*** Se você deseja inscrever um trabalho brasileiro, vá direto em www.riowebfest.net***

The Ministry of Culture and Petrobras present 'Rio WebFest: 11 years'. Our mission is the continuity of the biggest web series festival in the world! Many thanks to Petrobras, our Exclusive Sponsor, 'Petrobras Cultural' program, and the Federal Government's Culture Incentive Law - For the Brazilian People.

Rio Webfest traditionally takes place in November, in the Wonderful City of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. It is four days of an incredible meeting between creators. There are keynotes, workshops, business rounds, pitching sessions, gala events, parties, screenings and the competitive exhibition, whose prizes are awarded at the Rio Webfest Awards, the closing night of the festival.

In the competitive exhibition, your project will compete for Personalized Trophies, the Zés, and Silver Tickets, official direct selection for other webfests partners of the International Web Fests Circuit. We have partner festivals from all over the world, including Los Angeles, Marseille, Bilbao, Toronto, Miami, Rome, Lima, Gießen and Apulia.

Above all, Rio WebFest is a space for creators to get to know each other, form partnerships and strengthen their production power, multiplying the reach of their stories.

You can submit your filmed content: web series, dance videos, music videos, art videos, trailers, filmed stage plays an web advertisements.

You can also submit Podcast series, Audiodramas and Actual Play.

Or even if your project is drawing and creating comics made available on mobile devices, there is the WebComic category for you.

FAQ

> Can I submit a short film?

A: At the festival, content with at least two episodes can be submitted, including web series, micro series, podcasts, video dances, music videos, video art, trailers, web comics, or web advertisements. We have several categories and many of them accept single films, but specific categories for short, medium and feature films do not exist.

> My web series has more than one genre, what should I do? / I don't know which category my web series fits into, where do I register? / I don't know which category my single video fits into. How do I fill out the registration form?

A: When submitting, pick the genre that you believe your content fit into. However, in the selection process, this may change. When we watch all the content, we will try to allocate your project in the category that best represents it.

> Is there a minimum requirement to submit? Which episodes do I choose?

A: In this case, the choice of episodes is at your discretion, depending on what you find most interesting to share with us. Initially, there are no restrictions on minutes or content. From the moment it is selected, moving on to the official selection, we will ask a screening copy to shown at the festival to up to 12 minutes, so that it can be included in the screening schedule.

> Why is there a submission fee?

A: The festival's construction processes begin in January, and last throughout the year, including completely free events such as Summit Rio WebMercado and @cesso, the submission fee is fundamental for us to be able to guarantee the event year after year. It is worth mentioning that the fee helps us to screen your content, in experience with other event models, the exemption from the registration fee was accompanied by a large volume of content that did not meet the event's requirements. Also indicate that Rio WebFest does not sell products, what we have on event days is offered free of charge to the public. With the exception of the Opening and Awards ceremonies, everything else is completely free.

> Are there submission limits per creator?

A: There is no limit to registrations per producer, but each submissions pays a new registration fee.

> If my series is not selected, will you refund the registration money?

A: There are no refunds. Please read this carefully before signing up.

> My web series already participated in last year's festival. Can I participate again?

A: Yes! Participate in all editions if you wish. Our goal is for creators to meet, and for productions to gain many opportunities.

> How does the selection process work?

A: The festival team receives applications, then evaluates all content. Our search as a curator is always for quality, for what highlights your product or its story. Therefore, if your content is nominated for any category, it will be part of the official selection for that edition. Nominations are announced via live broadcast on the Official Selection, then the list of nominations is published on our website.

> How does the festival jury work?

A: The Technical Jury is made up of a minimum of 50 national and international professionals, invited to this exercise, who have an interest, connection, or expertise with the universe of web series. Initially, each member of the jury is invited to judge some categories, and can judge all of them if they wish. The entire judging process is online, with the files sent for exhibition as analysis material. The results are only analyzed on the eve of the Awards, and the winners are announced live only during the awards ceremony.

> I read in the regulations that my series must be subtitled in English. How does it work?

A: If you are nominated in any category, your work will be included in the Official Selection. In this case, you must resend the file with English subtitles so that the international jury can evaluate your work.

> My web series hasn't been filmed yet. Can I participate?

A: Check out the Super Project and Webpiloto categories.

> I've already filmed my series, but I only have one episode ready, the pilot. Can I register for the festival?

A: Check out the Super Project category. For the competitive show, there are single video categories, but web series require a minimum of two episodes.

> Can I go to the festival to meet and make contacts, even without submitting? / My series was not selected, can I go to the festival?

A: Of course you can! Rio WebFest is a gathering, your presence makes it exist and makes it be worthy. The festival's attractions are free for everyone to participate, with only the opening party and awards being charged.

> What is the minimum age to participate?

A: The event requires a minimum age of 16 to participate.

> What are the categories?

A: Over the years, the festival has become increasingly comprehensive in its categories, seeking to embrace the concepts of mobile, discuss digital productions, and the formats of audiovisual productions. We ask that you browse the website until last year's edition, this way you will see what the categories were and it will serve as a projection.

> What is the SUPER PROJECT?

A: It is the opportunity to meet with international and national producers. Remembering that filling out the project registration form and paying the fee do not guarantee a place in the business rounds or pitching sessions. Only projects selected by the festival, chosen by the players, will have this opportunity.

The Super Project is divided into two fronts: Business Rounds and Pitching. Business rounds are meetings where creators will have the chance to talk directly with national and international players about their projects. In pitching, 10 selected projects will make a presentation to a panel of players and compete for a Zé trophy.

IMPORTANT: The pitching presentation is in person, at Cidade das Artes, during the festival. Keep in mind that, in case of selection, you must show up in person at the location. Participation in business rounds can be online or in person.

It is important to highlight that all conditions for a potential business will be discussed directly with the players, the festival only provides the opportunity for the meeting.

> What is Web Pilot?

A: The Web Pilot is an opportunity for creators who have an idea for a pilot and would like to film it during the festival days. To register, you must fill out the registration form and pay the fee. Our team will select 10 ideas to film during the Rio Webfest days. The winner will receive a Zé Trophy.

During the first three days of the festival, the selected teams will have to film, edit and deliver their pilot episodes with a maximum duration of 2 minutes, by the deadline stipulated in that edition. It's important to keep in mind that you must use your own equipment, such as cameras, computers for editing, clothing, lighting, etc. and its own team of actors, directors, art designers, etc. The festival is not responsible for or provides any equipment or crew members to help creators film their pilots.

PLEASE READ THE RULES & TERMS BEFORE SUBMITTING.

COMEDY
Best Comedy Series
Best Writing (Comedy)
Best Directing (Comedy)
Best Female Performance in a Comedy
Best Male Performance in a Comedy
Best Ensemble Performance (Comedy)

DRAMA
Best Dramatic Series
Best Writing (Drama)
Best Directing (Drama)
Best Female Performance in a Drama
Best Male Performance in a Drama
Best Ensemble Performance (Drama)

ACTION/HORROR/SCI-FI
Best Action Series
Best Writing (Action)
Best Directing (Action)
Best Female Performance in an Action Series
Best Male Performance in an Action Series
Best Ensemble Performance (Action)

DOCUMENTARY/VARIETY/EDUCATIONAL (NON-FICTION)
Best Documentary Series
Best Variety Series
Best Educational Series
Best Directing (Non-Fiction)
Best Writing (Non-Fiction)
Best Performance (Non-Fiction)
Best Lifestyle

RIOWF SPECIAL AWARDS
Best Musical Series
Best Trailer
Best Web Advertisement
Best Stories
Best Influencer
Best Diversity Series
Best Music Video
Best Dance Video
Best Performance Video
Best Original Idea
Best Filmed Theater
Best WebComics
Incentive to Brazilian Digital Production
RioWF Internacional Circuit

TECHNICAL
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Costume Design
Best Production Design
Best Makeup
Best Soundtrack
Best Visual Effects
Best Sound Design
Best Production
Best Videographics

INFANTILE-JUVENILE
Best Infantile-Juvenile Series
Best Infantile-Juvenile Performance

ANIMATION
Best Animated Series

PODCASTS
Best Fiction Podcast
Best Non-Fiction Podcast
Best Cast (Podcast)
Best Directing (Podcast)
Best Podcast Actual Play Video or RPG Video or Video Cast
Best Standalone Audio Fiction

GRAND PRIZES
Best Brazilian Series
Best International Series
Popular Vote
Web Pilot

SUPER PROJECT
Meeting Sessions with international TV and VOD producers (find out more at www.riowebfest.net).

SILVER TICKETS - DIRECT SELECTION TO THE WEB FEST INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
Direct Selection to Melbourne Web Fest (Australia)
Direct Selection to Los Angeles Web Fest (USA)
Direct Selection to Seoul Web Fest (South Korea)
Direct Selection to Webfest Berlin (Germany)
Direct Selection to Sicily Webfest (Italy)
Direct Selection to Digital Media Fest (Spain)
Direct Selection to Die Seriale (Germany)

FULL REGULATIONS

Welcome to the Rio Webfest® Competitive Showcase, the international web series festival taking place in 2026 on November 27, 28, 29, and 30, organized, produced, and curated since 2015 by Charlotte Produções e Eventos Ltda, registered under CNPJ/MF No. 07.796.445/0001-79, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro-RJ, through its founders, Daniel Archangelo and Leandro Correa da Silva.
We are looking for creators of audiovisual content for the internet. Our main product for evaluation is web series. Aware that the concept of mobility keeps evolving, and that the digital universe goes beyond cell phones and computers, we accept different types of content and will analyze their specifications on a case-by-case basis. We always emphasize that the event production team is fully independent in its decision-making.
As every event of this nature must be guided by a set of guidelines, rules, and transparency, these regulations were created to help you, participant and creator, better understand the rules of our competitive showcase and the festival guidelines. Let’s begin!

1 Introduction
1.1 Rio Webfest® is the largest and most inclusive web series festival in the world and takes place every year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November.
1.2 Rio Webfest® is a registered trademark protected under the applicable legal framework. Its use is exclusive to its organizers and producers (Charlotte Produções). Participants in Rio Webfest® are creators entered in the competitive showcase and all persons who complete in-person accreditation on the days the festival takes place.
1.3 All Rio Webfest® participants are subject to these regulations.

2. Participants
2.1 Any audiovisual product with the characteristics set out in each available submission category may participate in the Rio Webfest® Competitive Showcase (or RioWF), and such entries must be submitted by a technical representative, whose connection to the product may be required as proof, for example, in the event of legal questions, copyright matters, trademark registration, among others.
2.2 Technical representatives may be individuals of any nationality, provided they are at least 16 years old on the date of entry, or formally established legal entities, also of any nationality, and their registration data must be provided for identification purposes and, if necessary, in the event of any legal matters that may arise.
2.3 The technical representatives who submit entries to this competitive showcase shall be solely responsible for decisions and any contact with the RioWF Organization, and all official communications shall be made through the contact email provided when the entry was registered. If, for any reason, after the entry has been submitted, the RioWF Organization is informed that there are conflicts regarding the legitimacy of the technical representative to represent the submitted audiovisual product, the RioWF Organization reserves the right to reassign such representation to the holder who proves, by documentation, their legitimacy. If such reassignment is not possible, for any reason, the entry shall be considered null and the participation of the audiovisual product it represents shall be canceled.
2.4 By entering RioWF, the participant declares that: I) they agree to the festival regulations; II) they agree to the use of their image, voice, and excerpts from the submitted audiovisual product to promote the event, without any cost to RioWF and its organizers; III) they agree to live broadcasts on social media such as Instagram, Facebook, Kwai, YouTube, X, TikTok, on radio, and on television channels; IV) they agree not to defame, slander, or disparage, through actions or communications, RioWF or its Partners.
2.5 Persons holding admission tickets, whether purchased for consideration or received as a courtesy, prize, bonus, or those attending the RioWF opening ceremony, as well as the RioWF awards and closing ceremony, shall also be considered RioWF participants and shall be subject to these regulations.
2.6 Any and all persons who register to participate in the popular vote shall also be considered participants. The popular vote shall have its own specific regulations made available during the voting registration period. It is essential to fully complete an individual identification form so that each person may participate in the voting, agreeing to the content of these regulations, as well as to the sharing of their registration information with the RioWF Organization, its partners, sponsors, and also with the competent authorities in the event of administrative or judicial proceedings directly related to their participation in the voting.
2.7 Any act that may be interpreted as an unlawful act, an act in bad faith, insult, slander, defamation, acts of violence (whether in person or virtual), or that threatens the physical integrity of the organizers and their team, as well as public employees working at Cidade das Artes, or any acts incompatible with peaceful and respectful coexistence among all RioWF participants, or even with the name and image of the Festival and its organizers and producers, may result in the responsible person (directly or indirectly) being prohibited from attending scheduled events, prohibited from receiving awards, without prejudice to any applicable legal measures that may be taken at the sole discretion of the RioWF Organization.
2.8 The RioWF Organization neither assumes responsibility for nor authorizes in any way any products, activities, or brand activations that have not been expressly authorized by contract signed by their respective parties directly with the RioWF Organization.
2.9 Any third-party initiative involving products or services that characterize commercialization linked to the festival’s name is prohibited.
2.10 Participants, regardless of the way they are connected to the festival (creators, visitors, players, among others), expressly declare, when registering and signing up to participate, vote, and/or attend the festival, that they agree to all terms of these regulations.
2.11 By agreeing to the festival regulations, you also agree to the use of your image and excerpts from your submitted work to promote the event, in addition to live broadcasts on social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and on traditional television channels.
2.12 RioWF is, in itself, a space for the production and promotion of content and, therefore, there are many cameras and interview opportunities in which those responsible who attend the event will have numerous opportunities to promote their work. It is important to emphasize that the release for the use of image, voice, and excerpts from the submitted audiovisual product will be posted in all spaces where RioWF takes place each year, and no later claims in this regard shall be accepted. In this sense, we reinforce that, by participating in this event, you agree to grant, free of charge and for an indefinite period, the use of your image and voice in photographs and audio and video recordings that may be made during the event. The material produced may be used by RioWF for institutional publicity, advertising, on social media, websites, e-books, videos, and other communication channels, nationally and internationally. This authorization is granted with no entitlement to any claim for image rights, neighboring rights, or any other remuneration. All information and personal data processing shall follow the guidelines of the Brazilian General Personal Data Protection Law (Law No. 13,709/2018).

3. Entries
3.1 Entries for participation in the competitive showcase will be open between March and September. The Official Selection will be announced on October 15, 2026.
3.2 Submission Format: web series, podcasts, and vlogs must have at least two released episodes. Music videos, trailers, web advertisements, and videodances require only one video link. All submissions are 100% online.
3.3 Eligibility: All web series and vlogs produced in any year and anywhere in the world, with a minimum of two episodes, are eligible for submission. Works that have already participated in previous editions are also eligible, as we have a different jury every year.
3.4 Entry Fee - All entries via FilmFreeway and on the official RioWF website must be paid by credit card. The entry fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
3.5 Selection of Web Series: Entries are reviewed and selected according to the following criteria: quality of narrative and production, acting, originality, cinematography, sound, and other technical categories. The official selection will be announced in October and all entrants will be notified of the result by email. The SUPER PROJETO results will be revealed one month after the official selection.
3.6 Selected participants must send their digital screening files encoded in .mp4 or .mov, 1080p, H.264, with a bitrate of no more than 10 Mbps.
3.7 All officially selected works must provide English subtitles for screening copies, regardless of the original language.
3.8 Screenings of selected works will take place during the festival dates, at RioWF’s discretion. Every effort will be made to follow the published schedule; however, we reserve the right to make changes at any time, for any reason, and we will not be responsible if a last-minute program change becomes necessary.
3.9 Creators may submit as many works as they wish.
3.10 The festival organization is sovereign in all its decisions, including regarding the distribution of prizes, trophies, and laurels, and is free to modify them, if necessary, for reasons of force majeure. This resolution is always maintained as a last resort, to be used only when all alternatives for dialogue and conciliation have been exhausted.
3.11 Entries must be submitted within the deadlines established and published on the official RioWF website, subject to change at the discretion of the organization of this competitive showcase.
3.12 To submit, the technical representative must provide, in the entry registration form, the following information: 1) Full Name or Corporate Name, 2) Identification document number - CPF, CNPJ, or Passport Number, 3) Email, 3) City-State, 4) Country, 5) Full address, 6) ZIP Code, 7) Name of the technical representative with CPF and email (in the case of company entries).
3.13 Submitted audiovisual products must include the following information in their entry registration: 1) Original Project Title, 2) City of Production, 3) State of Production, 4) Country of Production, 5) Submission Type - Web Series, Podcast, Influencer, Trailer, Music Video, Videodance, Performance, Web Advertising, Filmed Theater, RPG Video, Webcomic, or Videocast, 6) Genre - Comedy, Drama, Action, Sci-Fi, Horror, Nonfiction, Children’s Animation, Webcomic, RPG or Actual Play, Performance, 7) Links to two episodes or a single link for one-off videos and the respective Password (if any), 8) Brief Synopsis, 9) Name of the Director, 10) Name of the Producer, 11) Names of the Main Cast members, 12) Names of the Crew members, 13) File containing promotional poster artwork, and 14) How you heard about the Festival.
3.14 The data provided in the registration of each audiovisual product participating in this competitive showcase shall be the only means of communication used to contact each technical representative. Therefore, providing an active email address and monitoring it regularly is mandatory so that communications from the RioWF Organization are not missed.
3.15 Since one of RioWF’s objectives is to promote audiovisual products in the broadest and most inclusive manner possible, web series that have already participated in the festival may apply again, without restrictions.
3.16 Whenever there is any change in the opening or closing dates of the submission period, such changes will be widely publicized on the official RioWF website, its social media, and any other available communication channels.
3.17 Creators responsible for audiovisual products may submit their products without limitation as to number or restrictions on the categories accepted at RioWF, except that each submitted content item requires payment of its own entry fee.
3.18 Multiple submissions of the same content (same episodes) may be accepted, but will not, under any circumstances, increase the chances of being nominated.
3.19 Although there is no running-time limit for each episode at the time of submission, each selected work may occupy a maximum screening time of up to 10 minutes (including credits). If the submitted video is longer than 10 minutes, a shorter version, or one that concludes within the requested 10-minute limit, must be sent. If the requested file, meeting the required technical specifications, is not sent, the trailer or a 2-minute sample will be screened, or the work may not be screened at all, at the event organization’s discretion, with no later claims accepted.
3.20 All persons responsible for entries of works that become part of the official selection must send the festival a file with English subtitles for review by the technical jury, regardless of the country of origin.
3.21 The persons responsible for entries of selected works are required to provide a high-resolution copy of the episode(s) encoded in .mp4 or .mov, 1080p, H.264 codec, with a bitrate of no more than 10 Mbps, 23.98 fps or 29.97 fps, NTSC. The organization emphasizes that it is the entrants’ responsibility to check the files before sending them. Corrupted files cannot be analyzed by the jury, which may harm participation in this competitive showcase.
3.22 The RioWF Organization encourages and promotes participants to submit their audiovisual products to this competitive showcase with all accessibility features (subtitles and Brazilian Sign Language interpretation), since their presence demonstrates compliance with international standards currently in force in the audiovisual market.
3.23 The RioWF Organization encourages and promotes participants whose audiovisual products are in languages other than Brazilian Portuguese to submit their products to this competitive showcase with Brazilian Portuguese subtitles.
3.24 At the time of submission, it is mandatory to send the files of the participating audiovisual product or, alternatively, make links available for access. These links must remain active and functional, and this is the responsibility of the creator who submitted the entry. Inactive links will harm participation in this competitive showcase, since they will make analysis by the jury impossible.

4 Submission Categories
4.1 Web Series: serialized audiovisual products
* Requirements:
* Minimum of two episodes;
* Released or unreleased products;
* Any duration (there is no minimum or maximum running time limit for the content);
* Any format (horizontal or vertical);
* In the case of submission of the same web series where two different seasons are entered, or two other episodes are entered in a different submission, the evaluation will consider the work as a whole, and it will not be possible for two seasons of the same web series to compete against each other, although both submitted seasons will be evaluated.
4.2 Single Works: in the categories of Video Dance, Music Video, Video Art, Web Advertising, Trailer, and Filmed Theater.
* Requirements:
* Released or unreleased products;
* Any duration (there is no minimum or maximum running time limit for the content);
* Any format (horizontal or vertical);
4.3 Comics
* Requirements:
* Must present continuity, as a serialized work;
* Released or unreleased products;
* Non-animated drawings.

5 Dates, Deadlines, and Entry Fees
5.1 Entries for the RioWF competitive showcase begin on March 1 and end on September 10.
5.2 All entries will be made 100% online.
5.3 All entries on the official RioWF website or via FilmFreeway must be paid by credit card or Pix.
5.4 The entry fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
5.5 Entry fees vary according to the submission period, and the earlier the product is entered, the lower the fee to be paid.
5.6 Unless otherwise provided, the closing date for entries to the competitive showcase is September 10.
5.6.1 In the event of an extension of the submission deadlines, the late deadline amount shall apply until the end of any new submission window.
5.7 Entries for Super Projeto and Web Piloto close on November 10.
5.8 Payment of the entry fee and completion of the registration form do not guarantee official selection for an award or participation in the pitching or meeting sessions of Super Projeto. The RioWF Organization will pre-select entrants and publish an official selection, in accordance with these regulations (item 7).

6. General Rules
6.1 The RioWF Organization is sovereign in all its decisions, including the distribution of awards, trophies, and laurels, and is free to modify them, if necessary. Decisions will always be made with a focus on dialogue and conciliation. Once these avenues have been exhausted, the final and unappealable decision shall be that of the RioWF Organization.
6.2 The RioWF Organization reserves the right to include new guidelines at any time, modify any of these regulations, or issue new rules during the event.
6.4 The creators of the audiovisual products entered in RioWF are fully responsible for the copyright of all works included in the submitted videos such as, for example, soundtrack, logo, and support images. If the copyright holder comes forward to claim them, RioWF may not be held liable.
6.4.1 RioWF is not responsible for products or activities organized by third parties that mention the event or claim to be integrated into the program. We emphasize that any form of third-party commercialization using the RioWF brand or claiming to be associated with the event is prohibited.
6.4.2 RioWF has a registered trademark for its brand, and improper use of it in any activities or products not duly authorized by the event is prohibited.
6.5 The creators responsible for audiovisual products entered in RioWF are fully responsible for the functioning of the links submitted for curation throughout the entire period from entry to the official selection, as well as for the consequences of any malfunction.
6.6 During the award ceremony, trophies may be handed to any representative of the work or to the person responsible for its entry form, except in special cases that must be communicated in writing before the awards ceremony takes place. If the winner is not present to receive it in person, the trophy may be sent by mail, provided that one of the creators responsible for the RioWF-winning audiovisual product pays the shipping costs for the trophy/trophies received, plus a fee of R$100.00 referring to the costs of arranging shipment.
6.6.1 Extra trophies may be purchased provided that the production and shipping fee in the amount of R$600.00 plus shipping costs is paid. We remind you that RioWF has a registered trademark for its brand, and unauthorized replicas of the trophy are prohibited.
6.6.2 The official Catalog may be sent by mail, provided that the requester pays the shipping costs plus a fee of R$100.00 referring to the costs of arranging shipment. The number of catalogs available for shipping is limited, and availability must be confirmed with the event organization.

7 Selection
7.1 The official selection of the RioWF competitive showcase will be announced in October in a live broadcast, and all entrants will be informed of the date, time, and result of its announcement through a communication sent to the email provided in the registration form.
7.2 The results of RioWF Super Projeto will be communicated to all entrants by email.
7.3 The results of RioWF Web Piloto will be revealed in a social media post, and all entrants will be informed by email of the result.
7.4 Submitted audiovisual products will be analyzed and selected according to the following criteria: quality of narrative and production, acting, originality, cinematography, sound and other technical categories, communicability, interactivity, and framing and suitability to the chosen language and formats.
7.5 Audiovisual products that are the sole representatives of a country, a region of Brazil, or the sole representative of a region of Brazil shall be automatically selected and nominated in a festival category, since their presence directly encourages new productions, provided that such product:
I- meets all technical requirements of these regulations;
II- has been entered correctly, with all required fields completed and the corresponding entry fee duly paid;
8 Screenings of Selected Works
8.1 Screenings of audiovisual products selected for this competitive showcase will take place during the festival dates, at the discretion of the RioWF Organization.
8.2 Every effort will be made to comply with the published schedule; however, if a last-minute change in the program becomes necessary, the RioWF Organization may make changes at any time, for any reason, at its own discretion, as well as in cases of unforeseen circumstances or force majeure.
9. Awards
9.1 One winner in each category existing in the current edition of the RioWF Competitive Showcase shall be awarded a Zé Trophy (RioWF’s official trophy), namely the audiovisual product that has achieved the highest scores in each of the criteria evaluated by the RioWF Technical Jury.
9.2 The Technical Jury is composed of at least 50 invited professionals from different fields, national and international, out of a total of 100 invitations issued for each edition, and this number may therefore vary, either upward or downward.
9.3 Each jury member evaluates only a few categories, from a sample of around 3 hours of content.
9.4 The entire process is conducted online, through a form containing the content to be judged and the evaluation criteria.
9.5 If a jury member has already judged the categories initially assigned and wishes to evaluate more categories, they may request them from the event coordination.
9.6 The Technical Jury has complete freedom to judge the works according to its own criteria and the way it values the content.
9.7 The festival uses the sum of the scores to reach the final result. In the event of a tie in scores between national and international contents, the national content shall be declared the winner. In the event of a tie between national contents, the democratization of award distribution shall be observed, and the title that received fewer awards shall be declared the winner.
9.8 In the event of incorrect completion of the forms by one or more members of the Technical Jury, under any criterion, the relevant evaluation shall be canceled. If any category presents inconsistencies in the evaluations, or has insufficient evaluations, the criterion of item 9.9 shall apply.
9.9 In order to decide any deadlock, or any nullity of an evaluation for any reason, the final decision regarding the winners shall rest with the RioWF organizing curators, observing the criteria and scores received during the curation process.
9.10 The gala events, Official Opening, and Rio WebFest Awards are exclusive to competing creators, their teams, and RioWF guests. The way tickets are made available, whether for sale or as a courtesy, varies with each edition of the event and will be announced by email and through social media.
9.11 In the event that persons not covered by item 9.10 gain access, the provisions of items 2.7 and 11.7 of these regulations shall apply, and those who enabled such access may be held jointly responsible.

10. Partner Festivals Silver Tickets
10.1 Silver Tickets (direct selection for partner festivals) are a courtesy exchanged between festivals and are therefore the responsibility of the partner festival and not of the RioWF Organization.
10.2 The RioWF Organization will inform, by email, the contacts of the winners to the partner festival, which will then request documents and any other information necessary for the automatic selection offered for the competitive showcase of the partner festival.
10.3 The Silver Ticket winners, in turn, are responsible for issuing these documents and meeting the partner festivals’ requests in a timely manner.
10.4 RioWF cannot be held responsible if a partner festival ceases to exist or cancels the prize in its name for any reason whatsoever.
10.5 Silver Tickets are non-transferable and cannot be postponed to subsequent years.

11. Rules for Participation in RioWF In-Person Events
11.1 Participants who attend RioWF in person will be directed to accreditation upon arrival at the festival, where they will receive a badge as well as all initial guidance.
11.2 Free entry and exit from the event is permitted, provided the identification badge is carried and the applicable rules set out in the regulations are observed.
11.3 Participants must take care of their identification badges, as they are necessary for the staff to recognize them and to guarantee their access to the event space. Wearing the badge is mandatory on all days and at all times of the event.
11.4 RioWF is not responsible for accommodation, food, transportation, fees, or any other expenses of any nature incurred by creators who come to or participate in the event.

11.5 The sale or commercialization of any product during RioWF is not permitted and, if commercial practices are identified within the event environment, the RioWF Organization reserves the right to take the applicable measures, inform the relevant authorities, and comply with any actions that must be taken.
11.6 All RioWF participants are responsible for their own belongings and equipment, and no responsibility may be attributed to RioWF in the event of damage, theft, or any other loss resulting from misuse or abandonment thereof.
11.7 Any act practiced by persons participating in RioWF either in person or remotely that may be interpreted as an unlawful act, an act in bad faith, insult, slander, defamation, or that is incompatible with peaceful and respectful coexistence among all RioWF participants, or with the name and image of the Festival and its organizers and producers, may result in the responsible person (directly or indirectly) being prohibited from attending scheduled events and from receiving awards, without prejudice to applicable legal measures that may be taken at the sole discretion of the Rio Webfest® Organization.
11.7.1 RioWF takes place in venues that offer all participants countless possibilities, and this will continue to be possible provided that everyone carefully looks after the facilities, environment, and teams present.
11.8 During the event, some doors will bear production notices indicating that the room has exclusive uses; these guidelines must be respected in order to maximize organization, efficiency, and safety for all.
11.9 Every day of RioWF there will be a catering table available to all participants present, with food and drink options, as well as other treats at different times.
11.10 RioWF does not provide or serve meals, but the organization may indicate food-service establishments located around the event venue. In addition, participants may place delivery orders for food and drinks of their choice through apps or any other available means. Important: organizing these orders, as well as receiving them, is the sole responsibility of each participant.
11.11 Plates, forks, household utensils, and the like for meals will not be provided by the RioWF Organization.
11.12 Participants are allowed to bring any food and beverages they find convenient; however, it will not be possible for the RioWF Organization to store or provide thermal conditioning for any food item or liquid of any nature.
11.13 The RioWF program is intense and rich, lasting from morning until night. Most activities are separated by only ten minutes. It is the participants’ responsibility to organize themselves so they can enjoy the program, as well as networking and rest moments.
11.14 Participants are not allowed to post posters or display any kind of catalog or flyer without authorization from the RioWF Organization, except for business cards or networking materials used in personal exchanges.
11.15 Failure to observe the guidelines set out herein may jeopardize the realization of the event and, in cases where the RioWF Organization deems it necessary, applicable measures shall be taken to restore order.
11.16 The RioWF Organization reserves the right to include new guidelines at any time, modify any of these regulations, or issue new rules during the event.

12 GENERAL RULES FOR WEB PILOTO
12.1 Registration for Web Piloto shall be carried out by correctly completing the form and paying the entry fee.
12.2 Once correctly completed, in accordance with item 12.1, 10 Web Piloto projects will be selected at the discretion of the RioWF curatorship, therefore,
12.3 Each selected idea will have two days to produce its pilot episode (including scriptwriting, filming, and editing).
12.4 The pilot may contain footage filmed in other locations; however, it must obligatorily include scenes filmed during RioWF.
12.5 Web Piloto projects must be sent online by email to contact@riowebfest.net, through WeTransfer, Dropbox, or another similar cloud service.
12.4 The maximum video duration is 2 minutes, including credits. There is no minimum duration.
12.5 Web Piloto projects delivered correctly and on time may be screened in a Web Piloto session; this decision varies from year to year and depends on demand in RioWF Cinema.
12.6 The category winner will be revealed during the RioWF Awards.
12.7 Teams are responsible for their own equipment, personal belongings, or any other costs related to the production of their Web Pilotos.
12.8 All material used in the videos, such as soundtrack, artwork, etc., must have the proper licenses, authorizations, and other permissions from the respective holders of rights, trademarks, and the like.
12.9 The venue hosting RioWF has full freedom to change decisions, as well as requirements, regarding filming in outdoor areas of its premises. Each year we provide updated information on this topic and its possibilities.
12.10 RioWF does not have permission to authorize filming in the indoor areas (rooms, theaters, etc.) of the venue where the event takes place.

12.11 Traditionally, the event venue is very windy; therefore, it is the creators’ responsibility to protect their audio recording equipment so as not to compromise sound capture.
12.12 Videos delivered after the deadline will not compete for festival awards.
12.13 Projects selected for Web Piloto do not participate in the Creators’ Panel. However, there will be many opportunities for creators to promote their projects and share ideas during the festival days.
12.14 All rules cited in the caput of these regulations concerning RioWF’s general operation apply to this supplement.

13 GENERAL RULES FOR SUPER PROJETO BUSINESS ROUNDS
13.1 Registration for the Business Rounds shall be carried out by correctly completing the form and paying the entry fee.
13.2 Completing the registration does not guarantee participation in the business rounds. Once correctly completed, in accordance with item 13.1, the projects will be presented to the players participating in the current edition, and it is up to them, independently, to choose the projects with which they wish to meet.
13.3 Each meeting lasts 8 minutes; nevertheless, each player/platform has autonomy to end earlier or later than the pre-established time.
13.4 Meetings may take place in person or online, and this specification will be arranged in advance through a communication sent to the email address provided in the registration.
13.5 The scheduled times will accommodate the players’ agendas, and it is hereby clarified that the date and time for the round may be any date and time within the RioWF event dates, and the proposer must be available up to 30 minutes before the requested time.
13.6 A maximum of two people may present each project.
13.7 The Meeting is private, and it is not possible to interact with the presentations.
13.8 The meetings are filmed, and these images remain with the RioWF Organization for control purposes, being the property and for the exclusive use of the RioWF Organization.
13.9 The proposer is entirely responsible for their presentation and, for this reason, must bring everything necessary to carry it out. Laptops, tablets, or cell phones will not be made available to candidates.
13.10 Considering that failures may occur in the internet connections available at the event venue, proposers must bring their material for offline access.
13.11 Creators, participants, and proposers are required to take care of the environment where RioWF events take place, especially with regard to voice volume or media volume, and for this reason the RioWF Organization suggests the use of headphones whenever ambient sound may affect or be affected by a presentation.
13.12 Players are invited to participate in RioWF, and even after accepting this commitment, a situation may occur that prevents the meeting from happening. In this case, with the authorization of both parties, their contacts will be shared so that future dialogue remains possible. This is the only action RioWF may take. It is understood from the outset that the rounds are spaces for dialogue in search of aligned interests. This space opens possibilities, but does not guarantee awards, income, or contracts of any kind.
13.13 Some rounds are in English and, if necessary, translation support will be provided to participants through a team member fluent in English, but it is important to indicate that the person assisting with translation is not allowed to interfere with or mediate your presentation.
13.14 All rules cited in these regulations concerning RioWF’s general operation apply to this supplement.

14 GENERAL RULES FOR SUPER PROJETO PITCHINGS
14.1 Registration shall be carried out by correctly completing the form and paying the entry fee.
14.2 Completing the registration does not guarantee participation in the Pitching. Once correctly completed, in accordance with item 14.1, the ten projects best evaluated by the players and by RioWF curatorship will be invited to Pitching.
14.3 The presentation is in person, on the date and time set by RioWF. Attendance is mandatory, and the proposer’s absence is grounds for disqualification.
14.4 Each presentation has a maximum duration of 02 (two) minutes; there is no minimum duration.
14.5 The presentation is entirely oral; there must be no supporting materials. The proposer is expected to defend the project, nothing beyond that.
14.6 The Proposer is responsible for any costs involved in their participation; please revisit the caput of these regulations.
14.7 The Pitching is an individual presentation carried out by the person who completed the registration and, if a new indication is necessary, it must be authorized by the person who completed the registration through the email used for registration.
14.8 The presentations are filmed, and these images remain with RioWF for control purposes, being the property and for the exclusive use of RioWF.
14.9 After all presentations, the panel will evaluate and discuss in order to choose the best defended project. This project will receive the title of Super Projeto and will also receive a Zé Trophy.
14.10 All rules cited in these regulations concerning RioWF’s general operation apply to this supplement.

15 GENERAL RULES FOR GIVEAWAYS AT RIOWF
15.1 Distribution of items or promotional actions without authorization from the RioWF Organization is prohibited.
15.2 RioWF does not sell products. All items and giveaways during the festival days will be offered directly to the public, raffled, or offered through promotional actions by partners, provided they are duly authorized by the RioWF Organization.
15.3 In the case of direct offering, this is done spontaneously on a first-come, first-served basis, without prior notice or any identification requirement, and it is up to the RioWF Organization to decide and carry it out in the best way for the current edition.
15.4 Marketing actions by partners may take place, provided they are duly and previously authorized by the RioWF Organization. Such marketing actions will have their own dynamics, rules, or giveaway distribution. In this case, the participant will be informed by the RioWF team, but we already indicate that every action has rules and guidance, and participants are responsible for becoming aware of them, whether by reading regulations or by any other information method made available.
15.5 RioWF does not guarantee that each participant will receive any of the distributed items, and it also emphasizes that there is no replacement for such items in the event of damage or loss.
15.6 All rules cited in these regulations concerning RioWF’s general operation apply to this supplement.
16 POPULAR VOTE
16.1 The POPULAR VOTE category is an opportunity for all enthusiasts of the content featured annually at RioWF to express their appreciation for their favorite creators and content in a healthy and dynamic competition within rules intended to guarantee equal opportunities for its participants.
16.2 All automatically nominated content competes in the Popular Vote Web Series category.
16.2 All personalities individually nominated compete in the Popular Vote Personalities category.
16.3 The lists of competitors will be made available according to the information in the registration form.
16.4 In order to vote, the public must access the platform designated for the edition and follow the security procedures. The platform varies with each edition, and the security processes are constantly updated; therefore, all indications and instructions for voting will be disclosed year by year through the event’s official channels.
16.5 We suggest that participants in the popular vote follow the event’s Instagram account @riowebfest in order to stay up to date.
16.6 The use of bots or attempts at fraud is expressly prohibited. We warn that any unlawful procedures regarding the use of technology go beyond the RioWF regulations. Voting is limited by IP and cookies for a period of time. During the popular voting period, we constantly make adjustments to the system firewall to prevent fraud.
16.7 RioWF adopts the principle of non-interference. The security system evaluates each vote and it is up to the system to cancel, block, or validate it. If the active security system accepts and records the vote, it shall be considered valid.
16.8 If any content or personality does not wish to compete in this category, a request must be sent to the event organization.
16.9 The winner shall be the content or personality with the highest number of votes by the date announced as the end of the voting period. The popular vote category is not evaluated by the technical jury, as voting is exclusively online and by the public.
16.10 Attitudes and communications that exceed the limits of respect, including messages containing insults and threats directed at organizers, participants, and other voters, any form of harassment, threat, or hate speech; any act that may be interpreted as an unlawful act, an act in bad faith, insult, slander, defamation, or that is incompatible with peaceful and respectful coexistence among all RioWF participants, or with the name and image of the Festival and its organizers and producers, may result in the immediate blocking and banning of the offender from the event’s social media, as well as the prohibition of the responsible person (directly or indirectly) from attending scheduled events. If the person responsible for such conduct is a competitor, it may also result in prohibition from receiving awards, disqualification from the category, or even from the event itself, without prejudice to applicable legal measures that may be taken at the sole discretion of the Rio Webfest® Organization.
16.11 Trophies related to this category will be delivered during RioWF, and the delivery dates and award dynamics vary in each edition; this information will be announced by email and through the official social media channels.
16.12 This category arose from requests by fans who wanted the opportunity to get closer to and reward the web series they liked. In this way, the Popular Vote is a fundamental part of Rio Webfest, a space created to celebrate community engagement and support for favorite series. We count on our community’s collaboration to honor this privilege by competing ethically and respectfully.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Our second time being part of Rio Webfest, and I have to commend how well they put this festival together - lots of great marketing, events - and they take care to include creators who cannot attend in person to be able to take part in online panels as well. I wish we were able to attend in person but look forward to doing so some time in future! Thank you Rio team for the nominations on our series BROKE ACTOR & congrats to all the other creators !

    January 2026
    Response from festival:

    Wow, thank you so much for your kind words Sangeetha! We loved Broke Actor and we are very fortunate to be picked by you and your team!! Hope to see more from you in the future. Cheers grats and much love from Rio!

  • Awesome festival with different projects from all over the world where you can't miss the networking meetings. We wlare thankful to have been selected and we highly recommend Rio Web Fest.
    Thank you.
    Recomendamos este increíble festival al que hay que asistir para poder hacer networking y disfrutar de una maravillosa gala.
    Muchas gracias

    December 2025
    Response from festival:

    Hey Yolanda! Thanks for the honest feedback! Los Aspirantes was really cool and we can’t wait to see more from you. Much love from Rio 🙏❤️

  • A perfectly lovely festival to participate in. Communication was great from the organizers, and the awards ceremony was well presented. We hope everyone had a nice time. 😊

    December 2025
    Response from festival:

    Dear friends, thanks for participating! We really loved your Actual Play and grats on your win! Well deserved! We also look forward to see more from you in the future. Cheers and much love from Rio,

  • Rebekah Louisa Smith

    A terrific festival - excellent communication and organisation. Thank you for believing in my debut web commercial and for the support

    December 2025
    Response from festival:

    Dear Rebekah, thank you for your kind words! We really loved your web ad and look forward to see more from you in the future. Cheers and much love from Rio,

  • Rio Webfest was amazing! This was the biggest festival that I ever been a part of. The four day festival gave so much opportunity to display creatives talents. The awards are amazing!

    December 2025
    Response from festival:

    Wow, thanks for the compliments! Martial Autist is incredible and the award was well deserved! Looking forward to see more from you in the future. Cheers and much love from Rio,