Call for Applications
The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), in collaboration with Berlinale Talents of the Berlin International Film Festival and with the support of the San Antonio de los Baños Film School (EICTV), is announcing the 18th call for entries for Talents Guadalajara 2026.
Talents Guadalajara
Calls for:
Actors
Directors
Entertainers
Screenwriters
Cinematographers
Sound engineers
Producers
Distributors
Filmmakers from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, as well as Spanish-speaking filmmakers residing in North America, may register for the 18th edition of the Film Workshop, which will take place from April 19 to 22, 2026, as part of the 41st Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG41).
Talents Guadalajara 2026 is an intensive film event where the region’s next generation of filmmakers and actors share ideas and develop projects alongside renowned experts from the global film industry.
Who can participate?
Talents Guadalajara is open to actors, directors, animators, screenwriters, cinematographers, producers, and distributors who have a track record demonstrating their experience in the relevant field—specifically, at least two short films that have been selected for a festival—and who have served as department heads in the category for which they are applying.
There are no age restrictions for participation; the important thing is to demonstrate talent in the selected field by completing all the required information in the online profile. However, if the participant is a minor, they must submit a written authorization letter signed by their legal guardians.
Applications will not be accepted from individuals who have been selected for previous editions of Talents Guadalajara, with the exception of PRODUCERS or DIRECTORS who register for the Talent Project Market (see information below), who will be selected based on the project they submit.
How can I participate in Talents Guadalajara?
To participate in Talents Guadalajara in any of its categories—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—you must create your online profile by filling out the registration form at this link. For more information, visit the FICG Industry section at www.ficg.mx.
This form will ask for your personal information, details about your experience in the film industry, and a three-minute demo reel that showcases your career and, above all, your creative potential.
The entire registration process is done online. Group applications are not accepted; only individual applications are accepted.
To participate in Talents Guadalajara, you must speak Spanish and have an intermediate or advanced level of English.
Acting/Directing Studio - A space for creating characters and telling stories
In previous editions, Talents Guadalajara has offered the Acting Studio and the Directing Studio, with remarkable results for the participating actors and directors. In this edition, the two studios have been combined into a single workshop, with the aim of fostering a creative dialogue between performers and filmmakers.
The goal is to explore together the challenges of creating authentic characters and telling stories that connect with the audience through emotion and a cinematic perspective. Through hands-on sessions, mentoring, and shared reflections, participants will strengthen their expressive skills and acting direction techniques in a workshop that celebrates collaboration as the foundation of the art of filmmaking.
Studio Camera - A space for sculpting light
Camera Studio has become a tradition at Talents Guadalajara, serving as a gathering place for those who transform light into visual emotion. For this edition, the studio invites cinematographers to participate in a workshop that combines theoretical and practical sessions with specialized mentoring from a renowned director of photography.
Through project analysis and technical experimentation, participants will explore new ways of storytelling through images, reflecting on the aesthetics, technology, and personal perspective that shape each film.
A space to learn, share, and rediscover light as a cinematic language.
Script Studio - A place to imagine and tell our stories
Every film begins with a blank page. Talents Guadalajara’s Script Studio invites screenwriters, writers, and creators to participate in a workshop designed to share, analyze, and develop original ideas destined for the screen.
Through analysis sessions, creative exercises, and consultations with experts in cinematic narrative, participants will delve into the structure, characters, and worlds that inhabit their stories.
This initiative aims to foster the authorial voice and guide each story’s journey from imagination to the screen, promoting collaboration and exchange among emerging talents from across Latin America.
Sound Studio - A space for listening, experimenting, and storytelling through sound
Talents Guadalajara's Sound Studio invites composers, sound designers, engineers, and audio professionals to explore the narrative potential of sound in film.
Through hands-on workshops, project reviews, and mentoring sessions with leading professionals in the field, participants will have the opportunity to experiment with sound design—from musical composition to the creation of ambient sounds and effects that enhance the audiovisual narrative.
This space invites reflection on how sound shapes the emotion, atmosphere, and identity of each project, fostering collaboration among emerging talents and establishing an artistic vision that engages with the image and the narrative.
Talent Project Market - Take your project global
Talents Guadalajara, in collaboration with the 21st FICG Film Co-Production Forum, is now accepting submissions for the Talent Project Market, a professional pitching event for feature-length projects—documentary or fiction—in the development stage.
Those selected will participate in an intensive pitching workshop, part of the official Talents Guadalajara program, and will subsequently present their project to representatives of the international film industry invited to the FICG.
This hands-on experience provides an opportunity to build partnerships with potential producers and co-producers, thereby expanding the possibilities for funding and bringing the project to fruition.
This call for submissions is open to producers and directors with a feature-length film in development—whether documentary or fiction—that has not yet been shot, provided it has a completed screenplay and a production package in Spanish and English that includes:
- Information about the producer and director (biographies and filmographies for each).
- Short and long synopses.
- Budget and provisional financing plan.
- Current status of the project, with at least 20% of the funding secured.
- Letter of Intent from the Director.
- Audiovisual material: a teaser or trailer for the project; or, if unavailable, a demo reel showcasing the director’s previous work.
Fluency in English is essential, as most of the meetings will be held with international co-producers.
If you meet the requirements and wish to participate, you must complete your profile in accordance with the general call for entries and upload your feature film project in PDF format for evaluation.
The selection committee, composed of producers and directors with extensive experience, will select up to five projects, evaluating their themes, artistic vision, and potential for international co-production.
Talent Motion Studio - A place where ideas and dreams come to life
Guadalajara has gained international recognition as a city where filmmakers are keen to produce high-quality animated content using a variety of techniques and demonstrating outstanding creative skills.
For this reason, Talents Guadalajara has included a special section in its program dedicated to animation and its creators: Talent Motion Studio, which, as part of the call for entries, invites directors working in this genre to participate.
Those selected will have the opportunity to participate in a program of personalized mentoring for their animation projects in development, as well as other activities of interest, such as a master class and roundtable discussions featuring internationally renowned animators, as part of the overall Talents Guadalajara program.
If you primarily work in the field of animation and would like to participate, simply fill out the general Talents Guadalajara form, indicating that you are participating as an animator.
Production/Distribution Studio - A space to produce and promote our films
Production and distribution are the driving forces that enable 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 mentoring.
The workshop offers a space to discuss the current challenges facing the film industry, explore financing models, and gain insight into the new dynamics of distribution and exhibition. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to receive expert guidance and share experiences with professionals who have spearheaded internationally acclaimed productions.
A gathering place to strengthen the industry and bring our films to new audiences.
Requirements and documentation
- Citizens and residents of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America who are working professionally in the film industry or pursuing advanced training in any of the following fields are eligible to participate: acting (with experience in film or audiovisual productions), directing, animation, screenwriting, cinematography, sound, production, and/or distribution.
- In addition, citizens of other nationalities may participate in the following cases: if they hold residency documents or dual citizenship from a country in the region covered by the call for entries; or if they are Latin Americans residing in the United States who meet the above criteria; or if they have studied filmmaking at the San Antonio de los Baños Film School (EICTV, Cuba) and have graduated within the last five years and speak Spanish. This opportunity is made possible by an agreement between EICTV and FICG.
- Registration for any of the categories is available exclusively online via the website: https://berlinale-talents.de/bt/pro/account/home , where you must create an online profile—which is generated once you complete and upload the required documentation described below—and select the professional category that best aligns with your professional focus:
A. Registration form . Please fill it out completely, without leaving any required fields blank, and specify the field you are interested in—acting, directing, screenwriting, animation, cinematography, sound, or production/distribution.
B. A biography and a personal profile (each submitted separately) that briefly describe your career in the field. The biography should outline your professional development in the field, and the profile should highlight your distinctive style and your specific interests in film.
- For ACTORS, DIRECTORS, ANIMATORS, CINEMATOGRAPHERS, SCREENWRITERS, SOUND ENGINEERS, PRODUCERS, AND DISTRIBUTORS: Upload a demo to your profile that is no longer than three minutes and demonstrates your audiovisual experience. This can be a short film, an excerpt, or a series of clips from various projects in which you have directly participated in the professional field you are pursuing.
- SCREENWRITERS must upload to their profile (in addition to the demo mentioned in section B1) an excerpt from a screenplay they have written—whether for a short film or a feature film—that demonstrates their talent. The excerpt must be no longer than five pages, plus an additional page serving as a cover sheet containing the script details and synopsis, in .pdf format.
IMPORTANT: Music videos (music clips) and showreels featuring rapid-fire cuts of various different projects and/or music superimposed over the footage—which make it difficult to assess your talent—will not be considered. Instead, your demo should showcase your ability to tell and create stories, in line with the category in which you are entering.
C. A passport-style color photo (showing your face clearly from the front) with a white background, to be used for accreditation and the catalog, in .jpg format at 300 dpi.
D. Explain why you believe your participation in Talents Guadalajara is valuable.
- Incomplete applications or those whose profiles have been closed after the registration deadline will not be considered.
- Applications that misrepresent the applicant's nationality will not be considered.
- For more information, please write to: talents.gdl@ficg.mx
- Applications from participants selected in previous editions of Talents Guadalajara will not be accepted, with the exception of producers or directors who register for the Talent Project Market, who will be selected based on the project they submit.
How is the selection process carried out?
Up to 30 candidates will be selected to participate in Talents Guadalajara. The Selection Committee will determine which candidates are chosen; the members of the committee will be announced once the results are published.
The Committee will evaluate the applicants' quality of work, proposals, and experience in audiovisual production. In addition, it will seek to select, to the extent possible, a diverse group in terms of fields and nationalities.
Talents Guadalajara has limited space, so a rejection does not imply that your application was of poor quality.
Dates and results
The call for entries for Talents Guadalajara 2026 opens on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and closes on Friday, December 19, 2025. The results will be announced on Monday, February 23, 2026, with the publication of the list of selected participants on the FICG website.
SELECTED PARTICIPANTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND MUST CONFIRM THEIR ATTENDANCE BY FEBRUARY 27, 2026; OTHERWISE, THEIR PARTICIPATION WILL BE CANCELED.
The FICG will provide free registration, shared housing, breakfast and lunch for selected participants, and accreditation for FICG41.
If selected, Talents Guadalajara is not responsible for processing visas to enter Mexico; we can only provide a letter via email confirming that the applicant has been selected to participate in Talents Guadalajara 2026.
Applicants must complete the necessary procedures in their country of origin or residence in person. Under no circumstances will Talents Guadalajara or the FICG cover any expenses incurred in connection with these procedures.
IMPORTANT: Any unforeseen circumstances or changes to the points outlined in this call for entries will be resolved by the FICG organizing committee.
Terms and Conditions
- By registering for this call for applications, the participant certifies under penalty of perjury that he or she is the legitimate owner of the rights to the information, documents, and content submitted, and that he or she has the necessary authorizations to participate in the program.
- It is hereby agreed that if, as a result of the activity described herein, the participant infringes upon any third-party intellectual property rights, the participant shall be solely responsible therefor and hereby agrees to hold the FICG harmless from any liability arising from any potential claim regarding intellectual property or copyright.
- Participants grant the FICG a non-exclusive, royalty-free, and revocable license to use the information, documents, materials, and content submitted, solely for purposes related to evaluation, promotion, and dissemination, without this implying any transfer of economic or exploitation rights thereto.
- Participants authorize the FICG to use their name, likeness, business name, materials, and any general information contained in the submitted documentation for exclusively cultural, promotional, informational, or program-related purposes, without this giving rise to any obligation to provide remuneration, payment, or financial compensation. This authorization does not imply the transfer of intellectual property rights over works or projects.
- Registration and participation imply express acceptance of all provisions contained in the calls for entries, as well as guidelines, internal policies, and administrative decisions issued by the FICG, which will apply throughout all stages of the process. Failure to comply with one or more of these provisions may result in the cancellation of participation in the FICG or disqualification from the competition.
- The FICG has a zero-tolerance policy regarding any instances of disrespect, harassment, or situations that endanger the safety of guests, the organizing committee, the public, and volunteers.
- The Parties agree that the FICG shall be the owner of the rights to the logo of the call for entries, project, competition, award, and/or event in question, which may be modified if necessary. Use of the logo is subject to written authorization from the FICG.
- Participants are strictly prohibited from creating, printing, reproducing, or using any type of material—including, but not limited to, the image of the Guadalajara International Film Festival—without prior authorization.
- The evaluation and selection of participants will be carried out by a committee appointed by the FICG. The committee’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed. No individual feedback will be provided regarding projects that are not selected.
- Any situation not covered in these guidelines will be interpreted and resolved by the FICG, which reserves the right to make modifications, adjustments, or updates to these guidelines at any time, whenever it deems necessary for the proper implementation of the program. Furthermore, any dispute arising from the interpretation, application, or implementation of these guidelines will be resolved definitively and without appeal by the FICG.
- Participation, the awarding of prizes, selection, and/or screening of the project does not imply the existence of any employment, commercial, partnership, alliance, or corporate relationship between the parties; therefore, each party shall maintain, at all times, its independence from the other, as well as its legal personality, with each assuming the rights and obligations arising from independent legal acts vis-à-vis third parties. Similarly, nor shall it constitute a mandate or grant powers of representation of one party with respect to the other; therefore, participants may not present themselves as agents, representatives, attorneys-in-fact, or agents of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
- It is the requirement and responsibility of the foreign national to have the passport, entry permit, and/or visa necessary to enter Mexico.
The PFICG, located at Av. Periférico Norte Manuel Gómez Morín 1695, Zapopan, Jalisco, will use your personal data for purposes related to your participation. Please review the privacy notice at: https://ficg.mx/es/avisos
For more information or if you have any questions, please email: talents.gdl@ficg.mx
