Festival dels Petons (Catalan for “kisses”) is a Barcelona-based independent film and photo festival dedicated to contemporary cinema and artistic expression centered around a shared human gesture: the kiss.
The festival brings together emerging and established filmmakers whose work explores intimacy, connection, memory, and the body through diverse cinematic forms. While rooted in film, Festival dels Petons opens a dialogue with other visual languages such as photography and participatory art, creating a space where storytelling extends beyond the screen.
Film screenings are at the core of the festival. All selected works will be presented to a public audience during scheduled sessions across the festival dates, using professional projection and sound equipment.
The first edition will take place from June 26 to 28, 2026, in Barcelona. The festival is hosted and produced in collaboration with L’Atelier NoMade Barcelona, which serves as the official venue and organizational base. In parallel, Carrer dels Petons — a historic alley in the city’s old town — will be reimagined as a temporary open-air cinema, equipped for public screenings and cultural gatherings.
The program will present a curated selection of national and international short films (under 20 minutes), alongside complementary activities that expand on the festival’s theme. Despite its interdisciplinary approach, cinema remains the central focus of the event.
Submissions are open to short films of all genres that engage, directly or indirectly, with the idea of the kiss — as gesture, symbol, or narrative device. Both narrative and experimental works are welcome, with a particular interest in new voices and bold perspectives.
All submissions are reviewed by a selection committee composed of filmmakers, cultural practitioners and collaboration from the Ibiza Cine Fest. Selected films will be included in the official program and screened publicly during the festival.
Festival dels Petons is an independent initiative based in Barcelona, with the support of the Ajuntament de Barcelona, created to foster encounters between filmmakers, audiences, and artistic practices through an intimate yet public cinematic experience.
Selected films will be screened as part of the official program in a site-specific setting, including an open-air cinema located in the historic Carrer dels Petons in Barcelona, offering an intimate and immersive viewing experience.
The festival presents two main awards:
• Jury Award – granted by a panel of filmmakers and industry professionals to a film demonstrating outstanding artistic and cinematic achievement.
• Audience Award – determined by public vote during the festival screenings.
Additional recognitions may be awarded at the discretion of the jury.
All selected films will receive official laurels and will be included in the festival’s public screenings program.
