The First International Film Festival of Madrid to promoting sensible cinema and intercultural dialogue.
Cinema brings important aesthetic, narrative and enjoyment elements, but it is also an important vehicle to reach the hearts and minds of everyone, providing stories and themes to the widest possible audience. Movies can also inspire people to participate and act.
Guiño (Wink) Award-Best Feature Fiction……………………….. € 1.500
Guiño (Wink)-Award for Best Documentary Feature………. € 1.000
Guiño (Wink)-Best Short Film Award.....................................€ 500
Guiño (wink)-Award for the best film made with mobile... € 500
Guiño- (Wink)-Award for the best film on the subject migrations....€ 500
Guiño-
(Wink) -Award for best film for young audiences............ € 500
Guiño (Wink)-Award best film by a director who belong to a diaspora..............................€500
Tick tok vertical short films of up to 10 minutes
Award to Best Screebplay ................................................................ .€ 800
International Film Festival
el ojO cojo
Rules and registration.
Purpose - The International Film Festival el ojO cojo is dedicated to short and feature films, fiction, documentaries and animation, with the aim of promoting intercultural dialogue, migration and coexistence, disseminating quality films that rarely reach Spain, but above all raising awareness of the different facets of reality, trying not to fall into clichés. In this way, step by step, the festival aims to serve as an environment for meeting and discussing projects of common interest.
The organisation
ojO_Ojo NGO dedicated to the promotion of coexistence with a gender approach, declared of public utility by the Madrid City Council. Member of the World Alliance for Cultural Diversity and the Anna Lindh Foundation.
The Festival is independent and will award prizes from the Jury and the Participatory Community December in the form of
THEME- The theme of the el ojO cojo Film Festival is free, as long as the films promote coexistence, diversity and inclusion, with a preference for irony, celebration and humour.
CORONAVIRUS - Due to the exceptional situation we are living in the world, films made in captivity during the COVID crisis will have a special place in the festival.
Sections - There will be the following sections: Official section of fiction films in competition:
Fiction: from 80 minutes.
Documentary: from 60 minutes
Medium-length films:
Fiction: from 20 to 80 minutes
Documentary: from 20 to 60 minutes
Short films in competition up to 20 minutes
Screenplay.
Submitted films that do not meet these criteria, but which are of exceptional quality or testimonial value, may be selected for screening out of competition.
Monographic sections and cycles, which will present films of outstanding cinematographic level and social commitment, as well as aesthetic and discursive research, or which refer to a specific reality. They can be grouped by nation, theme, current events,
The films to be considered for the awards must have been completed or premiered on the 1st of January of the previous year and must not have been submitted to previous editions of this festival. It is not an obstacle, although it is considered positive if they have not participated in other festivals.
Entries
Entries open on 1 July at 10:30 and close on 31 May.
Films can only be submitted by their directors or with their explicit and signed authorisation for our festival. Submissions from distributors will not be accepted without the director's express authorisation to submit to our festival.
Invitations will be sent to filmmakers only.
Mass mailings from distributors, even if expressly authorised, will not be accepted unless they pay the registration fee for each film. In this case, a maximum of 4 films can be registered.
For the registration to be valid, the film must be uploaded to one of the platforms listed on the website at the end of the rules.
Once registered, the entry form will be considered as an affidavit stating that the applicant is aware of and accepts these rules.
Films participating in other friendly festivals may also be entered directly. Once the shortlist has been announced, you must ensure that we have the following available on the registration platform
A digitised file of the film in :
Master ProRes HD 422 with VE and/or VO in 5.1 and/or 2.0 at 25 or 24 fps
OV version without subtitles in picture or VOSE
No encrypted code to prevent copying and NO WATERMARK (will be reason for disqualification).
MASTER
Codec: H264
Format: MP4
Aspect: 16:9 or 4/3 depending on the source
AVG Bitrate: 10MBPS at 15MBPS
Sound: 5.1 AAC 48Hz 320 or stereo (Only 1 audio layer mixed)
Framerat: 24 or 25fps
Only clean subtitle masters will be accepted (unless it is directly the VOSE version).
SUBTITLES
Languages: Spanish essential. Optional: Catalan, Basque or Galician.
Format: SRT, STL or TXT synchronous with the image.
If the subtitles require heights, they must be directly burned into the image.
GRAPHIC MATERIALS AND TECHNICAL DATA SHEET
- Trailer of each title in VOSE or VE: MP4 and between 5-10 Mb. Frame Rate: 24 or 25fps.
- Poster with film title + background only. Layered poster (.psd/.ai) will also be accepted. Minimum resolution required: 2000x3000px.
- 3 or 4 HD stills of each title.
- Photographs of the directors.
We WILL NOT ACCEPT content that is openly available on platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo.
Content will NOT BE ACCEPTED only in TVOD license with validity of less than 48 hours.
PLEASE DO NOT email any photos or other documents that we have not EXPRESSLY requested to be emailed.
With their registration, the directors grant el ojO cojo exhibition and distribution rights.
Presentations - It is important that each director takes advantage of the different spaces that the festival offers to promote his or her work. And because we are committed to dialogue, each director or representative who attends the festival to present a film, undertakes to attend at least 3 other directors' screenings during the festival and one meeting, if any.
The films selected for the Competition have the possibility of being acquired for exhibition. For this reason, it is essential that each film be officially presented during the Festival, either by its director or by his representatives if the director is unable to travel.
Transport of copies
Copies will be sent via the registration platform designated by the Festival. In the exceptional case that they have to be sent on physical support, the costs of transport and insurance from the place of dispatch will be borne by the person submitting the film.
All copies to be sent on physical support must be sent to the Festival with transport costs and taxes prepaid. Shipments at the Festival's expense will not be accepted. Please inform the sender by email to elojocojo@elojocojo.org, stating the air waybill number, airline used, flight number and date of shipment.
Always state that the copy has no commercial value and declare a maximum value of US$15 for customs purposes.
Hard copies will not be returned.
Distribution
Publicity and publicity - By registering, each director agrees to publicise his or her participation and the news of the Festival on his or her social networks, from registration to the Awards Ceremony. The director must upload to the registration platform the promotional material for each film, consisting of: poster and photos of the authors and the film, link to the trailer on Youtube or Vimeo. The aim is to provide as much information as possible to the international and local press and to raise the interest of the general public in each film.
Dissemination - The aim of el ojO cojo is to give the greatest possible publicity and distribution to the films that are presented. Recommends films for local distribution in cinemas and online. Recommends films for local distribution.
el ojO cojo also makes a travelling tour with selections from the festival and different cultural spaces.
It will also try to facilitate the participation of the films in different friendly festivals, thus promoting the knowledge of the work.
Participation
Invitations - The Festival will make the necessary contacts, according to the possibilities offered each year by the supporters and sponsors, to try to facilitate the stay and the tickets of the filmmakers who aspire to the prizes of the Jury.
These filmmakers will have the opportunity to present their film and make a call to the press, if they so wish during the period in which they are invited.
Preselection - This will be carried out by professionals selected and approved by the Festival itself.
Seminars - The aim of the Festival is to facilitate the discussion and exchange of cinematographic experiences in an environment of cultural integration, for which seminars will be organised.
Prizes
Depending on the confirmation of funding sources, the Festival Jury will award the following prizes
Guiño Prize - to the best feature film ................................................ with a prize of 1,500 euros.
Guiño Prize - for the best documentary............................................. endowed with 1.000 €.
Guiño Award - for the best medium-length fiction film ................................................... with a prize of €800
Guiño Award - for the best medium-length documentary ............................................ with a prize of €500
Guiño Award - best short film ................................................................... endowed with € 500
Guiño Award - Best Migration-themed Film ............................. endowed with €500
Wink Award - Best film for children......................................... endowed with € 500
Wink Award - Best film by a director from the diaspora ............................. € 1.500
Guiño Award - Best film for children......................................... - € 500 prize money
Wink Award - Best written screenplay ................................................................. worth €800
Community Wink
If the jury deems it appropriate, special Wink Awards in the form of diplomas may be given in recognition of special qualities that the jury deems noteworthy.
The diploma and prize money, if any, will be sent only to the director.
Films that have received an award undertake to mention it in all publicity, posters and press material, with the Festival logo and respecting the exact wording of the Jury's decision, condictio sine qua non to receive the award.
Indicators for the evaluation of the films:
Narrated reality
Subject matter impact
Originality of the treatment
Quality of direction
Environment in which the film was made and its difficulties
Difficulties in realising the project
Qualities of the script
Artistic quality
Technical quality
Any other reason
For cases not foreseen, the decision will be made by the Festival Management.
The order and the date of the screening of each film will be determined by the Festival Management in agreement with the cinemas. A request by the representatives of a film for a change in the order of screening may be considered as serious misconduct and will be grounds for exclusion from the competition.
The Festival Management may eliminate a section due to a lack of quality titles or for other reasons and include the selected films in the Parallel Screening.
- January 2025
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el ojO cojo is a festival that dares to be different in the best possible ways. From my experience, it stands out not only for its selection of thought-provoking films but also for the way it actively engages with filmmakers and their work.
One of the most striking aspects of the festival was the interaction they facilitated with communication professionals—in my case, a journalist—who asked insightful questions about my film and its themes. This demonstrated genuine interest in the stories being told and fostered an environment of participation and dialogue. It’s rare to see a festival go beyond the traditional screening format and create such meaningful connections between filmmakers and audiences.
The selection of films and themes also speaks to the festival's courage and independence. el ojO cojo does not shy away from controversial or challenging topics, nor does it conform to what is politically or socially “safe.” Instead, it embraces bold narratives and gives a platform to voices that provoke thought and spark conversation. This commitment to originality and authenticity gives the festival a strong and distinctive identity.
Moreover, the organization and communication were excellent. The team’s dedication and effort were evident in every interaction, and it’s clear they value the filmmakers and their work.
In a world where many festivals play it safe, el ojO cojo is a breath of fresh air—a festival with a voice of its own, championing diversity, dialogue, and daring creativity. I highly recommend it to filmmakers looking for a unique and meaningful festival experience.
December 2024
Response from festival:
Dear Diogo, your words resonate deeply, highlighting the mutual empathy we strive for at the el ojO cojo Film Festival. This connection is not just a sentiment; it embodies the spirit we seek in directors of the films presented at our festival.
In light of the recent fire incident affecting our festival director's home, your readiness to step in and help speaks volumes about your character and commitment to our community. Such actions reinforce the solidarity we cherish, creating an environment where collaboration thrives and everyone feels supported.
The el Ojo Cojo Festival is all about embracing diversity and fostering meaningful dialogue through cinema. Your engagement exemplifies this ethos, reminding us that our mission transcends mere film screenings; it's about building a vibrant community where stories are shared and connections are made. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. -
Fue la directora a presentar un cortometraje y se encontró con una sala vacía de público, sin nadie de la organización, sólo con la persona encargada del local que, por cierto, va a dejar de colaborar con el festival, según nos ha comentado. Al informar de ello al festival contestaron que nosotros teníamos que llevar a nuestros amigos y conocidos, sin disculparse en ningún momento. No se puede tratar así a los directores y directoras de cortometrajes. En definitiva, muy mal.
November 2024 Response from festival:
Hello, it is a pity that you make this comment when we actively followed up since the registration, we published in social networks questions to the director, we chose a suitable space for her presentation, she had, like all directors, tickets for her guests. But the basis of this whole issue is that our festival is participatory, it requires an involvement on the part of the director, and we try to do that at every step. Unfortunately, the same day of the screening something terrible happened, the festival director's apartment caught fire and the director of the film was aware of it, as well as the rest of the directors who showed their solidarity. It was an exceptional situation. There are many commercial festivals to register for. We made a different proposal. We regret the interest that the public has shown in this work, which surely if it has been selected was because it was of interest to the festival, but the response is imponderable. Surely other festivals, with a different profile can provide another response, less participatory, or more, but what we ask from the moment of registration is commitment and empathy.
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Giuseppe Cine
Thank you so much for selecting our short film, Tarzan, to be part of this prestigious festival! We were thrilled to have it screened in such iconic locations around Madrid, and it was truly inspiring to see how the festival brings socially committed films into the spotlight. One small suggestion: it would be wonderful to create a moment for shortfilm directors to introduce their work to the audience. Although I was present at the screening, I missed the chance to personally share a few words about the film. Once again, thank you for this incredible opportunity—it was an honor to be part of it!
November 2024
