To commemorate the bicentennial of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States, the Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University, the Centro Universitario de Arte, Arquitectura y Diseño at the Universidad de Guadalajara, and the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars have launched the US-Mexico Bicentennial Kaleidoscope: A Short Film Contest and Festival.

The Kaleidoscope seeks to encourage and curate new narratives about the daily impact of the relationship between the United States and Mexico, and our two societies. Send us your shorts about how the relationship helps define our communities, families, and individual identities. Your stories can be a slice of everyday life connected to our cultural ties, film, TV, music, sports fandom, gastronomy, business success, or a personal relationship. Think expansively about the relationship between our two societies and how it manifests itself in your world: we aim for a truly diverse and inclusive kaleidoscope. The festival is an opportunity to present short innovative cinema not just about actual cross-border travel, but also about the presence of the neighboring country within our own.

The Film Contest awards will be announced in September, and awarded shorts will be screened at subsequent Festival screenings in both countries.

Awards & Prizes

Grand prize: $ 5,000 USD

Second prize: $2,500 USD

Third prize: $1,000 USD

Rules & Terms


● All short films should be uploaded to FilmFreeway.

● Films must be from 2 to 12 minutes in length and may cover any genre.

● All films should be completed. Do not submit works in progress.

● Films submitted to other festivals are accepted. No exclusivity required.

● The Kaleidoscope contest is open to any individual, regardless of nationality or age.

● Films can be submitted in any language.

● Filmmakers retain ownership over their work and, upon submission, grant the Kaleidoscope organizers the right to screen films at its public screenings and the right to reproduce film stills or excerpts for any of the organizers’ promotional materials or other efforts.

● Films submitted must not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, contract rights, or any other rights of any person or entity, and filmmakers will be liable for any such violations. Filmmakers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights to third-party materials incorporated into their films, including but not limited to trademarks, copyrights, and music. The US-Mexico Bicentennial Kaleidoscope and its backers are not liable for any violations of permissions.

● The Bicentennial Kaleidoscope will not pay exhibition fees for any accepted entry submitted through this call for submissions.