LUSCA Film Fest is the Caribbean's Premier Fantastic Film Festival. LUSCA is open to the public. Accredited national and international press, as well as TV and film buyers and distributors also participate.

In addition to showcasing the best genre films that the World has to offer, this exotic fest also features a number of special events.

Best International Feature Film
Best International Director
Best International SciFi/Fantasy Short Film
Best International Horror/Thriller Short Film
Best International Dark Comedy Short Film
Best International Animation Short
Best International Short film Director
Best International Short film Director
Best International Music Video
Best International Vertical Film
Best Local Feature Film
Best Local Feature Film Director
Best Local Female Feature Film Director
Best Local Feature Film Actor
Best Local Feature Film Actress
Best Local Short Film Female Director
Best Local SciFi/Fantasy Short Film
Best Local Horror/Thriller Short Film
Best Local Dark Comedy Short Film
Best Local Experimental Short Film
Best Local Documentary Short
Best Local Student Short Film
Best Local Opera Prima
Best Local Music Video
Best Local Vertical Film
Best Local Short Film Original Score
Best Local Short Film Actor
Best Local Short Film Actress
Best Local Short Film Screenplay
Best Local Short Film Editing
Best Local Short Film Cinematography
Best Local Short Film Sound Design
Best Local Visual FX
Best Local Practical & MakeUp FX
Best Local Short Film Animated Short
International People's Choice
Local People's Choice

Short Script Contests
Other Local and International Prizes & Special Mentions

AUDIOVISUAL PROJECTS - GENERAL TERMS

SELECTION & SCREENING PROCESS

You will hear from us by early September at the latest, most likely by e-mail. If your contact details change at any time, please let us know so that we can update our records. The program will be published early October.

All Pre-Selected films must send their completed and signed Acceptance Form and final screening version of the movie (if it wasn’t sent by the submission process) and must be received no later than September, 15.

We prefer that you submit your projection screener via the Internet. You can use WeTransfer, Hightail, Vimeo, or any other large file transfer platform.

Programming decisions are made by a professional selection committee composed of working industry professionals. It is LUSCA policy not to provide comments on why a film was not selected for the Festival.

Decisions of the festival programming team and jury are final.

FESTIVAL PASSES AND COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS

FEATURE FILMS accepted into the Festival will receive four (4) Complementary Filmmaker Passes for use by attending members of the film’s crew only.

SHORT FILMS accepted into the Festival will receive two (2) Complementary Filmmaker Passes for use by attending members of the film’s crew only.

MUSIC VIDEOS accepted into the Festival will be granted four (4) Complimentary Tickets for the Music Video Competition Showcase and/or any regular screening session in the festival program (excluding special screenings/events).

ANIMATION SHORT FILMS accepted into the Festival, participating in the competition, will be granted four (4) Complimentary Tickets for the Animation Competition Cinema Showing and other Animation Competition Related Events.

VERTICAL FILMS accepted into the Festival will be granted four (4) Complimentary Tickets for the Vertical Cinema Competition and/or any regular screening session in the festival program (excluding special screenings/events).

Short Scripts accepted to the Festival will receive two (2) Complimentary Tickets for any regular festival showing and other Short Script-related events.

LUSCA VERTICAL CINEMA

Entries must be produced specifically in vertical format (9:16). The recommended resolution is 1080 x 1920 or higher.

All genres are accepted, including narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, horror, science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and video art.

Films may be in any language. Projects that are not in English or Spanish must include subtitles in either English or Spanish.

Multiple submissions are allowed, but each project must be submitted separately.

LUSCA FANTASTIC SHORT SCRIPT CONTEST

Participants shall submit:

1) Brief synopsis of the story in the script in no more than 6 lines.

2) Expanded synopsis of the story in the script in no more than one paragraph.

3) Premise of the story in no more than two lines.

4) Full screenplay with numbered pages in standard script format. Please submit the script file. Scripts cannot exceed 10 pages.

LUSCA Fantastic Script Contest - Participation Rules & Terms

The LUSCA Script Contest is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents over 18, residing in Puerto Rico, the mainland U.S., or U.S. territories. Eligible scripts must align with genres supported by LUSCA: fantasy, science fiction, comedy or bizarre.

Submitted scripts must be written in Spanish and/or English, be unpublished, original, and no longer than 10 pages. They should not be entered in other contests or have any existing production agreements. Only final submissions are accepted, with no changes allowed after registration. If the script has co-authors, any awards will be issued to the main author, who is responsible for distributing them as needed.

Entries must comply with all contest guidelines and be in standard script format; non-compliance will lead to disqualification. Winners will be announced through LUSCA’s website and social media channels.

The contest jury, composed of reputable filmmakers and film experts, will make the final decisions. In case of a tie, LUSCA’s Executive Board will make the final call. The jury’s decision is final and not open to appeal.

LUSCA reserves the right to publish winning scripts. All copyrights remain with the authors, with due credit provided.

Contest winners and selected works will keep all the rights under the Federal Copyright Law and the Intellectual Property Law of Puerto Rico. The only responsibility is to establish that it was a winner of the LUSCA Fantastic Script Contest on a separate card shown for no less than 4 (four) seconds, a short film, in case the script is produced.

Submitting a script constitutes acceptance of these rules.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lucca Vieira

    Truly honored to have "Shift" showcased at LUSCA!

    December 2025
  • My writing partner and I first heard of LUSCA from a fest alumni. They were insistent that we submit, which is truly a testament to the quality of the fest and the care with which they treat their filmmakers and writers. While we could not attend this year, the communication was wonderful and thorough. We're so delighted that our screenplay was honored with 1st place in the International Script Contest, and we definitely hope to make it to LUSCA in the future.

    November 2025
  • Although I wasn't able to attend in person, I think LUSCA Fantastic Film Fest is a wonderful film festival.
    I was very happy with the high level of screening programming and the attentive support from the festival staff.
    I would be very happy if the audience and festival staff enjoyed my film, "Memories of the Future."
    I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the audience and festival staff!

    November 2025
  • Wilfred Miranda

    One of the best festivals the island has to offer. Film selection is always great, and the people are absolutely fantastic!

    November 2025
  • We’re truly honored that "The Old Man and the Demon Sword" was selected! Thank you so much for embracing our strange little film and giving it a place among such inspiring works from around the world.

    November 2025