RULES & GUIDELINES
1. PARTICIPANTS
Participation is open to filmmakers from all over the world, regardless of experience or background. If you’ve got a story to tell within the fantastic genre universe—horror, science fiction, supernatural thriller or anything in between—you’re welcome here.
Submissions are open to both professional and emerging filmmakers, including students.
2. CATEGORIES
The following categories are open for submission:
Spanish Short Films
Short films (up to 30 minutes) made by Spanish directors, writers, or producers, or shot in Spain, within the genre spectrum described.
International Short Films
Short films (up to 30 minutes) within fantastic genres, produced anywhere in the world.
Madrid Short Films
Short films (up to 30 minutes) created by Madrid-born filmmakers, or shot in Madrid, within the festival’s genres.
Student Short Films
Short films (up to 30 minutes) made by university or school students (Spanish or international) within the genre scope of the festival.
National and International Feature Films
Feature-length and médium-length films (30 minutes or more), within the fantastic spectrum genres, produced globally. This category does not include Madrid feature films, which has its own specific submission category.
Madrid Feature Films
Feature-length and medium-length films of 30 minutes or more, made by Madrid-born directors, producers, or writers, or shot in Madrid, within the festival’s genres.
Music video
With a maximum duration of 10 minutes, framed within the fantastic genre. There are no restrictions regarding country or language, but those whose lyrics are not in Spanish must be subtitled in English or Spanish.
3. PREMIERE STATUS
Preference will not be given to works that premiere in Madrid during Eclipse Madrid 2026.
4. language
Films can be submitted in any language or dialect.
However, non-Spanish spoken films must include hardcoded Spanish subtitles or .srt files.
5. JURY
A jury composed of professionals from the genre film scene, critics, and creators will be appointed by the festival organization. Their identities will remain confidential until the award ceremony. The jury’s decision is final.
6. SUBMISSION PLATFORM
All submissions must be made via the Festhome platform.
Participants assume any submission costs.
Submission window:
Nomvember 18, 2025 – August 15, 2026
7. SELECTION PROCESS
The Eclipse Madrid programming team will select the films to be included in the festival. Decisions will be announced no later than August 22, 2026.
Selected participants will be contacted by email.
8. SCREENING COPY REQUIREMENTS
Selected works must be submitted in minimum 1080p resolution, along with:
A high-resolution poster
2 film stills (JPEG / PNG)
Director’s photo (JPEG / PNG)
A short synopsis.
9. awards
Eclipse Madrid celebrates raw creativity over budget.
The following awards will be granted:
"Eclipse Madrid" best spanish short film — Trophy "Rocío"
“Eclipse Madrid” best Madrid short film — Trophy "Sol"
“Eclipse Madrid” best international short film — Trophy “Raven”
“Eclipse Madrid” best student short film — Trophy “Lumen”
“Eclipse Madrid” best feature film — Trophy “Obsidian”
Additional special mentions may me given by the jury’s decisión.
10. COPYRIGHT & OTHER RIGHTS
By submitting, you authorize Eclipse Madrid to use up to 2 minutes of your film for promotion and publicity across digital and media platforms.
Submitted films will remain in the festival archive for possible future non-commercial screenings (e.g., retrospectives), with prior notice and permission from the rights holders.
11. SCREENINGS
All films selected will be publicly screened during the festival on september of 2026, in Madrid (Artistic Metropol venue).
This is a festival with no red carpets, no velvet ropes—just dark rooms, big sound, and young audiences.
12. CONTACT
Need to ask something unusual? Want to pitch a wild side event? Get in touch:
Email: festivalcinefantasticomadrid@gmail.com
Eclipse Madrid is not only here to glamorize cinema. We're here to shake you, disturb you, ignite ideas, and celebrate the wild, the weird, and the unforgettable.
See you soon.
