic award is presented as part of the feature competition. The official rules for the feature film section are published in the festival’s documentation. [Source: Festival de Alicante bases para largometrajes (citation)]