1. General rules and sections
The 38th edition of the Aguilar Film Festival calls for the International Short Film Festival of Aguilar de Campoo 2026, which will be held in Aguilar de Campoo from December 4 to 12, 2026.
Participation is open to all Spanish and international short films produced on or after January 1, 2024.
The duration of the films must not exceed 35 minutes (including credits).
All genres (fiction, animation, documentary, experimental), themes, and original production formats are accepted.
Short films submitted must not have been entered in previous editions of the festival.
The short films must be submitted by an individual, organization, or company that holds the rights or is legally authorized to represent them.
The person submitting the works is responsible for paying any copyright fees generated by the use of protected content.
2. Online registration and fees
The registration period will open on March 17th, 2026, and close on September 10th, 2026.
To participate in the 38th Aguilar Film Festival, works must be registered through the festival's official platforms:
www.festhome.com
www.shortfilmdepot.com
www.filmfreeway.com
The following registration fees apply:
Regular Period (April 17th – July 31st, 2026): €5
Late Period (August, st - August 31st): 8€
Extended Period (September 1st - September 10th, 2026): €10
To be considered, participants must submit viewing copies of their works in their original version via the platforms listed above.
If the language of the work is different from Spanish, it must include subtitles in Spanish or, alternatively, in English.
3. Selection
The Selection Committee, composed of professionals from the audiovisual arts and the festival organization, will be responsible for selecting works for the various sections of the festival.
The organization will notify the final selection results by email to the contact person provided.
If a work is selected, the organization will contact the representative to request all necessary materials.
The screening copy of the selected works must be sent within the deadline and in the manner requested by the organization. In all cases, submission will be online.
Screening format specifications:
Container: .mov / MPEG-4 H.264 or Apple ProRes 422
Resolution: Full HD (1920×1080)
Audio: Stereo AAC
If the original language is not Spanish, the film must include Spanish subtitles or be accompanied by an English dialogue list (preferably in .srt format).
The screening copies may be used in limited internal screenings for the Selection Committee and in the Palmarés del Festival programs organized by the festival, always for cultural and non-profit purposes. Producers will be notified in advance of any such use.
The selected films will be screened at the times and venues specified in the program and on the official website: www.aguilarfilmfestival.es. Submission implies authorization for these screenings.
For online broadcasting, explicit authorization will be requested. Participation in the online version is not mandatory for competing in the in-person edition.
By registering a work and accepting these terms, the rights holders grant the Festival the non-commercial right to screen the selected works for a period of one and a half years following the event, in special, non-profit promotional activities held outside the official dates.
These screenings will always be free of charge for the public and notified in advance to the rights holders.
4. Sections
The Aguilar Film Festival will have the following sections:
Official Section (International Competition)
De Campo (International Competition)
MiniAguilar (International Competition)
Castilla y León
Ríete tú
Parallel Sections
4.1. OFFICIAL SECTION
In this section, international and Spanish short films will compete on equal footing and be eligible for the awards listed below.
The organization will cover accommodation expenses in individual rooms for representatives of selected works, at least on the day of the screening.
An independent International Jury will determine the awards for this section.
Note: A Spanish short film is defined as any production made in Spain, any co-production with over 40% Spanish involvement, or any film directed by a Spanish filmmaker—even if produced elsewhere.
4.2. DE CAMPO SECTION
An international competition open to works focusing on rural life, ethnography, landscapes, territory-identity relations, or rural-urban dynamics.
All other general rules apply. Films selected for other sections may also participate in this one, if they meet the thematic criteria and are approved by the organization.
An independent Jury will determine the awards.
4.3. CASTILLA Y LEÓN SECTION
Eligible works must meet at least one of the following:
- Directed or produced by someone born in Castilla y León
- Filmed substantially or entirely in Castilla y León
- Produced by a company based in Castilla y León
- Directed or produced by someone who has lived in Castilla y León for five consecutive or seven non-consecutive years
Short films selected in other competitive sections can also be eligible for this award.
Entrants must indicate eligibility and provide documentation if requested.
This section will have a separate Jury.
4.4. MINIAGUILAR SECTION
Children’s and Youth Short Film Contest (MiniAguilar).
General submission rules apply. Works must be submitted under the MiniAguilar category via the same platforms and with the same fees.
Two competition categories:
Short films for viewers aged 3+
Short films for viewers aged 7+
This section will have an independent Jury.
4.5. RÍETE TÚ SECTION
International competition focused on comedy and humor in all forms. The winner will be determined by the audience attending the screenings.
4.6. PARALLEL SECTIONS
Non-competitive and informative sections that complement the official program of the 37th Aguilar Film Festival.
5. Awards and payment for selection
All short films selected in the following competitive sections will receive a selection fee of €200 (taxes included):
Official Section
Castilla y León Section
For Spanish productions, payment of the selection fee will be conditional on the presence of someone directly involved (director, cast, crew, etc.) at the screening.
If a film is selected in more than one section, the selection fee will only be paid once.
5.1. OFFICIAL SECTION AWARDS
Awarded by the International Jury:
Gullón Gold Biscuit for Best Short Film of the Festival
Gullón Gold Biscuit for Best Spanish Short Film (Goya Awards pre-selection)
Gullón Gold Biscuit for Best Animated Short Film
Golden Eagle for Best Direction
Golden Eagle for Best Actor
Golden Eagle for Best Actress
Golden Eagle for Best Screenplay
Golden Eagle for Best Cinematography
Golden Eagle for Best Editing
Golden Eagle for Best Art Direction
Additional awards:
Audience Award: Golden Eagle
Young Jury Award: Golden Eagle
Senior Jury Award: Golden Eagle
Critics' Award (Caimán Cuadernos de Cine): Golden Eagle
Mujeres Tejiendo Cambios Award: Best Short Film by a Woman Director
Alerta Sonora Award: Best Original Music in a Spanish Short
Red Cross Award: Best Short Showcasing Social Values
CASTILLA Y LEÓN AWARD
Golden Eagle for Best Castilla y León Short Film
Golden Eagle for Best Director from Castilla y León
Golden Eagle for Best Screenplay from Castilla y León
Golden Eagle for Best Performance from Castilla y León
Golden Eagle for Best Cinematography from Castilla y León
Golden Eagle for Best Editing from Castilla y León
Golden Eagle for Best Art Direction from Castilla y León
Audience Award for Castilla y León
5.3. MINIAGUILAR AWARDS
Best LICINIA+3 Short Film (ages 3 and up): €500
Best RENATO+7 Short Film (ages 7 and up): €500
5.4. DE CAMPO AWARD
Golden Eagle for Best De Campo Section Short Film: €500
5.5. RÍETE TÚ AWARD
Golden Eagle for Best Comedy: €500
The decisions of the juries are final.
Awardees must include mention of the prize received at the 37th Aguilar Film Festival in all future screenings and promotional materials.
5.6. BEST SPANISH SHORT FILM AWARD AND PRE-SELECTION FOR THE GOYA AWARDS
The Aguilar Film Festival collaborates with the Spanish Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences in the pre-selection process for the Goya Awards.
The winner of Best Spanish Short Film will automatically enter pre-selection, provided it meets the Academy's eligibility criteria:
www.academiadecine.com
6. Acceptance of the rules and Data Protection Law
Submitting a film implies full acceptance of these rules, and of the decisions made by the organization, the selection committee, and the juries.
Any matters not covered in these rules will be resolved by the festival’s organizing team.
The organization reserves the right to admit, on an exceptional basis, works that may not fully meet the established criteria.
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679) and Organic Law 3/2018, the organization commits to processing participants’ personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently, strictly for purposes related to the festival’s management.
Participants may exercise their rights of access, rectification, erasure, limitation, opposition, or data portability by contacting the organization directly.
