CINEMA CULTURAS FILM FESTIVAL INVITES STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS 6TH EDITION: "INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING, FILM & MUSIC STUDENT COMPETITION 2025
This year's theme: "The Science of Happiness: How Do We Create Happiness?"
*For Elementary to High School Students (K-12) only*
Be a global storyteller and share your story with the world!
Your short film can be fiction, non-fiction, science or non-science focused, and it can be in English or Spanish or any other language as long as it has English subtitles. *Submission is free*
Students from All countries are welcome to submit their work to our Student Competition. Good luck!
Cinema Culturas Annual Film Festival screens award-winning feature films, documentaries, shorts & animation, with a focus on independent film. Besides screening films by professionals in the industry, Cinema Culturas has an Annual International Storytelling, Film, and Music Student Competition with the purpose of celebrating the creative talent of students around the world!

Awards & Prizes

The winning and finalist films will be screened online at Cinema Culturas Festival (Fall)
Prizes will be awarded for 1st place ($150.00 US gift card) 2nd place ($100.00 US gift card) and 3rd place ($50.00 US gift card).

Rules & Terms

1. Short films must be submitted via FilmFreeway
2. This competition is only for K-12th grade students (elementary, middle school and high school students) and it's open to All students regardless of country/ethnicity.
3. Students must be 18 years old or younger in order to be able to participate in this competition.
4. Short films must be original creations by students K-12
5. Only films that have not been screened before will be accepted.
6. Students younger than 18 years must submit a written permission by a parent/guardian in order for the film to participate in the film competition and be use for promotional purposes.
7. Film submissions must include a still representing the film, brief film synopsis and headshot of film creator.
8. All films must be based on this year's theme or related to this year's theme.
*In addition, you can adapt music to your short film or include original music and your film will compete for Best Short Film and Best Music!
9. Your short film can be fiction, non-fiction, science or non-science focused as long as it's related to this year's theme, and it can be in English, Spanish or any other language. *English Subtitles must be included with any other language besides English.
10. If you create original music for your film, please make sure you indicate this in your registration form and in your film credits. If you are adapting music (music for which you don't have copyrights), please make sure you give credit to the original creator and make sure you follow all legal rules regarding adapting music before you included in your film submission. For more details you can visit the rule at cinemaculturas.com and click on "Call for Entries.")
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  • Zhivko Zidarov

    Thank you to Cinema Culturas for appreciating my short film “The Observed.” This festival feels special because it creates meaningful connections with its participants, it doesn’t just hand out awards and move on. It truly deserves more recognition, and I hope that day comes soon. I’m really glad I could be part of it, even from a distance. An amazing experience!

    April 2026
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  • Maria Julia Gonsalves Crecencio

    Participating in Cinema Culturas was a truly special and meaningful experience for me.
    This is a festival that genuinely understands cinema as a space for encounter, diversity, and dialogue between cultures.

    As a Brazilian actress and filmmaker, I felt that Cinema Culturas welcomes independent and authorial stories with sensitivity and respect, valuing narratives that speak about identity, human rights, and real lived experiences. My short film “The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power” found here an attentive, human, and deeply committed environment.

    The festival shows a sincere dedication to independent cinema and to the plurality of voices, creating bridges between different countries, realities, and forms of expression. This makes a real difference, especially for young filmmakers who believe in the transformative power of art.

    I am very grateful to have been part of this edition and to be included in a festival that truly honors its name: cultures, in the plural, in dialogue through cinema.

    — Maju Crecencio
    Brazilian actress and filmmaker
    Director of The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power

    December 2025
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