Alicante Smartphone Film Festival is expanding its program with a dedicated category that celebrates the best short films shot entirely on mobile devices within the province of Alicante. The festival’s first edition featured a local shorts section, and this second call continues that tradition, receiving more than 150 entries from towns including San Vicente del Raspeig, Novelda, Xixona, Petrer, Elche, Torrevieja, Sant Joan d’Alacant, and Santa Pola—nearly half of the total submissions.
The top provincial short will be awarded with 500 euros, alongside opportunities for national and international distribution. On Monday, festival director David Seva Morera confirmed that the competition will run from 21 to 25 November and will screen 35 short films selected for competition, totaling a prize pool of 2,500 euros. The screening is set for this Thursday at 12:30 in Kinépolis cinemas, which are already at full capacity. [Festival organizers, 2024]
According to Cultural Deputy Juan de Dios NavarroŞen, the project brings together writers who share a stage at the festival and highlights its value in developing culture and talent in cinema. It also provides a platform for local creators to present their work beyond the city limits. International entries from Mexico, Argentina, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom are also noted, with last year’s winner along with Paco Leones’s Neighbour noted among the notable national selections. [Cultural authorities summary, 2023]
This year’s lineup includes Alicante animation director Maria Lorenzo, who was nominated for a Goya in 2015 for Ocean Night, and participates with an animated short titled Fashion Victims. Also highlighted is Alicante-based actor Rebeca Alemany, who directed the short Claudius, featuring a shepherd as its protagonist. Esteban Requejo’s It’s Sunny is another notable entry in the program. [Festival notes, 2024]
Jury
Alicante actor Luis Miguel Seguí chairs a jury that also features animated film directors Sami Natsheh and Arly Jones, and filmmaker Alfredo Navarro. The panel underlined the high quality of works produced by a young generation, calling attention to the seed of future filmmakers and the growing talent that uses the mobile phone as a creative instrument. [Jury statements, 2024]
Discussions touched on themes such as tyranny, romantic relationships, and entry into the business world, with Seguí noting that the format is not a miniature version of traditional cinema but a concise, powerful form in its own right. The films showcased reflect the challenges and aspirations of today’s youth, often addressing how their lives intertwine with digital media and the realities of contemporary society. [Jury remarks, 2024]