The FIC AUTOR (Author's International Film Festival) is interested in unique and artistic films that exceed the limits of traditional storytelling. We look for Feature and Short Films that reflect the director's personal creative vision, and a style that is distinct enough to shine through the collective process.
WE ONLY CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOW IN YOUR FILM, how CREATIVE you are and how you tell the story, that's it. We don't care if your film has recognized stars or unknown names, if it was shot with an Arri or a DSLR, if it has been accepted to a thousand festivals or none. We don’t base our decisions regarding your gender, sexual orientation, color of your skin, or ethnicity like other festivals. We are against the politics and bureaucracy that flood the film industry. 100% of the films accepted come from the submissions, we don't invite films. We want to be recognized as an objective festival with a tough competition and the most creative global cinema in our theaters!
We're partners with RAINDANCE Film School, so if you're one of our selected filmmakers, you will also screen your film there and have the chance to teach a masterclass in one of the most important film schools in the world and who knows, maybe be spotted by Elliot himself!
Agron Domi, director of TIRANA International Film Festival, will be our guest of honor in this 10th edition and he will be the president of the Jury! This is going to be the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between festivals.
The 10th edition of the FIC AUTOR will take place from November 19 to 22, 2026 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México and Tequila Jalisco. We will present the very best films from around the world, ranging from the most unexpected-creative low budget films from unknown filmmakers, to films made by experienced/well known directors. Mano a mano, this competition is tough! FIC AUTOR will strive to be one of the most important cultural events in the city. We aspire to become an international spotlight for new directors!
In the 8th edition we awarded the Fictional Short Film "I'm Not A Robot" from director Victoria Warmerdam, who later on end up winning an Oscar in the 97th edition of the Academy Awards.
In the 7th edition we presented the first Honorary Ring to our 1st guest of honor, the Academy Award nominee actress Yalitza Aparicio ("Rome" dir. Alfonso Cuarón) We will continue inviting interesting talents from different fields.
-The 13 winning Authors will receive the FIC AUTOR trophy or rings.
-IMDB and MUBI recognized festival.
-WINNERS will be announced one month before the award ceremony, so all the nominated filmmakers can decide beforehand whether they want to travel to the festival.
-We have 4 venues for screenings, some filmmakers will have 2 or 3 screenings. This includes:
-Cineforo. One of the biggest cinema theaters in the city with 440 seats, and is the most prestigious.
-Cineka with a small room of 14 seats. Also outdoor screening for 50 people.
-Jalisco's department of Culture, beautiful historic building with a projection room.
-Santa Teresita Centro. An art gallery which is our party venue. We do an outdoor screening with a huge screen for 200 people. Offering free tequila to the public.
CATEGORIES:
Feature Films Categories:
-Fictional Feature Films.
-Documentary Feature Films.
-Experimental Feature Films.
-First-Time Filmmaker.
-Low Budget Feature Films Under 50K USD.
-Mexican Feature Films. (For Mexican directors only)
Medium Length Category:
-Medium Length Films. (Any kind)
Short Films Categories:
-Fictional Short Films.
-Documentary Short Films.
-Experimental Short Films.
-Animated Short Films.
-Mexican Short Films. (For Mexican directors only)
-Jalisco Shorts (For filmmakers living in Jalisco)
-Cineminuto 1 minute Short Films.
ONE FILM CAN BE AWARDED IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES IF IT APPLIES.
AWARDS:
Best Author's Feature Film!
Winner will receive The Author's FICAT Trophy! (This tropphy could be won by any feature film, fictional, documentary, experimental, animated, etc.)
Best Author's Short Film!
Winner will receive The Author's FICAT Trophy! (This tropphy could be won by any short film, fictional, documentary, experimental, animated, etc.)
1- Best Fictional Feature Film.
Winner will receive The Author's FICAT Ring.
2- Best Documentary Feature Film.
Winner will receive The Author's DOCAT Ring.
3- Best Experimental Feature Film.
Winner will receive The Author's EXPERICAT Ring.
4- Best First-Time Filmmaker.
Winner will receive the Author's NEUTE Ring.
5- Best Low Budget Feature Film Under 50k USD.
Winner will receive the Author's STRAY-CAT Ring.
6- Best Feature Film made in México.
Winner will receive the Author's MEXI-CAT Ring.
7- Best Medium Length Film
Winner will receive the Author's MIDSIZE-CAT Ring.
8- Best Fictional Short Film.
Winner will receive the Author's FICAT SHORT Ring.
9- Best Documentary Short Film.
Winner will receive the Author's DOCAT SHORT Ring.
10- Best Experimental Short Film.
Winner will receive the Author's EXPERICAT SHORT Ring.
11- Best Animated Short Film.
Winner will receive the Author's ANICAT SHORT Ring.
12- Best Short Film made in México.
Winner will receive the Author's MEXI-CAT SHORT Ring.
13- Best Short Film made in Jalisco.
Winner will receive the Author's JALIS-CAT SHORT Ring.
14- Best Cineminuto – a 1-minute Short Film.
Winner will receive the Author's CLOCKAT Ring.
