1 | ABOUT PARTICIPATION
Documentary, animation and fiction productions completed after January 1, 2025 may participate in the 33rd edition of SUNCINE, provided they address topics related to the environment, biodiversity, climate change, sustainability, ecological transition and ecosocial justice, as well as other issues linked to the relationship between society and nature.
The call is open to national and international productions, with no restriction on country of origin.
Submitted works must not have previously participated in environmental film festivals held in Spain.
To compete in the Official Section, it will be mandatory for the work to be a Spanish premiere. It must not have been commercially exhibited or screened at other festivals within Spanish territory prior to its participation in SUNCINE.
The Festival may exceptionally evaluate specific premiere situations when strategic circumstances or duly justified cultural interest apply.
2 | ABOUT SUBMISSION
Submission of works for the 33rd edition of SUNCINE will remain open until July 1, 2026
Submission fees will range between 3 and 10 USD depending on the category and duration of the work.
In order to support and promote the national industry, Spanish productions will be exempt from the submission fee.
Submissions must include:
• Active viewing link.
• Complete technical information.
• Contact details of the producer or legal representative.
• Additional material required in the official form.
In case of selection, participants must provide:
• Screening copy in the technical format requested by the Festival.
• Promotional materials (stills, poster, trailer and press kit).
Acceptance of the selection and the signing of the official participation form will be binding and contractual. Any subsequent unilateral withdrawal may result in the responsibilities established in applicable regulations.
Submission implies full acceptance of these regulations.
3 | ABOUT THE SECTIONS
Selected works will be programmed in one of the following sections:
Official Section
International competition of documentary feature films (over 60 minutes), national and international.
Mandatory requirement: Spanish premiere.
Works must not have been commercially exhibited or screened at other festivals in Spain.
Screening: in-person at the official Festival venues.
Official Section Ñ
Competition of Spanish documentary feature films (over 60 minutes).
Works that are Spanish premieres will be prioritized.
Screening: in-person at the official Festival venues.
Miradas Section (Online)
Competition of mid-length documentaries (30–59 minutes) with an authorial, social and contemporary perspective.
Screening on SUNCINE+ | CaixaForum+, free and geolocated in Spain.
Monarca Section (Online)
Competition of documentary short films and animation works (up to 29 minutes) with an educational and ecosocial focus.
Aimed at new voices, innovative narratives and content with an educational vocation.
Screening on SUNCINE+ | CaixaForum+, free and geolocated in Spain.
Premiere Section / Out of Competition
The Festival Direction may program invited works out of competition that, due to their artistic relevance, international trajectory or institutional interest, contribute to the cultural mission of the Festival.
Screening: in-person and/or online, as determined by the organization.
4 | ABOUT THE JURY
The Jury of each competitive section will be composed of renowned professionals linked to the cinematic, cultural, environmental and academic fields.
The Festival Direction will appoint its composition according to the following criteria:
• Professional independence
• Diversity of profiles
• Gender balance
• Absence of conflict of interest
Jury members commit to exercising their role with rigor, impartiality and confidentiality.
Decisions will be adopted by simple majority and will be final and unappealable.
The Festival may establish specific juries for certain sections or awards.
5 | ABOUT COMMUNICATION
Submission and participation in SUNCINE authorize the Festival to use, without territorial limitation and exclusively for promotional and cultural purposes, photographs, posters, images, trailers and excerpts of the selected works (up to a maximum of 3 minutes) for the promotion of the Festival in media, television, radio, press, digital platforms and social networks.
The Festival may include the title of the work, synopsis, technical and artistic credits, as well as the names of authors and producers in printed or digital catalogs, the official website, associated platforms and institutional communication materials.
Selected works must mention their participation in the Festival in subsequent communications using the formula “Official Selection SUNCINE” or the award obtained, incorporating the official logo according to the corporate identity guidelines.
SUNCINE will provide participants with the corresponding laurels and graphic elements.
The Festival will not carry out commercial exploitation of the works beyond the screenings authorized within the framework of the Festival and its online venue, according to the conditions accepted by the rights holders.
6 | ABOUT FESTIVAL SHOWCASES AND EXTENSIONS
Throughout the year, SUNCINE organizes different Showcases in various cities in Spain and in countries across the Americas, with the aim of expanding the dissemination of environmental cinema and strengthening its international projection.
These Showcases may include special programs composed of works previously selected in the corresponding edition of the Festival.
Participation in SUNCINE implies that the submitted work may be considered to be part of these Showcases, always within a cultural and non-commercial framework.
In all cases, the effective inclusion of a work in a Showcase will be communicated in advance to its representatives.
Festival Extension: SUNCINE Showcase – Vitoria-Gasteiz
The SUNCINE Showcase – Vitoria-Gasteiz, held annually after the Festival ends (between February and March of the following year), constitutes a consolidated official extension of the Festival, with more than twenty consecutive editions.
This Showcase is considered a territorial extension of the Festival in that city.
Therefore, participation in the corresponding edition of SUNCINE implies acceptance of participation in the Vitoria-Gasteiz Showcase.
7 | ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
SUNCINE promotes the educational platform Each Classroom a Cinema, a cultural and pedagogical initiative aimed at educational centers in Spain, designed to foster audiovisual literacy and critical thinking regarding the environment and sustainability.
Unless expressly indicated otherwise in the submission form, selected works may be considered for this platform.
Effective inclusion will require a specific agreement and express authorization from the rights holder, establishing screening conditions, duration and territorial scope.
Participation in the Festival does not imply automatic transfer of rights for educational purposes beyond formally agreed screenings.
8 | ABOUT ACCEPTANCE OF THE REGULATIONS
Submitting a work to the 33rd edition of SUNCINE through FilmFreeway implies full acceptance of these regulations.
Selected works must complete and sign the official participation form sent by the organization. This signature will be binding and contractual.
The participant declares to be the legitimate holder of the exhibition rights of the submitted work and guarantees that its participation does not violate intellectual property rights, image rights, trademarks, prior contracts or any other applicable regulations.
In the event of claims related to copyright, music, images, trademarks or any other legal aspect related to the work, the participant will hold harmless SUNCINE, the organizing entity ACCIONS 3E and its collaborators from any claim, damage or expense derived, including legal fees and court costs.
The Festival Direction reserves the right to interpret and apply these regulations, as well as to resolve any situation not foreseen herein.
The Directorate of the 33rd SUNCINE | International Environmental Film Festival
