Cine Pobre is a self-funded filmmaking genre without a set of stylistic criteria nor format boundaries, involving many geographically separated creators with at least two things in common: a strong desire to tell their story: with their own resources and without establishment constraints.

Cine Pobre builds bridges based on the belief that film becomes art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper.

Notable Greek philosophers believed that perfection only exists in virtuality.

After 23 years of showcasing and awarding the world's best self funded films Cine Pobre Film Festival will transition its format and adapt to real virtuality while preserving its essence.

The discontinuation of our public space venues makes it easier and much less costly to manage. That means much lower inscription fees. No airplane tickets, no hotel bills, no liver cirrhosis from afterparties; just an evolved value proposition, while continuing to deliver the timeless professional prestige to be lauded in the company of the World's Best Self Funded Films.

In August 2024 XXII Cine Pobre Film Festival inaugurated its own humble movie theater in the Oaxaca cloud forest at 2,500 m /asl. This special events playhouse allows us to focus more on motivating our target audiences to develop their creative talents as mentor of future filmmakers.

Cine Pobre Film Festival:
The sovereign intersection of culture and capabilities since 2002,

collaborative event offering co- and post-production

Cine Pobre is a collaborative venue and not a contest where filmmakers receive trinkets.

We invite filmmakers to produce self-funded films telling stories we bet on becoming resonant cultural contributions instead of focusing on orotund social components.

Cine Pobre is the 100% self-funded intersection of culture and capabilities.

Participate!

We exclusively accept self funded films and crowd-financed films.

We have drastically LOWERED our Entry Fees given our new format.
We DO NO LONGER offer discounts nor waivers unless you currently reside in
a war-torn country or region. If you do not have access to the FilmFreeway payment system, explain your circumstance and propose barter, our film festival poster in your
language, digital media contributions, etc.

IF YOUR FILM'S BUDGET IS OVER 50% CROWD, STATE, CITY, GRANT
CULTURAL OR FILM FUND SUPPORTED, please indicate
the percentage of budget and its source.

We have added a category for STUDENT FILMS and Film Schools.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Hannes Rall

    This is a wonderful and very dedicated festival run by true film enthusiasts. I could not attend myself but all the communication and organisation were absolutely excellent and way above standard. Highly recommended for any true indie author!

    May 2025
  • No se si somos las personas indicadas para redactar la opinión a la que nos invita filmfreeway…
    En condición de nominados no hemos podido proyectar nuestro trabajo y tampoco acudir, con lo cual, sería peregrino, y un tanto injusto para este festival, puntuar aspectos del mismo que desconocemos; para no perjudicar entre el cero y el pleno de estrellas optamos por lo segundo.
    La atención fue muy correcta y rápida para aclararnos que la nominación no era una selección.
    Nos gustaría pensar que esta etiqueta de “Nominee” no es algo general a los trabajos que se quedaron fuera; que la cinta les gustó. También nos hubiera encantado un feedback más extenso, por aquello de hacernos con un galardón… pero menos da una piedra.
    Pero pese a esas posibles pegas tengo que decir que es muy valioso que existan festivales que nos den una oportunidad a los proyectos pequeños y la posibilidad de soñar que nuestro trabajo lo pueda disfrutar una audiencia curiosa en una pantalla con la liturgia que deseamos al cine.
    I’m not sure we’re the right people to provide the evaluation FilmFreeway has requested.

    As nominees, we weren’t able to screen our film or attend the festival in person, so it would feel disingenuous—and frankly unfair—to rate aspects of an event we didn’t experience. To avoid skewing the rating between zero and full stars, we’ve opted for the latter.

    That said, the festival team was prompt and courteous in clarifying that a nomination didn’t equate to an official selection. We’d like to believe this ‘Nominee’ label isn’t just a blanket designation for rejected films—that perhaps they genuinely liked Paloma Negra. We’d have also loved more detailed feedback (especially with an eye toward future submissions), but hey—half a loaf is better than none.

    Still, despite these quibbles, we deeply value festivals like this one that give small projects a chance. Just the possibility of our work reaching curious audiences on a proper screen—with all the reverence cinema deserves—is a dream worth nurturing.

    May 2025
  • Quiero agradecer de manera muy especial a Cine Pobre Film Festival, por haber seleccionado mi primer cortometraje de terror, DRAUMUR, espero que la gente lo disfrute porque fue un proyecto hecho con el corazón y con mucha pasión. Deseo que este festival siga por muchísimos años y que nos permita seguir presentando nuestros proyectos, Gracias también por sus atenciones y su pronta respuesta... felicidades y un fuerte abrazo a todos los organizadores.

    May 2025
  • On behalf of CESO ENTERPRISES, INC., Alyssa Dann, and Chris Oledude, I would like to compliment the organizers and operators of Cine Pobre Film Festival. We are proud to have had the opportunity to showcase our work, “Orange Blues 24” in your festival, as well as share the spotlight with so many talented film makers. Submitting our film was a simple process, and everyone who contacted us on behalf of this festival was helpful, and easy to communicate with. Although we were not able to attend in person, this will remain a highlight of our year, and we recommend submitting your work to this wonderful festival! We certainly intend to participate again in the future.

    Thank you

    May 2025
  • Ian Charles Lister

    I was delighted that my film received an honorable mention from this important festival of truly independent cinema.

    August 2024