La Sur Real Film Festival provides spaces for dialogue between creators, stories and cinematographies coming from the different souths that inhabit and feed the world.

We invite short films of max. 20 minutes in the following categories: Global South Documentary, Indigenous Futurism, Animation, Experimental and Audiovisual Works for Children.

We are looking for audiovisual works that speak of struggles, of the memory of the South, of exiles, conflicts, of the archives rescued from our silenced histories, those cinematographic creations that vindicate migrants, mainly in historically hegemonic countries, that highlight the existence of our bodies as autonomous political subjects capable of our own self-determination, masters of our own voice and thought.

The 2026 edition invites works that irradiate and generate new transformative imaginaries, moving us beyond the existing normative hegemonic versions.

We exhibit short films that propose a decolonial reading of the territories, mainly of Abya Yala, claiming our own emancipatory knowledge. We are looking for cinematographic creations that propose a critique of the existing relationship between the global north and south, question patriarchal white supremacy and share contexts that dismantle Western normative precepts.

We believe in the importance of sharing points of views that take up knowledge that has remained excluded, broadening the ways in which we perceive reality and therefore images; imaginaries that make collective identities more flexible, that integrate the material, the non-human and the animal as relational, generating different ways of linking ourselves even with the devices attributed to cinema.

Spanish Version:

La Sur Real Film Festival proporciona espacios de diálogo entre creadores, historias y cinematografías provenientes de los distintos sures que habitan y nutren el mundo.

Invitamos cortometrajes de max. 20 minutos en las categorías: Documentales del Sur Global, Futurismo Indígena, Animación, Experimental y Obras Audiovisuales para Niñxs.

Buscamos trabajos audiovisuales que hablen de las luchas, de la memoria del sur, de los exilios, los conflictos, de los archivos rescatados de nuestras historias silenciadas, aquellas creaciones cinematográficas que reivindiquen a las personas migrantes principalmente en los países históricamente hegemónicos, que resalten la existencia de nuestras cuerpas como sujetas políticas autónomas capaces de nuestra propia autodeterminación, dueñas de nuestra voz y pensamiento.

Creemos en la importancia de compartir puntos de vista que generen nuevos imaginarios transformadores, que se alejen de las versiones hegemónicas normativas existentes, que retomen saberes que han permanecido excluidos, ampliando las formas en que percibimos la realidad y por ende las imágenes; que flexibilicen las identidades colectivas que integren lo material, lo no humano y lo animal como relacional, generando distintas formas de vincularnos incluso con los dispositivos atribuidos al cine.

Exhibimos cortometrajes que planteen una lectura decolonial de los territorios, principalmente de Abya Yala, reivindicando saberes propios y emancipadores. Buscamos creaciones cinematográficas que propongan una crítica a la relación existente entre el norte y el sur global, cuestione la supremacía blanca patriarcal y compartan contextos que desmantelen los preceptos normativos occidentales.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS – 2026
La Sur Real Film Festival is a non-competitive festival that welcomes artists and creators of audiovisual works of up to 20 minutes in length to participate in its 2026 edition.
Our main screening event will take place in Berlin during the summer, and throughout the year, we will run an extended exhibition circuit in different cities, depending on available opportunities. Past editions have included screenings in cities such as Leipzig, Frankfurt, Hannover, Venice, Bogotá, and London. Selected films may be included in these additional screenings, expanding their reach to new audiences and cultural spaces.
Our 2026 edition is interested in screening documentaries from the Global South, indigenous futurism, animation, experimental and short films for kids; We are looking for works that represent bodies in resistance and narratives that confront the world in counter-hegemonic ways; stories related to solidarity, cooperation, diversity, gender, environmental/climate justice, territorial struggles, including processes of displacement, extractivism and gentrification, migration, exile and everything that is both inspiring and uncomfortable for the establishment in the multiple Global South.
We will also have a special eye on those audiovisual or film creations that are made in the framework of community film festivals in Abya Yala.
If you want to participate, please read attentively the following:
Be on time. The call for entries is open from March 30, 2026 until April 30, 2026.
When. The first screening of the 5th edition of the festival will take place in Berlin, in August 2026.
Participants. Independent artists, producers, filmmakers and collectives of any nationality who own the rights to the works they register, over 18 years of age.
Premieres. There is no restriction on exclusivity. Works may have premiered, participated in other festivals, or be available online.
Timing. Maximum duration: 20 minutes.
Formats. Any format is accepted (celluloid, video or any audiovisual support).
Commercial works. Works with commercial purpose or concept will not be selected.
Languages. Short films must include subtitles in English or German if the original language is different.
Categories: Global South Documentaries, Indigenous Futurism, Animation, Experimental, Kids.
Calendar. Production date must be after January 2024.
Multiple submissions. You can submit multiple films, each with a separate form.
Selected films. Finalists will be announced in June 2026. The decision is final.
Exhibitions. Selected works may be screened in Berlin and other cities worldwide with prior notice.
Promotion. Up to 10-second excerpts may be used for promotional purposes.
Responsibility. The festival is not responsible for copyright issues. Submitters are fully responsible.
Communication. Selected participants agree to provide promotional materials when possible.
Confidentiality. Submitted material will only be used for internal viewing and festival screenings.
Commitment. All selected works will be screened.
Results. All participants will be notified of the selection outcome.
Acceptance. Submission implies full acceptance of these terms.
Data use. Submitted data will be used for communication purposes and protected by law.
Registration. Free and online.

ESPAÑOL – 2026

TÉRMINOS Y CONDICIONES
La Sur Real es un festival de cortometrajes no competitivo que invita a artistas y creadores de obras audiovisuales de hasta 20 minutos de duración a participar en su edición 2026.
Nuestra proyección principal se llevará a cabo en Berlín durante el verano, y a lo largo del año realizaremos un circuito extendido de exhibiciones en distintas ciudades según las oportunidades disponibles. En ediciones anteriores, hemos proyectado películas en Leipzig, Frankfurt, Hannover, Venecia, Bogotá y Londres. Las películas seleccionadas podrán formar parte de estas exhibiciones adicionales.
Nuestra edición 2026 está interesada en documentales del Sur Global, futurismo indígena, animación, cine experimental y cine para infancias. Buscamos obras que representen cuerpos en resistencia y narrativas contrahegemónicas. Nos interesan historias sobre solidaridad, diversidad, género, justicia ambiental, luchas territoriales,incluyendo el despojo, el extractivismo y los procesos de gentrificación que transforman y desplazan comunidades, migración y exilio.
También pondremos especial atención en obras realizadas en el marco de festivales de cine comunitario en Abya Yala.
Si deseas participar, lee atentamente:
Convocatoria. Abierta del 31 de marzo de 2026 al 01 de mayo de 2026.
Fechas. La primera proyección de la quinta edición será en Berlín en agosto de 2026.
Participantes. Mayores de 18 años con derechos sobre las obras.
Estrenos. Sin restricción de estreno.
Duración. Máximo 20 minutos.
Formatos. Cualquier formato audiovisual.
Fines comerciales. No se aceptan obras con fines comerciales.
Idiomas. Subtítulos en inglés (o alemán si aplica).
Categorías:
Documentales del Sur Global
Futurismo Indígena
Animación
Experimental
Cine Infantil
Año de producción. Después de enero de 2024.
Número de envíos. Ilimitados (un formulario por obra).
Selección. Resultados en junio de 2026.
Exhibiciones. En Berlín y circuito internacional.
Promoción. Uso de fragmentos de hasta 10 segundos.
Responsabilidad legal. A cargo del participante.
Comunicación. Apoyo con materiales promocionales.
Confidencialidad. Uso interno del material.
Compromiso. Todas las obras seleccionadas serán proyectadas.
Resultados. Se notificará a todos los participantes.
Aceptación. El envío implica aceptación total.
Datos. Uso para comunicación, protegido por ley.
Inscripción. Gratuita y en línea.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Edmundo Galicia

    Thank you so much for selecting our film, The Skin our Memory, for this great festival.

    August 2025
  • Bárbara Baleixe

    Mesmo participando remotamente, foi uma alegria imensa ter meu trabalho selecionado para o La Sur Real Film Festival. A comunicação da equipe foi ótima e adorei a forma como os filmes foram divulgados com tanto carinho nas redes, o que fez com que me sentisse muito acolhida e parte do evento.
    Parabéns à toda a equipe pelo cuidado em valorizar cada artista. Fico na torcida pelo crescimento do festival e mal vejo a hora de participar das próximas edições!

    August 2025
    Response from festival:

    Muito obrigada por participar e por compartilhar palavras tão bonitas!
    Ficamos extremamente felizes em saber que você se sentiu acolhida e parte do festival, mesmo à distância esse é exatamente o nosso objetivo. Sua presença e seu trabalho enriquecem o La Sur Real Film Festival.

  • The Burning Woman

    Being selected by La Sur Real is a huge accomplishment for our work. They truly share stories that matter and it was such an honor they selected our short film "Naturally... A Woman".
    Keep up the excellent work!!!

    August 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for being part of La Sur Real 2025. We’re happy to continue sharing this journey together, by the way open call 2026 is on its way. !

  • Sacha None

    Amazing festival, wonderfully curated. Loved the marketing campaign. Thank you so much for selecting our film!

    August 2024
    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much for your kind words, and sorry for the late reply,

  • Flavia Mertehikian

    Precioso festival! Un honor y alegría participar. Gracias

    August 2024
    Response from festival:

    Gracias Flavia por participar y por tus amables palabras. pronot abriremos nuestra convocatoria de este 2025. Saludos!