FICIMAD (Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Madrid) is an annual international competition in Spain, which accepting films from all over the globe, offering awards in various categories. We dedicate ourselves to awarding films based on their originality and creativity, whilst considering their budget restrictions. We consider production limitations as part of what allows us to judge your creativity and originality.

Our mission and goal is to discover and promote talented filmmakers from all over the world and present them to the public. It promotes the discussion and study of filmmaking.

FICIMAD also calls for experimental film and video work that explores language and/or literature whether it be oral, written, visual, or symbolic. This includes non-narrative work and the avant-guard. We strongly consider work that challenges traditional and current visual communication methods while continuing to function as a mode for exploring narrative and personal expression.

FICIMAD also calls essay film, works of epistolary cinema, documentaries, animation, performance art film and video, and oratorical works.

FICIMAD will screen a large number of films in some of the best cinemas in Madrid. All selected films will have a detailed review in the Official FICIMAD Magazine, but the selection of a film will not entail its screening. FICIMAD will choose the screening of the films according to its own criteria, always seeking to distribute the largest number of films to the maximum possible audience.

Each film designated as an "Official Competitor" will receive a high-resolution image of our Festival Laurels to be used for marketing and promotional purposes. All winners will receive high-resolution images of the Certificates of Award.

ANY LENGTH MOVIE AWARDS:

DON QUIXOTE TROPHY for Best Movie
GOLDEN HELMET OF MAMBRINO for Best Director

Additional Movie Awards:

Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Featurette
Best Narrative Short
Best Thriller
Best Comedy
Best Horror
Best LGTBTQ
Best Sci-Fi
Best Film Noir
Best Western
​Best Animation Feature
Best Animation Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Featurette
Best Documentary Short
Best Indie Film
Best Micro Film
Best Music Video
Best Web Series
Best Experimental Film
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Film Editing
Best Visual Effects
Best Cinematography
Best First Time Director
Best Student Film
Best Trailer
Best Screenplay - Short
Best Screenplay - Featurette
Best Screenplay - Feature

We are gladly accepting all movies, micro (up to 5 min), shorts (up to 15 min.), featurettes (15 – 60 min.), features (60 – 180 min.) in multiple categories: fiction, documentary, animation and experimental, student films (under 25 min), trailers/teasers (under 5 min.), music videos (under 10 min.), TV/WEB episodes (under 30 min.)

All non-English language films, videos and trailers must have English subtitles when submitted. Films must have been completed after December 30, 2020. Once submitted, the filmmaker agrees that film, video or trailer may be selected for screening at the Festival. The film, video or trailer must be available for free public screening during the FICIMAD March 15, 2024. No film, video, trailer or photography still may be withdrawn from the Festival program after the selection.

All movies, videos, trailers and photography stills must be submitted through FilmFreeway. For environmental reasons, we do not accept submissions by mail. The entry fee must be paid in USD and is non-refundable. All contestants must be at least 18 years old or otherwise must have the Tutor Express Authorization to participate. We gladly accept multiple movie entries per participant – for each movie submitted, the each movie entry fee should be paid in full. The organizers, sponsors, partners and judges and their immediate relatives are not authorized to participate with movie submissions to the Festival.

The sender of the submitted film, video, trailer or photography stills is responsible for all copyrights. All submissions must be original works of the author(s) and not in violation of any copyright laws, trademarks or intellectual property. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. FICIMAD shall not be held liable for any legal action that results from unlawful submissions of any submitted movie.

We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their films only after the films are fully finished, as the entry of a movie is final when the submission process is completed; no alterations are permitted after the film is accepted to be played at FICIMAD. Should the film be accepted to play during the Festival, the filmmaker should supply the Festival with its most recent version.

Entrants to the FICIMAD retain all rights to their movies, videos, trailers or photography stills; the organizers don’t hold any copyrights or selling rights of any submitted movie, video or photography still. FICIMAD will only publicize the name, the title and the location of the winners, the title of the movies, a brief description, the Jury’s motivations for choosing the winners and will only use very short excerpts for media in order to promote the FICIMAD’s winners.

All entries must be sent before February 26, 2024 while the results of the selection will be announced on March 11, 2024. The grading of the movies is based exclusively on creative and artistic merits. The decisions of the Jury are final and cannot be contested.

Screenings are curated and scheduled to be aired during the Festival at the discretion of FICIMAD. The Festival reserves the right to choose which selected films, videos and trailers will be screened.

All submissions must be original works of the author(s) and not in violation of any copyright laws, trademarks, intellectual property rights or against basic moral standards. All entries must be owned by their submitting authors at the time of submission. FICIMAD shall not be held liable for any legal action that results from unlawful submissions.

While every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, FICIMAD reserves the right to make any necessary changes, postponements, or cancellations to competition scheduling, screenings, categories, prizes, rules, regulations and Jury membership.

By submitting your work to the FICIMAD, you agree to hold us, our affiliates, our employees and partners harmless from any claims and damages. FICIMAD explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by FICIMAD or by its associates.

Overall Rating
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  • A world-class festival, fantastic communication, we are very excited that Sayad Capello's documentary won the Don Quixote statue in the feature documentary category. Sincerely, we say Merizad's hand for Thomas Perez

    March 2024
  • Galina Fesenko

    Thank you very much! We are very happy to participate and win our film! We had a very pleasant conversation with the film festival!

    March 2024
  • Alireza Rofougaran

    It was an honor being part of this wonderful festival, i was not able to attend but was able to follow the progression of events through the well organized and consistent communication. I hope the festival continues to progress with the same speed in the coming years. A big thumbs up.

    March 2024
  • Mário Fernandes

    Great Festival with fantastic people who really love Cinema.

    March 2024
  • Amartya Bhattacharyya

    Thank you so much for having our film at your festival and for the honor. We're truly humbled by the award as this is the first award for Son of Adam.

    Also, I would like to extend my regards to the author of your magazine who wrote a wonderful short review on the film. I hope you had a great festival!

    Thanks again,
    Amartya Bhattacharyya

    March 2024