A.1. The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) it’s a platform to promote and support the film production in Latin America through a rendezvous and collaboration of their industries, aiding in the development of new talents and distribution of films in the region so that they can access a wider audience.
A.2. FICG is a cultural event organised by the Board of the Guadalajara International Film Festival A.C., the University of Guadalajara (UdeG) the Mexican Institute of Cinematography (IMCINE), the Government of Jalisco, and Municipalities of Guadalajara, Zapopan, and Tlaquepaque, amongst other partners.
A.3. The 40th edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival will be held from June 6th to 14th, 2025 in the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
B.1. Mezcal Award
B.1.1. Mexican fiction and documentary feature films made in 2024-2025 must have their Mexican premiere at FICG, meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
B.1.2. The minimum length is 60 minutes to participate in this section.
B.1.3. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
B.2. Ibero-American Fiction Films
B.2.1. Films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal from 2024-2025.
B.2.2. The minimum length is 60 minutes to participate in this section.
B.2.3. In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at FICG meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
B.2.4. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
B.3. Ibero-American Documentary
B.3.1. Documentary films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal from 2024-2025.
B.3.2. The minimum length is 60 minutes to participate in this section.
B.3.3. In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at FICG meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
B.3.4. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
B.3.5. Materials made for television, series, institutional, advertising or institutional materials are not accepted.
B.3.6 The Ibero-American Documentary Feature section is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the USA, therefore the feature film winner can be considered for Oscar nominations.
B.4. International Animation Feature Films
B.4.1. International animation films completed during 2024-2025.
B.4.2. The minimum length is 60 minutes to participate in this section.
B.4.3. In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at FICG meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
B.4.4. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
B.5. Maguey Award
B.5.1. International fiction and documentary films that address issues related to QUEER cinema and the LGBTTTIQ+ community made between 2024-2025.
B.5.2. The minimum length is 60 minutes to participate in this section.
B.5.3. In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at FICG meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
B.5.4. As well as the selection of Maguey Award, films from the competitive sections (Mezcal Award, Ibero-American Documentary, Ibero-American fiction film, and International Animation Feature Films) addressing QUEER / LGBTTTIQ+ thematics, will be eligible for this award.
B.6. Made in Jalisco
B.6.1. Mexican fiction and documentary films made in Jalisco during 2024-2025 that will have its Mexican premiere at the FICG In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at the FICG, meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
B.6.2. The minimum length is 60 minutes to participate in this section.
B.6.3. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
B.7. Socio-environmental Cinema Award
B.7.1. Fiction and documentary feature films addressing issues related to the crossing of society, nature and social justice, produced during 2024-2025 that will have its Mexican premiere at the FICG In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at the FICG, meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
B.7.2. The minimum length is 60 minutes to participate in this section.
B.7.3. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
C.1. Ibero-American Short Film
C.1.1. Short films from Mexico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal from 2024-2025.
C.1.2. Fiction and documentary short films may participate.
C.1.3. The maximum length is 30 minutes to participate in this section, credits included.
C.1.4. In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at FICG meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
C.1.5. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
C.1.6. Materials made for television, series, institutional, advertising or institutional materials are not accepted.
C.1.7 The Ibero-American Short Film section is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the USA, therefore the feature film winner can be considered for Oscar nominations.
C.2. Rigo Mora Award
C.2.1 International animation Short films completed during 2024-2025.
C.2.2. The maximum length is 30 minutes to participate in this section, credits included.
C.2.3. In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at FICG meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
C.2.4. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
C.2.5. Materials made for television, series, institutional, advertising or institutional materials are not accepted.
C.2.6 The Rigo Mora Award section is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the USA, therefore the feature film winner can be considered for Oscar nominations.
C.3. Hecho en Jalisco Short Film
C.3.1. Short films from Jalisco made from 2024-2025.
C.3.2. Fiction and documentary short films may participate.
C.3.3. The maximum length is 30 minutes to participate in this section, credits included.
C.3.4. In order to be considered for this section, the films must have its Mexican premiere at FICG meaning that the films must not have been previously exhibited in Mexican territory, at any Mexican film festival either online or on-site, public screenings, broadcasts, distributed on Blu-Ray/DVD, internet streaming sites, social networks or VOD platforms.
C.1.5. Films that are World and International Premieres, will have priority in regards to the selection.
C.1.6. Materials made for television, series, institutional, advertising or institutional materials are not accepted.
D.1. Besides the Official Competition, the FICG programe is formed by diverse parallel sections with particular focus on different thematics:
D.1.1 Guest of Honour: A showcase from the best of the productions made in recent years within the country or region invited to FICG.
D.1.2 International Panorama: The best of world cinema through the year and films awarded at international film festivals.
D.1.3 Galas: Selection of international films for charitable screenings.
D.1. 4 Son de Cine / In-Edit: Music related films, curated in collaboration with In-Edit Barcelona.
D.1.5 Inclusive Cinema: Fiction and documentary films addressing issues of inclusion within our society or those films with adapted versions for disabled people.
D.1.6 Films submitted for the official competition may be invited to participate in any of the parallel sections.
E.1. In order to participate, filmmakers must register their films filling the form available at the web site https://vp.eventival.com/ficg/2025, as well as sending a secure private link and password with the final cut or rough cut for online review.
E.2. The call for entries open on November 4th, 2024 and the submission must be completed by a person or entity authorized by the director that will act as a contact. There is no limit on the number of films that a single filmmaker or production company can register.
E.2.1 The call for entries deadline for Feature Films is February 14th, 2025, 18:00 (Mexico’s central time -6 GMT).
E.2.2 The call for entries deadline for Short Films is January 31st, 2025, 18:00 (Mexico’s central time -6 GMT).
E.2.3 The organizing committee has the right to extend the submission deadline in case it deems it necessary.
E.3. The film submission will not be considered valid if the submission form is not filled entirely or if the link to the film is not received in the dates already stipulated.
E.4. The submission will be free of charge from November 4th to 22th, 2024; after these dates, the submissions fees are:
All the expenses derived from the submission process and selection, shall be covered by the submitter.
E.5. The filmmakers who submit a film are credited as the authors of the work and holders of the moral and economic rights of the same. Likewise, must have the permissions and copyright of texts, works, music and other materials subject to the intellectual property laws and copyright used in the submitted film. The submitter will take the responsibility off the Board of the Guadalajara International Film Festival, A.C. University of Guadalajara of any liability for the possible copyright claims that may arise from any of the participating films by third parties.
E.6. The submitted films will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of recognized experts, academics, filmmakers and presided by the Programming Direction and General Director of the festival. The decision of the committee is final.
E.7. In order to make the selection, the committee will evaluate the work taking into consideration the values of film production, contribution and artistic excellence of the work in all areas (script, direction, cinematography, acting, music, editing) as well as the relevance and interest of the issues raised in the film for the culture of Latin America.
E.8. The final selection will be defined by the quality of the works and will seek to have the biggest representation of nations and Latin American film industries prioritizing world premieres, international premieres (first pass out of the country of origin), Latin American and Mexican premieres (in that order).
E.9. In case of doubts about the nationality of a film, the filmmakers will be asked by the Festival for documentation certifying their origin considering aspects such as the director's nationality and creative team, credible sources of financing by any Latin American country, and the country of production.
E.10. Films with a member of its creative staff, who also holds a responsible position within the organization of the Festival, are not allowed to participate in the official competition.
E.11. The selection committee will form the Official Selection program as follows:
E.12. The General Direction of the festival reserves the right to invite films directly to the official competition if considered pertinent.
E.13. Selected films will be notified directly via an invitation letter issued by the General Direction. The invitation will be considered confidential until the date the Festival makes public its programe through a newsletter and the official website. Once selected, the films can not be removed from the programe.
E.14. At the Mezcal Award, Ibero-American Fiction Films, Ibero-American Documentary films, as well as the International Animation Feature Films, the presence of the director is mandatory, and the absence of the filmmakers could result in disqualification from the section.
E.15. The selected films must confirm their participation within 48 hours of the reception of the selection letter, to corroborate the information sent in the registration form and send the info FICG additionally will request including traffic information, exhibition copy, materials and texts for the official catalogue.
E.16. The films that accept the invitation will receive the documentation that defines the rights and benefits related to accreditation, ticketing, lodging and transportation for participants from each section. FICG will not provide additional privileges to participants.
E.17. Selected films for the official competition must send an online screener of the final cut available until June 14th, 2025, for exhibition procedures.
F.1. The awards granted by the FICG seek to reward the talent, recognize and promote the artistic development of the filmmakers, and to encourage the strengthened Film industry in Latin America.
F.2. There are 3 official statuettes (Mayahuel, Chucho y EMME) that the Festival grants to the Winners of the different competitive sections. In some categories, a cash prize will accompany the statuette, and the amount of the prize it’s conditioned by by the funding and support from the different contributors, therefore the stipulated amount on the call for entries and Rules & Regulations might be reduced or affected; according to the tax laws from the State of Jalisco and the Federal Government, the taxes of the cash awards will be deducted from the prize. In case of any modification to the cash prizes, the films will be properly informed via email and through a release published in the website of the festival www.ficg.mx
F.3. In order to claim the economic prizes, the winners must present the required documents by the Legal Department of FICG; also, the taxes according to the laws of Jalisco State will be deducted from the prize, as it corresponds. The times to pay the prizes vary according to delivery of the documents and the internal procedure.
F.4. In order to claim the economic prizes, the winners must present the required documents by the Legal Department of FICG; also, the taxes according to the laws of Jalisco State will be deducted from the prize, as it corresponds. The times to pay the prizes vary according to delivery of the documents and the internal procedure.
F.5. The prizes for each section are as follows:
F.5.1. Mezcal Award
F.5.2. Ibero-American Fiction Film
F.5.3. Largometraje Iberoamericano Documental
F.5.4. Ibero-American Short Film Award
F.5.5. International Animation Feature Film
F.5.6. Rigo Mora International Animation Short Film Award
F.5.7. Maguey Award
F.5.8. Made In Jalisco Feature Film Award
F.5.9 Socio Environmental Cinema Award
F.6. The official awards will be announced at the end of the Festival by an international jury composed for each section, who will evaluate the artistic excellence of the films in competition.
F.7. The jury will be formed by renowned professionals of the film industry and cultural fields. Its members will be appointed by the Organizing Committee and approved by the Board of FICG.
F.8. The Award of the Mezcal Jury will be granted by a jury formed by 5 renowned professionals of the industry cinema and the cultural fields. Additionally to the above mentioned award, a young jury award will be granted by 15 young film students from important universities of Mexico and Ibero-America. Each institution invited by FICG to participate, will select and send their representatives.
F.9. FICG members may be present at the deliberations of juries but may not cast a vote. The decision of the jury is final.
F.10. No official award may be null. The awards for the best films of each section cannot be declared ex aequo. In case the jury deems fit, honorable mentions and/or more than one film can be awarded.
F.11. The Audience Award will be granted to the best film voted by the audience within the Mezcal Award section. The public will vote exclusively during its second public screening.
F.12. There are non official awards granted independently, by institutions, associations, and companies affiliated with FICG. The sponsors of those awards will define their own system and rules of operation, FICG has no involvement in them and it’s not responsible for them.
F.13. The winning films in the Ibero-American Fiction film section and Mezcal Award may be submitted for consideration by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA®) whose members vote for the Golden Globe Awards. The films selected must confirm to FICG their intention to participate and meet the requirements of the notice of HFPA®.
F.14. The Ibero-American Documentary Feature, Ibero-American Short Film section, and the Rigo Mora Award are recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the USA, therefore the winner of those sections may be considered for Oscar qualification.
G.1. FICG will contact the person responsible for each film and send a guide detailing technical requirements, deadlines and delivery methods of the screening copy. The copies must arrive at the festival offices as instructed in the guide.
G.2. The filmmakers must personally deliver or send by courier the exhibition copy in digital cinema package format (DCP and Blu-ray) at the offices of FICG. No shipments will be accepted via regular mail (mexican postal service).
G.3. All screening copies should be open and with no KDM. If a film is sent with KDM, all KDM costs will be paid by the entity that submitted the film to FICG.
G.4. Films in official competition sections shall provide a backup copy in Blu-ray format and it will remain as part of the FICG Cinematheque archive.
G.5. The Festival will not pay screenings fees for the films participating in the Official Competition.
G.6. FICG will only cover the cost of outbound at the end of the Festival. Shipping costs must be covered entirely by the entity that submits the film. FICG will not cover customs fees to release the copy.
G.7. The producer or entity that submits the film must provide a contact information and return address. FICG will not be responsible for copies not reclaimed 30 days after the closing ceremony of the festival.
G.8. The Programming Direction of FICG establishes the order and dates for the selected films to be screened.
G.9. The selected films could be invited to be part of the Puerto Vallarta Film Festival (FICPV), as well as GuadaLAjara Film Festival. Also will be considered for screenings and showcases organised by FICG or associations affiliated to the University of Guadalajara and carried out in various regions of Jalisco during the dates of the Festival and the following months.
G.10. All films must be submitted in their original language and version. Screening copies shall not include any additional content, one-minute films, trailers, or the making of.
G.11. If the original language of the film is Spanish, the screening copy must have English subtitles. If the original language of the film is English, the screening copy must have Spanish subtitles. If the original language is other than Spanish or English, the screening copy must be subtitled in Spanish and English. In the cases that the film requires double subtitling, the festival will make available an electronic subtitling service for the filmmakers. All costs related to subtitling processes and electronic subtitling must be covered by the entity that performs the submission. If the copy does not have the stated subtitling, the film may be disqualified.
G.12. FICG's responsibility, in case of fire, loss, theft, damage and / or destruction of a screening copy during the period between arrival at the Festival and its delivery to the courier company contracted by the Festival, is limited to payment of the cost for the CRU, HDD, USB, Blu-Ray Disc, etc, on which the film was sent. The deadline to make any claim upon a copy shall be within 30 calendar days from the closing ceremony.
G.13. For press and publicity of the film, the production company will present portfolios press kits or EPK, 3 posters, 4 photos in digital format, crew list and synopsis, the biography of the director, producer, screenwriter and lead actors, as well as a link to a three-minute trailer before April 27th, 2025. If you do not have this material, the Festival will use three minutes of the film from its screener for promotional purposes. All promotional material delivered to FICG will not be returned. The Festival is not responsible for the storage, maintenance, and return of advertising materials of the production during FICG.
G.14. Under any circumstance the participation, selection or/and exhibition of the project generates association, alliance or society between the parties, therefore each will maintain at all times, independence from the other, as well as their legal personality, assuming their rights and obligations, emerged from legal independent acts toward a third party; as well as it does not represent a mandate nor grant faculties of representation of one party in regards to the other, therefore the participants might present as an agent, representative, solicitor, or mandatory representative of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
G.15. It’s forbidden to all participants to produce, print, reproduce or use any sort of material including where they include in an enunciative but non-limiting way, the image of the Guadalajara International Film Festival, without previous authorization.
H.1. The General Direction of FICG will resolve any matter not foreseen by these rules and regulations. These cases will be reviewed by the direction and coordinators of each area involved.
H.2. The submission and participation of a film implies acceptance of these rules and the dates stipulated in this document. Failure to meet one or more of its clauses can imply the cancellation of participation at FICG or disqualification of the film in competition.
H.3. FICG has a zero tolerance policy in cases of disrespect, harassment or situations in which the integrity of our guests, organizing committee, audience and volunteers is at risk.
H.4. The parties agree that the Board has the rights to the logo of the call for entries, project, competition, award and/or event called by each section of this call for entries, which might be modified if necessary. The use of it it’s reserved unless proper written authorization for its use by the Board.
H.5. FICG reserves the right to modify these rules and regulations, as well as matters related to the call for entries.
PRIVACY NOTICE: The Guadalajara International Film Festival, with address Avenida Periférico Norte 1695, Rinconada de las Azaleas, Zapopan, Mexico; aware of your personal data collected for: all the points described in this call and in the same way will protect the projects with documentation fines. For more information about the treatment and the rights that you can assert, you can access the comprehensive privacy notice through the following link https://ficg.mx/aviso-privacidad/
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