Festival Curta Cinema – Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival is one of Latin America’s leading showcases dedicated exclusively to short films. For over 35 years, the festival has fostered dialogue between contrasting aesthetics, languages and cultures, offering filmmakers a powerful platform for visibility, recognition, and creative exchange with audiences and industry professionals from around the world.

The festival selects up to 800 minutes of short films for its National and International Competitions. Beyond that, additional works are presented through Panoramas and Special Programs, dramatically expanding the scope and diversity of the overall festival program. All films are digital works (≤ 30 minutes), drawn from Brazil and worldwide.

More than screenings: Curta Cinema hosts masterclasses, workshops, debates, and post‑screening Q&A sessions with filmmakers and audiovisual professionals — offering chances for learning and networking.

In the most recent edition, the festival received a record number of submissions — over 4,600 productions — reinforcing its growing international profile.

Join us in Rio de Janeiro — for vibrant cinema, creative exchange, and the chance to share your story on an international stage.

Awards & 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.

Rules & Terms

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 18, 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 25th, 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.

The submission of a film to the Festival implies full acceptance of these regulations.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Rebecca Cerqueira

    Uma honra participar de um festival tão importante, numa competitiva repleta de talentos e novos olhares. Obrigada ao festival e toda a receptiva.

    April 2026
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  • Picote Produções

    Muito bom o contato com a equipe

    April 2026
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  • Luiz Soares

    Foi uma honra poder estrear o Angústia no Curta Cinema, um festival tão vivo e interessante. As trocas possibilitadas pelo festival foram maravilhosas.

    April 2026
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  • Luiz Guilherme Assis

    Foi uma honra ter meu filme "Às Compras" estreando oficialmente nesse que é um dos maiores festivais de Curta-metragem da américa latina. A projeção foi lindíssima. Tudo funcionou perfeitamente. Vida longa ao Curta Cinema.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Jonathan de Almeida

    Foi um honra e uma prazer enorme estreia o nosso curta "Seu Vazio em Mim" no Rio de Janeiro em um festival tão icônico. Podemos conhecer cineastas de varias parte do mundo e também reencontrar outros realizadores que conhecemos em outros festivais, mostrando a boa curadoria do festival e também como ele está em sintonia com o que está sendo produzido no momento. A equipe do festival foi incrível e espero poder voltar mais vezes com mais filmes!

    April 2026
    Helpful