The São Paulo Vertical Festival was born from one certainty the vertical format is not a limitation, it is a new language.
SPVF is Brazil's first international festival dedicated exclusively to vertical audiovisual content (9:16) the format that dominates screens, transforms the way stories are told, and connects creators with billions of people around the world. Held in São Paulo, Latin America's largest cultural hub, the festival takes place in a hybrid format, with five days of both in-person and online programming.
Here, vertical series, short films, features, and commercials get the recognition they deserve. Independent creators, production companies, influencers, and streaming platforms come together to debate, learn, pitch, and celebrate the best of a language that is expanding fast across the globe.
The program goes well beyond competitive screenings, SPVF offers free workshops on vertical content production, panels with leading names in the digital market, business meetings connecting streaming platforms with independent filmmakers, and an awards ceremony open to the public, honoring a prominent Brazilian artist for their body of work.
Every single activity is designed to be accessible to everyone with Brazilian Sign Language interpretation, descriptive subtitles, and audio description across 100% of the in-person and online programming.
If you create vertically, think vertically, and believe that 9:16 is the future of cinema, SPVF is your home.

Awards & Prizes

SPVF recognizes the talent and dedication of vertical filmmakers across categories spanning serialized fiction, documentary, animation, AI-generated content, advertising, and student production.
Winners in each category receive the festival's custom-designed trophy and an official certificate. The winning team in the Student Category also receives a scholarship at one of the festival's partner film schools. All official selections receive a selection certificate.
During the Awards Ceremony, the festival also honors a Brazilian artist for their lifetime contribution to audiovisual a tribute to the career and inspiration they leave for the next generation of filmmakers.
Competitive categories:
Best Vertical Series: Up to 2 minutes per episode, between 30 and 60 episodes
Best Vertical Feature Film: Between 60 and 90 minutes
Best Actor (Live Action)
Best Actress (Live Action)
Best Vertical Short Film: Fiction
Best Vertical Short Film: Documentary
Best Vertical Short Film: Animation
Best AI Vertical Short Film: Fiction, Documentary and Animation
Best Social Media Creative: Comedy, Horror and Inspirational
Best Social Media Commercial
Best AI-Made Commercial
Best Brazilian Student Short Film (free submission)
Best AI Brazilian Student Short Film (free submission)

Rules & Terms

SPVF was created to celebrate filmmakers who see the vertical format as a conscious artistic choice. Please read the rules below carefully before submitting.
Required format. All submitted works must be in vertical 9:16 format. This is the heart of the festival no exceptions.
Technical specifications. Works must be delivered in H.264, Full HD, with stereo audio.
Nationality and language. The festival is open to filmmakers from any country in the world. Works in any language other than Portuguese must include subtitles in both English and Portuguese.
Duration by category.
Vertical Series: up to 3 minutes per episode, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 60 episodes. Vertical Feature Film: between 60 and 90 minutes. Vertical Short Film (Fiction, Documentary and Animation): between 1 and 15 minutes. AI Short Film (Fiction, Documentary and Animation): between 1 and 5 minutes. Social Media Creative (Comedy, Horror and Inspirational): between 1 and 5 minutes. Social Media Commercial: between 30 seconds and 1 minute. AI-Made Commercial: between 30 seconds and 1 minute. Student Short Film and AI Student Short Film: between 1 and 5 minutes.
Submissions. Each applicant may submit only one work per category. Each work must be submitted individually.
Student Category. Free submission is available exclusively for Brazilian students. A valid proof of enrollment is mandatory, along with a signed letter from the supervising professor. Participants who fail to provide all required documentation will be automatically disqualified.
Rights and authorizations. By submitting your work, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights to the content. You authorize the use of up to 30 seconds of the film and related images for festival promotional purposes. SPVF is not responsible for any misuse of content whose ownership has not been properly guaranteed by the submitter.
Content. Works containing offensive, illegal, or discriminatory content, or that violate third-party rights, will not be accepted. Any identified violation will result in immediate disqualification.
Festival decision. The decisions of the jury and the organization are sovereign and final in all categories. By submitting your work, you confirm that you agree to all terms described here. Event dates are subject to change.
Questions. For any questions, please contact the festival organization at the official email address.
Deadlines.
First deadline: July through October. Second deadline: November through January. Final deadline: end of February. Event month: Abril.