TALENTS GUADALAJARA

Call for entries

The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG41), in collaboration with Berlinale Talents of the Berlin International Film Festival and with the support of the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión de San Antonio de los Baños (EICTV), announces the eighteenth call for participation in Talents Guadalajara 2026.

Talents Guadalajara

Invites:

Actors

Directors

Animators

Screenwriters

Cinematographers

Sound Designers

Producers

Distributors

 

from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as members of the spanish speaking communities residing in North America, they will be able to register for the eighteenth edition of the Cinematographic Improvement Meeting, which will take place from April 19 to 22, 2026, within the framework of the Guadalajara International Film Festival, in its 41st edition (FICG41).

 

Talents Guadalajara 2026 is an intensive film program where the next generation of filmmakers and actors from the region share ideas and develop projects alongside renowned experts from the international film industry.

Who can participate?

Actors, directors, animators, screenwriters, cinematographers, producers, and distributors may apply to Talents Guadalajara, as long as they have previous work experience — at least two short films that have been officially selected at a film festival — to demonstrate their professional background in the department for which they are applying.

 

There is no age restriction to participate in Talents Guadalajara; what matters is the talent demonstrated in the selected field, reflected in the information uploaded to the online profile. However, if the applicant is a minor, a signed authorization letter from a parent or legal guardian must be attached to the application.

 

Applications will not be accepted from those who have been selected in previous editions of Talents Guadalajara, except for producers or directors applying to the Talent Project Market (see information below), who may be selected based on the project they submit.

How can I participate in Talents Guadalajara?

To attend Talents Guadalajara in any of its modalities — as an emerging filmmaker or actor, as a producer or director with a project in the Talent Project Market, or as an animator for the Talent Motion Studio — it is necessary to create an online profile, access the link: https://berlinale-talents.de/bt/pro/account/home and complete the registration form. For more information, visit www.ficg.mx in the FICG Industry section.

 

In this form, you will be asked to provide your personal information, details about your professional experience in the film industry, and a 3-minute demo clip that showcases your experience and, most importantly, your creative potential.

 

The entire application process is conducted online. Group applications are not accepted — only individual submissions.

 

To participate in Talents Guadalajara, it is a mandatory requirement to speak Spanish and to have an intermediate or advanced level of English.

Acting/Directing Studio - A space to create characters and tell stories

In recent editions, Talents Guadalajara has offered the Acting Studio and Directing Studio, achieving remarkable results for both actors and directors. In this edition, both studios are merged into a single workshop designed to foster a creative dialogue between performers and filmmakers.

 

The goal is to explore together the challenges of building authentic characters and telling stories that connect with audiences through emotion and cinematic vision. Through practical sessions, mentoring, and shared reflections, participants will strengthen their expressive tools and directing techniques in an encounter that celebrates collaboration as the foundation of cinematic art.

Camera Studio - A space to sculpt light

The Camera Studio has become a tradition at Talents Guadalajara—a meeting point for those who transform light into visual emotion. This year, the studio invites cinematographers to take part in a workshop that combines theoretical and practical sessions with specialized mentorship led by a renowned Director of Photography.

 

Through project analysis and technical experimentation, participants will explore new ways of storytelling through imagery, reflecting on aesthetics, technology, and the personal vision that shapes each film. 

 

A space to learn, share, and rediscover light as a cinematic language.

Script Studio - A space to imagine and tell our stories

Every film is born on a blank page. The Script Studio at Talents Guadalajara invites screenwriters, writers and creators to participate in a laboratory designed to share, analyze and develop original ideas that seek to reach the screen.

Through analysis sessions, creative exercises and consulting with experts in film narrative, participants will delve into the structure, characters and universes that inhabit their stories.

This space seeks to promote the authorial voice and accompany the journey of each story from the imagination to the screen, fostering collaboration and exchange between emerging talents from all over Ibero-America.

Sound Studio - A space to listen, experiment, and tell stories through sound

The Sound Studio at Talents Guadalajara invites composers, sound designers, engineers, and audio creatives to explore the narrative potential of sound in cinema.

 

Through practical workshops, project analysis, and mentoring sessions with leading professionals in the field, participants will experiment with sonic creation—from musical composition to the design of environments and effects that enrich the audiovisual narrative.

 

This space encourages reflection on how sound shapes emotion, atmosphere, and the identity of each project, promoting collaboration among emerging talents and strengthening an authorial vision that harmonizes with image and story.

Talent Project Market - Take your project beyond borders

Talents Guadalajara, in collaboration with the 21st Guadalajara Co-Production Meeting (FICG), opens its call for the Talent Project Market—a professional pitching experience for feature film projects (fiction or documentary) in development.

 

Selected participants will take part in an intensive pitching workshop, part of the official Talents Guadalajara program, and will later present their projects to international film industry representatives attending the FICG.

 

This hands-on experience offers the opportunity to establish partnerships with potential producers and co-producers, expanding possibilities for funding and project realization.

 

The call is open to producers and directors with a feature film in development (fiction or documentary) that has not yet been shot, and must include a completed script and a production dossier in Spanish and English containing:

 

  • Information about the producer and director (bio-filmography of each).
  • Short and long synopsis.
  • Budget and provisional financing plan.
  • Current status of the project, with at least 20% of funding secured.
  • Director’s statement or letter of intent.
  • Audiovisual material: teaser or trailer of the project, or alternatively, a director’s demo reel showcasing previous work.

 

Fluent English is a mandatory requirement, as many meetings will be conducted with international co-producers.

 

If you meet the requirements and wish to participate, you must complete your online profile according to the general call and upload your feature film project as a PDF for evaluation.


The Selection Committee, composed of experienced producers and directors, will choose up to five projects, evaluating their themes, artistic proposal, and potential for international co-production.

Talent Motion Studio -  A space where ideas and dreams come to life

Guadalajara has earned international recognition as a city where filmmakers show great interest and skill in producing animated content of high quality and creativity.

 

For this reason, Talents Guadalajara presents a special section in its program dedicated to animation and its creators: the Talent Motion Studio, which invites directors working in this genre to apply. 

 

Selected participants will take part in a program of personalized mentorships for their ongoing animation projects, as well as other activities of interest—such as Master Classes and Discussion Panels featuring internationally renowned animators—as part of the general Talents Guadalajara program.

 

If you primarily work in the field of animation and wish to participate, simply complete the Talents Guadalajara application form, indicating that you are applying as an Animator.

Production/Distribution Studio - A space to produce and give visibility to our cinema

Production and distribution are the driving forces that allow a film to reach its audience. In this edition, Talents Guadalajara invites producers and distributors to participate in a workshop that combines reflection, analysis, and project mentorship.

 

The studio provides a space to discuss current challenges within the film ecosystem, explore funding models, and understand the new dynamics of circulation and exhibition.

 

Participants will also have the opportunity to receive specialized guidance and share experiences with professionals who have successfully promoted internationally acclaimed productions. A meeting point to strengthen the industry and project our cinema toward new audiences.

Requirements

  • Citizens and residents of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America who are professionally dedicated to or in advanced training in any of the following fields may participate: acting (with experience in film or audiovisual productions), directing, animation, screenwriting, cinematography, sound, production, and/or distribution.

 

  • Citizens of other nationalities may also participate under the following conditions: if they hold residency documents or dual nationality from any of the eligible countries, or if they are Latin Americans residing in the United States who meet the above criteria. Additionally, graduates from the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión de San Antonio de los Baños (EICTV, Cuba) who obtained their degree within the last five years and are Spanish speakers may also apply. This opportunity is made possible through an agreement between the EICTV and the FICG.

 

  • Registration for any of the categories is done only electronically through the website: https: //berlinale-talents.de/bt/pro/account/home where it is necessary to create your electronic profile, which is generated by completing and attaching the required documentation described below and where you have to choose the professional category to which you are most professionally focused:

 

A. Application form. It must be filled in completely, without omitting any requested field, specifying the field you are interested in -acting, directing, screenplay, animation, cinematography, sound or production/distribution-.

 

B. Biography and personal review (each separately) that briefly explain your career in the medium. The biography should tell the story of your professional development in the medium and the review should reveal your distinctive style and specific interests in film.

 

  1. For ACTORS, DIRECTORS, ANIMATORS, CINEFOTOGRAPHERS, SCRIPTWRITERS, SOUND DESIGNERS, PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS: Upload to your profile a demo video (maximum 3 minutes) that demonstrates your audiovisual experience. This can be a short film, a clip, or a compilation of excerpts from several works in which you directly participated in the professional area you are applying for.

     

  2. Additional requirement for SCRIPTWRITERS: In addition to the demo mentioned above, screenwriters must upload a script excerpt of their own authorship (short film or feature film) demonstrating their writing talent. The submission must not exceed 5 pages, plus one cover page including the project’s information and synopsis, in PDF format.

 

IMPORTANT: Music videos (videoclips) or fast-edited showreels combining multiple works and/or imposing unrelated music over the footage will not be considered. The demo must instead be a clear sample of your storytelling ability and creative skill according to your chosen field.

 

C. Photo: A passport-style color photo (front-facing, white background, 300 dpi, .jpg format) clearly showing your face. This will be used for accreditation and the official catalog.

 

D. Motivation Statement: Explain why you consider your participation in Talents Guadalajara valuable.

 

  • Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
  • Applications containing false information about nationality will also be disqualified.
  • For more information, contact: talents.gdl@ficg.mx
  • Applicants previously selected for Talents Guadalajara will not be eligible to apply again, except for producers or directors submitting a project to the Talent Project Market, who will be evaluated based on the project presented.

Selection process

Up to 30 participants will be selected to take part in Talents Guadalajara. The selection will be determined by a Selection Committee, whose members will be announced once the results are published.

 

The Committee will evaluate applicants based on the quality, originality, and experience demonstrated in their audiovisual work, while also seeking to form a diverse group across disciplines and nationalities.

 

Because Talents Guadalajara has limited capacity, rejection does not imply a lack of quality in the application. 

Dates and results

The Talents Guadalajara 2026 call opens on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and closes on Friday, December 19, 2025. Results will be announced on Monday, February 23, 2026, through the publication of the selected participants list on the FICG website.  

 

Selected participants will be contacted via email and must confirm their attendance no later than February 27, 2026. Failure to confirm will result in cancellation of participation. 

 

FICG will provide free registration, shared accommodation, breakfast and lunch, and FICG41 accreditation to selected participants. 

 

If selected, Talents Guadalajara will not handle visa procedures for entry into Mexico. However, a confirmation letter verifying your selection can be sent by email to support your visa application.

 

Applicants must personally complete all necessary procedures in their country of origin or residence. Talents Guadalajara and FICG will not cover any related expenses.

 

IMPORTANT: Any unforeseen circumstances or changes to the terms of this call will be resolved by the FICG Organizing Committee.

Conditions of participation

  1. By registering for this call, the participant declares under oath that they are the legitimate holder of all rights over the information, documents, and materials submitted, and that they have obtained all necessary authorizations for participation in the program. 

 

  1. It is hereby established that if, as a result of participation, the applicant violates any third-party intellectual property rights, they shall be solely responsible and agree to hold FICG harmless from any liability or claims related to intellectual property or copyright infringement.

 

  1. Participants grant FICG a non-exclusive, free, and revocable authorization to use the information, documents, materials, and content submitted, solely for purposes related to evaluation, promotion, and dissemination of the program. This authorization does not imply any transfer of ownership or exploitation rights.

 

  1. Participants authorize FICG to use their name, image, company name, materials, and any general information contained in the submitted documentation exclusively for cultural, promotional, informational, or dissemination purposes, without generating any obligation of remuneration, payment, or financial compensation. This authorization does not imply the transfer of intellectual property rights over the submitted works or projects.

 

  1. Registration and participation constitute express acceptance of all the provisions contained in this and related calls, as well as the guidelines, internal policies, and administrative decisions issued by FICG, which shall apply throughout all stages of the process. Failure to comply with one or more clauses may result in cancellation of participation or disqualification from competition.

 

  1. FICG maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward disrespectful behavior, harassment, or any situation that endangers the integrity of guests, the organizing committee, the public, or volunteers.

 

  1. Both parties agree that FICG is the sole owner of the logo, brand, and visual identity associated with the call, project, competition, award, and/or event, which may be modified if necessary. Any use of these materials is subject to prior written authorization from FICG.

 

  1. Participants are strictly prohibited from creating, printing, reproducing, or using any materials that include, but are not limited to, the image or branding of the Guadalajara International Film Festival, without prior authorization.

 

  1. The evaluation and selection of participants will be carried out by a committee appointed by FICG. The committee’s decisions are final and unappealable. No individual feedback will be provided for non-selected projects.

 

  1. Any situation not covered by this call will be interpreted and resolved by FICG, which reserves the right to make modifications, adjustments, or updates to this call at any time, if deemed necessary for the proper development of the program. Likewise, any disputes arising from the interpretation, application, or execution of this call will be resolved definitively and without appeal by FICG.

 

  1. Participation, selection, award, or exhibition of a project does not imply the existence of an employment, commercial, partnership, or joint venture relationship between the parties. Each party shall remain fully independent and legally separate, assuming its own rights and obligations before third parties. Participation does not constitute an agency or representation relationship; therefore, participants may not present themselves as agents, representatives, or legal proxies of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.

 

  1. It is the responsibility of foreign participants to possess a valid passport, entry permit, and/or visa required to enter Mexico. 

 

The FICG, located at Av. Periférico Norte Manuel Gómez Morín 1695, Zapopan, Jalisco, will use your personal data solely for purposes related to your participation. Please review the privacy notice at https://ficg.mx/es/avisos


For more information or questions, contact: talents.gdl@ficg.mx

REGISTER HERE