The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) invites producers and filmmakers from Mexico, Ibero-America, and other regions around the world to submit their films for consideration in the competitive sections of its 41st edition (FICG 41), taking place from Friday 17 to Saturday 25 April 2026.
A. OFFICIAL COMPETITION
A1. Feature Films
Feature films completed between 2025 and 2026 will be considered, provided they have their Mexican premiere during the 41st edition of the FICG and have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
The submission window for feature films opens on 8 September 2025 and closes on 19 December 2025 at 18:00 (Central Mexico Time – UTC-6).
Sections:
A1. 1. Mezcal Award
Mexican fiction and documentary feature films that have their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 will be considered.
Awards:
- Best Technical–Artistic Achievement: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Performance: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Direction: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Audience Award: Mayahuel Statuette and $100,000 MXN (one hundred thousand) Mexican pesos awarded to the director.
- Mezcal Award for Best Mexican Film: Mayahuel Statuette and MX$500,000 (five hundred thousand) Mexican pesos awarded to the majority production company.
A1. 2. Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film
Fiction feature films from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal that have their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 will be considered.
Awards:
- Best Technical–Artistic Achievement: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Performance: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Screenplay: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Debut Feature: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Direction: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Ibero-American Fiction Film: Mayahuel Statuette and MX$500,000 (five hundred thousand) awarded to the majority production company.
A1. 3. Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film
Documentary feature films from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal that have their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 will be considered.
Awards:
- Best Technical–Artistic Achievement: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Direction: Mayahuel Statuette.
- Best Ibero-American Documentary: Mayahuel Statuette and MX$200,000 (two hundred thousand) Mexican pesos awarded to the majority production company.
* This section is recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), so the winning documentary may be eligible for Oscar nomination.
A1. 4. Maguey Award
Fiction and documentary feature films from anywhere in the world that address queer issues related to the LGBTQ+ community may participate. Films from the rest of the Festival's sections that have their Mexican premiere during the 41st edition of FICG may also be considered.
Awards:
- Maguey Award for Best Performance: EMME Statuette.
- Maguey Jury Award: EMME Statuette.
- Maguey Award for Best Film: EMME Statuette.
A1. 5. International Animated Feature Film
Animated feature films from any country, in any technique, that have their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 may participate.
Award:
- Best Animated Feature Film: Chucho Statuette and MX$300,000 (three hundred thousand) Mexican pesos awarded to the majority production company.
A1. 6. Made in Jalisco
Fiction, documentary and animated feature films produced in Jalisco or directed by filmmakers from Jalisco that have their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 may participate.
Award:
- Best Jalisco Feature Film: Mayahuel Statuette.
A1. 7. Socio-environmental Film Award
International fiction and documentary feature films exploring the complex relationships transforming nature and tied to processes of justice, human rights, and urbanisation may participate, provided they have their Mexican premiere during FICG 41.
Award:
- Best Socio-Environmental Film: Mayahuel Statuette.
A2. Short Films
Short films completed between 2025 and 2026 that have their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 and a maximum running time of 30 minutes (including credits) will be considered.
The call for entries for short films opens on 8 September and closes on 14 November 2025 at 18:00 (Central Mexico Time – UCT-6).
Sections:
A2. 1. Ibero-American Short Film
Mexican and Ibero-American short films in the fiction or documentary genre with their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 may participate.
Award:
- Best Ibero-American Short Film: Mayahuel Statuette and MX$75,000 (seventy five thousand) Mexican pesos awarded to the director.
A2. 2. Rigo Mora Award
International animated short films in any technique with their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 may participate.
Award:
- Best Animated Short Film: Chucho Statuette and MX$200,000 (two hundred thousand) Mexican pesos awarded to the director.
* The Ibero-American Short Film and Rigo Mora Award sections are recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), so the winning shorts may be eligible for Oscar nomination.
A2. 3. Made in Jalisco
Fiction, documentary or animated short films made in Jalisco or by a filmmaker from Jalisco with their Mexican premiere during FICG 41 may participate.
Award:
- Best Jalisco Short Film: Mayahuel Statuette.
B. SUBMISSION
B1. Submission Process
B1. 1. Complete the registration form at:
https://vp.eventival.com/ficg/2026
B1. 2. Submit a private, password-protected link via the form with either the final cut or an advanced work-in-progress. DVDs, Blu-Rays, or download links will not be accepted.
B1. 3. Submission is free from 8 to 26 September 2025. After that, the following fees apply: Feature films MX$400 (four hundred) Mexican pesos. Short films: MX$200 (two hundred) Mexican pesos.
B2. Selection
All films will be reviewed by a committee made up of experts, academics, and film professionals, presided over by the FICG’s Programming and General Direction.
FICG does not pay screening fees for films selected in the Official Competition.
Results will be announced in February 2026 at www.ficg.mx
B3. Obligations of Selected Participants
B3. 1. If necessary, participants must hold a valid passport and Mexican visa.
B3. 2. Send the final cut and required exhibition materials (in DCP and Blu-Ray formats) to: programacion@ficg.mx
B3. 3. Costs to be covered by the selected participants:
- KDM (Key Delivery Message).
- Shipping.
- Subtitling:
- Original language Spanish: English subtitles.
- Original language English: Spanish subtitles.
- Other languages: English and Spanish subtitles.
B3. 4. The presence of the director is mandatory for the film to participate in the Official Competition. Absence may result in disqualification.
B3. 5. Selected films may be included in national and international showcases organised by FICG in 2026.
B3. 6. Once submitted, projects cannot be withdrawn and must comply with all stages and guidelines set forth in the call and regulations.
C. GENERAL CONDITIONS
C1. Intellectual Property
By submitting, the participant declares they are the rightful owner of the materials and have the necessary permissions, granting FICG a non-exclusive, free, and revocable licence for the purposes of evaluation, promotion, and dissemination, without transferring any ownership rights.
C2. Authorisation for Use of Image and Information
Participants authorise FICG to use their name, image, corporate name, materials, and any general information provided, solely for cultural, promotional, informational, or programme-related purposes, without generating any obligation of payment or compensation. This does not imply a transfer of intellectual property rights.
C3. Acceptance of Rules and Policies
By registering or submitting, the participant explicitly accepts all terms of the call, as well as the internal policies, guidelines, and administrative decisions issued by FICG, applicable throughout the process.
C4. Final Decision by the Committee
Evaluation and selection will be conducted by a committee appointed by FICG. The committee’s decisions are final and non-negotiable. No individual feedback will be provided for unselected projects.
C5. Amendments and Disputes
FICG reserves the right to interpret, amend, or update this call as needed and to definitively resolve any disputes arising from its application.
C6. Personal Data Protection
FICG, located at Av. Periférico Norte Manuel Gómez Morín 1695, Zapopan, Jalisco, will use your personal data solely for participation-related purposes. View the privacy notice at: https://ficg.mx/aviso-privacidad/
C7. Contact
For more information, write to: programacion@ficg.mx
Full regulations available at: www.ficg.mx
PRIVACY NOTICE: The Guadalajara International Film Festival, domiciled at Avenida Periférico Norte 1695, Rinconada de Azalea, Zapopan, Mexico; will use your personal data collected for: all the points described in this call for entries and will also store the projects for documentation purposes. For more information about the treatment and the rights you can assert, you can access the comprehensive privacy notice through the following link https: https://ficg.mx/aviso-privacidad/