FESTIVAL CURTA CINEMA
Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival – 35th edition
March 25 > April 1 – 2026
Rio de Janeiro – RJ – Brasil

FESTIVAL CURTA CINEMA – Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival – is exclusively dedicated to the promotion and exhibition of short-length audiovisual works. We are a competitive festival that exhibits films with a maximum length of 30 minutes. The programming of Festival Curta Cinema consists on: International and National Competition, Latin American and Rio Panorama, Youngsters Panorama and Special Programs.

INTERNATIONAL REGULATION

1. Objective
The objective of the Festival is to promote and stimulate reflection on the short film format, seeking to encourage the exchange between Brazilian and international producers.

2. Organization
The Festival is organized by FRANCO – Associação Franco Cultural, in partnership with Franco Produções.

3. Period
Festival Curta Cinema – Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival – 35th edition will take place from March 25th to April 1st, 2026.

4. Type of Festival
Competitive and Informative.

5. Submission

5.a. Films must be submitted exclusively through the platform www.filmfreeway.com between September 23, 2025, and January 25, 2026.

5.b. Submitted films must have a maximum running time of 30 minutes and must have been produced between January 2025 and January 2026.

5.c. Films must be submitted in either the National or International category.

5.d. The Festival defines “National/Brazilian” films as those made, produced, and funded by Brazilian individuals, companies, and/or institutions. “International/Foreign” films are defined as those made, produced, and funded by foreign individuals, companies, and/or institutions. For questions regarding the appropriate submission category — especially in cases of co-productions — please contact: programa@curtacinema.com.br

5.e. National submissions (Brazilian films) are exempt from submission fees.

5.f. The International category has a submission fee, which varies according to the submission date, as follows:
– Early Deadline – Sep 23 to Oct 31, 2025: €10.00
– Regular Deadline – Nov 1 to Dec 10, 2025: €15.00
– Late Deadline – Dec 11, 2025 to Jan 5, 2026: €20.00
– Extended Deadline – Jan 6 to Jan 25, 2026: €25.00

5.g. By submitting a film, entrants confirm they hold the necessary rights for the public screening of all images and music used in the film, specifically for non-commercial, festival-related exhibitions, and release the Curta Cinema Festival from any obligations regarding payment of related rights for its exhibition.

6. Criteria for selection and dispatch of copies and material for exhibition

6.a. A maximum of 800 minutes of films will be selected to compose the National and International Competition Programs. Other films may be included in thematic and special programs, with the agreement of the filmmaker/producer.

6.b. The list of selected films will be publicly announced by February 23rd, 2026.

6.c. The screening formats for selected films will be DCP and/or H.264. Specific technical information about formats will be provided when the selection is announced. Other formats may eventually be accepted, subject to case-by-case evaluation by the Festival’s production team.

6.d. Screening copies of selected films must be sent to the Festival no later than March 10th, 2026. Submission must preferably be made via online transfer. The sending of physical copies by courier or similar services must be previously negotiated with the Festival organization.

7. Jury and Prizes

The jury will be composed of independent professionals from the fields of cinema and visual arts, invited by the Festival organization, who will decide on the following awards:

– National and International Grand Prix
-Cash award of R$ 6,000.00 (six thousand reais) for the National Grand Prize and €1,000 (one thousand euros) for the International Grand Prize.
-Qualification for the Oscars®, in accordance with the rules of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility).

– Special Jury Prize
– Best Director

Through popular vote, the Festival will also award the following prizes:
– Rio Panorama Public Award
– Latin American Panorama Public Award

Other prizes may also be awarded by sponsors and/or partners who wish to highlight and promote the work of new filmmakers. Producers of selected films will be informed in advance to decide on their participation in prize contests that may involve the cession of exhibition or related rights.

The submission of a film to the Festival implies full acceptance of these regulations.