The 9th Edition of Cine Jardim – Belo Jardim Latin American Film Festival aims to strengthen the dissemination of cinema in the interior of Brazil’s Northeast, fostering the development of new cinematic perspectives and sensibilities. The event will take place from August 17 to 22, 2026, in the city of Belo Jardim, in the Agreste region of Pernambuco.
Beyond its cultural dimension, Cine Jardim establishes itself as a training-oriented festival, especially dedicated to students from Elementary School (levels I and II) and High School, from both public and private schools in Belo Jardim. By bringing young audiences closer to Latin American cinema, the festival seeks to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and the development of a more conscious relationship with the images and narratives that shape everyday life.
More than just a film showcase, the festival serves as a space for encounter and reflection, allowing participants to access more complex and profound perspectives on the diverse realities that make up Latin America. Keeping this window open in the interior is essential to broaden horizons, spark dialogue, and foster the recognition of other ways of existence—both real and possible.
On the white screen, not only images are projected, but also paths for exchange, listening, and transformation. In this way, Cine Jardim reaffirms its commitment to building a more sensitive, diverse, and inclusive world—one that feels closer to all of us.

The 9th Edition of Cine Jardim – Latin American Film Festival of Belo Jardim will take place from August 17 to 22, 2026, at Cineteatro Cultura, Praça da Estação, and Parque Janela, with outdoor screenings in the city of Belo Jardim, in the countryside region of Pernambuco.
An average of 80 (eighty) films will be selected for screening as part of the Festival’s program.
Screenings at Cineteatro Cultura, which has a seating capacity of 90, will take place at 9:00 AM [Passarinho Section and Voo Livre Section], 2:30 PM [Revoada Section and Diversidade de Voos Section], and 8:00 PM [Latin American Short Film Competition and Brazilian Feature Films].
Outdoor screenings at Praça Janelas para o Rio will take place at 7:00 PM on August 19, 20, and 21, 2026, featuring short films suitable for all audiences.
The discussions will be held online via Google Meet and broadcast on Cine Jardim’s Facebook and YouTube channels. The debates have been hosted by professor and film critic Filippo Pitanga.
Audiovisual training workshops will be held free of charge at Instituto Conceição Moura.
Screenings at Cineteatro Cultura will include a Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) interpreter accompanying the master of ceremonies. The venue offers accessible infrastructure for wheelchair users, people with reduced mobility, and larger seating accommodations. All films will be presented with full accessibility features, including audio description, Libras interpretation, and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Outdoor sessions will include selective waste bins and accessible spaces for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.
The Festival is competitive in nature, with an OFFICIAL JURY composed of prominent professionals from the national audiovisual scene, responsible for awarding the best films and technical categories. There will also be a POPULAR JURY, through voting ballots after the screenings, and a YOUTH JURY inspired by the successful experiences of the festivals "Curta Cinema – International Short Film Festival of Rio de Janeiro" and "Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival." The aim is to encourage more active youth participation during the Festival. The Youth Jury is composed of high school students from public schools.

Awards & Prizes

Trophies will be awarded to the best films, by a popular jury, in the categories:

a) Latin American Short Film Category
b) Category Feature film

Trophies will be awarded, by an official jury, in the following categories:

a) Short film category
Best Short Film
Special Jury Prize
Best Direction
Best Performance
Best Picture
Best Editing
Best Sound Design

b) Category Feature film

Best Feature Film
Special Jury Prize
Best Direction
Best Performance
Best Picture
Best Editing
Best Sound Design
Best Soundtrack

Rules & Terms

CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR THE 9TH CINE JARDIM – LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL OF BELO JARDIM

REGULATIONS

I – PURPOSE

1.1 – This Call for Entries aims to select short and feature-length films to participate in the competitive and non-competitive sections that will compose the program of the 9th Edition of Cine Jardim – Latin American Film Festival of Belo Jardim, to be held from August 17 to 21, 2026, in the city of Belo Jardim, State of Pernambuco, Brazil.

II – ORGANIZATION

2.1 – Cine Jardim – Latin American Film Festival of Belo Jardim is organized by Pontilhado Cinematográfico e Produções Culturais e Artísticas Ltda and Instituto Conceição Moura.

III – COMPETITIVE SECTIONS

3.1 – The Festival will consist of competitive and non-competitive film sections in the following categories:

3.2 – Competitive

3.2.1 – Latin American Short Film Competition;
3.2.2 – Brazilian Feature Film Competition.

3.3 – Non-Competitive

3.3.1 – International Short Films for Children and Youth [Foreign short films from any country, except Brazil, aimed at children and young audiences, with a maximum duration of 30 minutes, intended for non-competitive screenings for school-age audiences. Films produced from January 2023 onwards will be accepted];

3.3.2 – Latin American Short Films [Competitive screening of films by filmmakers residing in one of the 19 countries that make up Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela];

3.3.3 – Brazilian Short Films [Brazilian short films produced from January 2025 onwards, whether previously screened or not, directed by Brazilian filmmakers. International co-productions or fully international productions will be accepted, provided the director is Brazilian and resides in Brazil].

3.3.4 – Non-Competitive Sections: Passarinho, Voo Livre, Revoada, Rotas de Migração, and Diversidade de Voos.

§ 1 – For all categories, films completed from 2025 onwards will be accepted, produced in any format, of any genre, with a maximum duration of 30 minutes for short films and a minimum duration of 70 minutes for feature films.

IV – SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

4.1 – Submissions must be made free of charge through the website www.cinejardim.com or via the online platform Filmfreeway, from April 9 to June 27, 2026.
4.1.1 – Each filmmaker may submit up to 02 (two) films.
4.1.2 – Any questions regarding this call may be sent by any interested party via email to: cinejardim@cinejardim.com

V – SELECTION PROCESS

5.1 – Film selection will be carried out by a Selection Committee appointed by the Board of Pontilhado Cinematográfico. The Programming Curatorship may also invite Brazilian audiovisual works to participate in the competition at its discretion, even if not submitted.
5.1.1 – The Festival coordination will notify selected films via email.
5.1.2 – The email address provided in the submission form will be the official communication channel between the Festival organization and the applicants. The applicant is responsible for ensuring proper receipt of communications, exempting the Festival coordination from any issues related to incorrect or non-functional email addresses.
5.1.3 – Subject to available funding, the Festival may provide airfare, accommodation, and meals for selected participants in the competitive sections.
5.1.4 – No selected or invited film for the 9th Cine Jardim – Latin American Film Festival of Belo Jardim may be withdrawn from the program, and no appeals and/or compensation claims will be accepted.

VI – AWARDS

6.1 – All films screened in the competitive sections will compete for awards granted by the Official Jury, the Audience Jury, and the Youth Jury.
6.1.1 – The organization may establish additional awards through partnerships and sponsorships. Further details will be announced on the website.

VII – GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 – The organization of Cine Jardim – Latin American Film Festival of Belo Jardim reserves the right to use excerpts of up to 1 minute and/or trailers from participating films for promotional purposes across any media platforms.
7.1.1 – The entrant is solely responsible for the use of third-party images and music in their films, as well as for any legal liabilities arising from image rights and copyright issues.
7.1.2 – Any cases not covered by this Call for Entries shall be resolved by the Director of Pontilhado Cinematográfico and the Festival Coordination.
7.1.3 – Participation in Cine Jardim implies full acceptance of all rules and regulations contained herein.