A. GENERAL RULES
A1. The International Film Festival of Guadalajara (FICG) aims to promote and disseminate Ibero-American film production by fostering connections and collaboration within its industries, developing new talent, and distributing films from the region to reach a wider audience.
A.2. The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) is a cultural event organized by the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), its Cineteca, the Mexican Institute of Cinematography (IMCINE), the Government of the State of Jalisco, and the municipalities of Guadalajara, Zapopan, and Tlaquepaque, among other partners.
A.3. The 42nd edition of the International Film Festival of Guadalajara will be held place from March 6 to 13, 2027, in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Jalisco, Mexico.
B. OFFICIAL COMPETITION: FEATURE FILMS
B.1. Mezcal Award
B.1.1. Mexican fiction and documentary films completed in 2026 and 2027 that have their Mexican premiere at the FICG—that is, films that have not previously been exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
B.1.2. Feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
B.1.3. Priority will be given to world premieres and international premieres during the selection process.
B.2. Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film
B.2.1. Productions from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal completed between 2026 and 2027.
B.2.2. Feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
B.2.3. Elegibility for this section requires a Mexican Premiere. Films must not have been previously exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theathers, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
B.2.4. Priority will be given to International Premieres (first screening outside the country of origin) and World Premieres.
B.3. Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film
B.3.1. Documentary productions from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal completed between 2026 and 2027.
B.3.2. Feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
B.3.3. Eligibility for this section requires a Mexican Premiere. Films must not have been previously exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
B.3.4. Priority will be given to International Premieres (first screening outside the country of origin) and World Premieres.
B.3.5. Television productions, series, and institutional productions are not eligible.
B.3.6 The Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film section is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS); therefore, the winning documentary may be considered for Academy Award® nomination eligibility.
B.4. International Animated Feature Film
B.4.1. International animated feature films completed between 2026 and 2027.
B.4.2. Feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
B.4.3. Eligibility for this section requires a Mexican Premiere. Films must not have been previously exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
B.4.4. Priority will be given to International Premieres (first screening outside the country of origin) and World Premieres.
B.5. Maguey Award
B.5.1. International fiction and documentary feature films from any country addressing queer cinema and LGBTTTIQ+themes, completed between 2026 and 2027.
B.5.2. Feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
B.5.3. Eligibility for this section requires a Mexican Premiere. Feature films must not have been previously exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
B.5.4. In addition to the films selected specifically for the Maguey Award, films competing in the Mezcal Award, Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film, Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film, and International Animated Feature Film sections that address LGBTTTIQ+ themes shall also be eligible for this award.
B.6. Made in Jalisco
B.6.1. Fiction and documentary feature films produced in Jalisco, or directed by a filmmaker from Jalisco, completed between 2026 and 2027, and having their Mexican Premiere at FICG; that is, films that have not previously been exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
B.6.2. Feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
B.6.3. Priority will be given to International Premieres and World Premieres.
B.7. Socio-Environmental Film Award
B.7.1. International fiction and documentary feature films exploring the intersection of society, nature, and social justice, completed between 2026 and 2027, and having their Mexican Premiere at FICG; that is, films that have not previously been exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
B.7.2. Feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
B.7.3. Priority will be given to International Premieres and World Premieres.
C. OFFICIAL COMPETITION: SHORT FILMS
C.1. Ibero-American Short Film
C.1.1. Short films from Mexico, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal completed between 2026 and 2027.
C.1.2. Fiction and documentary short films are eligible.
C.1.3. Short films must have a maximum running time of 30 minutes, including end credits.
C.1.4. Eligibility for this section requires a Latin American Premiere. Films must not have been previously exhibited at any film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
C.1.5. Priority will be given to International Premieres (first screening outside the country of origin) and World Premieres.
C.1.6. Television productions, series, institutional productions, and advertising productions are not eligible.
C.1.7 The Ibero-American Short Film section is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS); therefore, the winning short film may be considered for Academy Award® nomination eligibility.
C.2. Rigo Mora Award
C.2.1 International animated short films completed between 2026 and 2027.
C.2.2. Short films must have a maximum running time of 30 minutes, including end credits.
C.2.3. Eligibility for this section requires a Mexican Premiere. Films must not have been previously exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
C.2.4. Priority will be given to International Premieres (first screening outside the country of origin) and World Premieres.
C.2.5. Television productions, series, institutional productions, and advertising productions are not eligible.
C.2.6 The Rigo Mora Award category is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, meaning that the winning short film may be considered for an Oscar nomination.
C.3. Made in Jalisco
C.3.1. Short films produced in Jalisco, or directed by a filmmaker from Jalisco, completed between 2026 and 2027.
C.3.2. Fiction, documentary, and animated short films are eligible.
C.3.3. Short films must have a maximum running time of 30 minutes, including end credits.
C.3.4. Eligibility for this section requires a Mexican Premiere. Films must not have been previously exhibited anywhere in Mexico, whether at a film festival (in person or online), in commercial theaters, on television, or distributed on Blu-ray or DVD, internet streaming services, social media, or VOD platforms.
C.3.5. Priority will be given to International Premieres (first screening outside the country of origin) and World Premieres.
C.3.6. Television productions, series, institutional productions, and advertising productions are not eligible.
D. OFFICIAL SELECTION (OUT OF COMPETITION)
D.1. In addition to the Official Competition, the FICG program includes various parallel screening sections dedicated to specific themes and cinematic approaches.
D.1.1 Guest of Honor: a curated selection showcasing the finest film productions created in recent years from the country or region honored as the Guest of Honor at FICG.
D.1.2 International Panorama: a selection featuring the best of world cinema from the year, including award-winning fiction and documentary films from international film festivals.
D.1.3 Charity Galas: a selection of Mexican Premieres, with box office proceeds donated to charitable organizations and nonprofit associations.
D.1.4 Son de Cine / In-Edit: fiction feature films and music documentaries presented in collaboration with the In-Edit Barcelona International Music Documentary Film Festival.
D.1.5 Inclusive Cinema: fiction and documentary feature films addressing themes of inclusion, or whose screenings include accessible versions for audiences with disabilities.
D.1.6 Films submitted to any of the competitive sections may also be invited to participate in one of the Festival's parallel sections.
E. SUBMISSIONS AND SELECTION
E.1. To participate in FICG, filmmakers must submit their films by completing the entry form available at https://vp.eventival.com/ficg/2027, and by providing a password-protected private screening link containing either the final cut or a work-in-progress version for online viewing.
E.2. Registration opens on July 20, 2026, and must be completed by an individual or entity authorized by the filmmakers, who will serve as the production contact. There is no limit to the number of titles that a filmmaker or production company may submit.
E.2.1 Registration for feature films closes on October 31, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (Central Mexico Time, GMT-6).
E.2.2 Registration for short films closes on October 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (Central Mexico Time, GMT-6).
E.2.3 The Organizing Committee reserves the right to extend the submission deadlines whenever deemed necessary.
E.3. A film submission will not be considered valid unless the registration form has been completed in full and the screening link has been received within the established deadlines.
E.4. Submissions to FICG42 will be free of charge from July 20 to August 20, 2026. After this period, the following submission fees will apply:
- Feature films: $400.00 MXN (four hundred Mexican pesos).
- Short films: $200.00 MXN (two hundred Mexican pesos).
E.5. All expenses arising from the submission and selection process shall be covered by the participant.
E.6. Films submitted to FICG will be evaluated by a Selection Committee composed of experts, academics, filmmakers, animators, and other film professionals. The Committee will be chaired by the Programming Director and the General Director of FICG. The Committee's decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
E.7. In selecting the films, the Committee will evaluate each work based on its production values, artistic contribution and excellence in every aspect (screenplay, directing, cinematography, acting, music, editing), as well as the relevance and significance of its subject matter.
E.8. The final program will be determined according to the quality of the works while seeking the broadest possible representation of countries and film industries, giving priority to World Premieres, International Premieres (first screening outside the country of origin), Latin American Premieres, and Mexican Premieres, in that order.
E.9. Should any questions arise regarding the nationality of a film, FICG may request supporting documentation to verify its origin, taking into consideration factors such as the nationality of the director and creative team, verifiable sources of financing, and the country where principal photography took place.
E.10. Films whose creative team includes an individual holding a position of responsibility within the FICG Organizing Committee are not eligible to compete in the Official Competition.
E.11. The Selection Committee will compose the competitive sections as follows:
- Up to 10 titles in the Mezcal Award (fiction and documentary).
- Up to 10 titles for Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film.
- Up to 10 titles for Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film.
- Up to 10 titles in the Maguey Award, in addition to LGBTQ+ films competing in the Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film, Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film, International Animated Feature Film, and Mezcal Award sections.
- Up to 10 titles in International Animated Feature Film.
- Up to 8 titles in Made in Jalisco (fiction and documentary feature films).
- Up to 5 titles in the Socio-Environmental Film Award (fiction and documentary feature films).
- Up to 20 Ibero-American short films (fiction and documentary).
- Up to 20 short films in the Rigo Mora Award.
E.12. The General Director of FICG reserves the right to extend direct invitations to films deemed appropriate for inclusion in the competition.
E.13. Selected films will be notified directly through an official invitation letter issued by the General Director. The invitation shall be considered confidential until FICG publicly announces its official program through a press release and on its official website. Once selected, a film may not be withdrawn from the FICG competition.
E.14. In the Mezcal Award, Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film, Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film, International Animated Feature Film, and Maguey Award sections, the absence of the director may result in the feature film being withdrawn from the Official Selection.
E.15. Selected films must confirm their participation within 48 hours of receiving the invitation letter, verify the information submitted in the registration form, and provide any additional information requested by FICG, including traffic information, exhibition copies, catalog materials and texts, among other required materials.
E.16. Films accepting the invitation will receive documentation outlining the rights and conditions associated with the benefits provided by FICG regarding accreditation, tickets, accommodation, and transportation applicable to participants in each section. FICG will not provide any additional benefits beyond those specified. Whenever required, invited participants are responsible for holding a valid passport and Mexican visa.
E.17. Films selected for the Official Competition must provide a valid screening link to the final cut, which must remain active until January 11, 2027, in order to complete the Festival's exhibition procedures.
F. AWARDS AND JURIES
F.1. The awards presented by FICG recognize outstanding talent, celebrate and encourage the artistic development of filmmakers, and contribute to strengthening the audiovisual industry.
F.2. The Guadalajara International Film Festival has three official awards (Mayahuel, Chucho, and EMME), which will be presented to the winners according to the corresponding section. In certain categories, the award statuette will be accompanied by a cash prize, from which the applicable taxes will be deducted. The monetary awards are subject to the availability of funding and financial support from various government institutions. Therefore, the amounts stated in the Call for Entries and these Regulations may be reduced or otherwise modified. Should any changes occur to the prize amounts, FICG will notify all registered films by email and through an official announcement published at www.ficg.mx.
F.3. In order to claim any cash award, winners must provide all documentation requested by the FICG Legal Department. Applicable taxes will be deducted in accordance with the tax laws of the State of Jalisco and the Federal Government of Mexico, as applicable. Payment schedules will depend upon the timely submission of the required documentation and the Festival's internal administrative procedures.
F.4. The Legal Department may request, in digital format, the following documentation, including but not limited to: Articles of Incorporation. Documentation proving the authority of the legal representative. Official identification. Tax registration certificate or taxpayer identification. Proof of tax address. Certificate of compliance with tax obligations. Registration certificate of the winning work. Corresponding forms. Receipt.
F.5. The awards for each section are as follows:
F.5.1. Mezcal Award
- Best Technical and Artistic Achievement: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Performance: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Director: Mayahuel Award.
- Audience Award: Mayahuel Award and MXN $100,000 (one hundred thousand Mexican pesos) awarded to the director.
- Mezcal Award for Best Mexican Film: Mayahuel Award and MXN $500,000 (five hundred thousand Mexican pesos) awarded to the majority production company.
F.5.2. Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film
- Best Technical and Artistic Achievement: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Performance: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Screenplay: Mayahuel Award.
- Best First Feature: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Director: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film: Mayahuel Award and MXN $500,000 (five hundred thousand Mexican pesos) awarded to the majority production company.
F.5.3. Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film
- Best Technical and Artistic Achievement: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Director: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Ibero-American Documentary: The Mayahuel Statuette and 200,000 (two hundred thousand) Mexican pesos awarded to the majority production company.
F.5.4. Maguey Award
- Maguey Award for Best Performance: EMME Award.
- Maguey Jury Award: EMME Award.
- Maguey Award for Best Film: EMME Award.
F.5.5.
- Best Animated Feature Film: Chucho Award and MXN $300,000 (three hundred thousand Mexican pesos)awarded to the majority production company.
F.5.6. Made in Jalisco
- Best Film from Jalisco: Mayahuel Award.
- Best Short Film from Jalisco: Mayahuel Award.
F.5.7. Socio-Environmental Film Award
- Best Socio-Environmental Film: Mayahuel Award.
F.5.8. Ibero-American Short Film
- Best Ibero-American Short Film: Mayahuel Award and MXN $75,000 (seventy-five thousand Mexican pesos)awarded to the director.
F.5.9. Rigo Mora Award
- Best Animated Short Film: Chucho Award and MXN $200,000 (two hundred thousand Mexican pesos) awarded to the director.
F.6. The official awards will be announced during the Festival's Closing Ceremony by the international juries appointed for each section, who will evaluate the artistic excellence of the films in competition.
F.7. The juries shall be composed of distinguished professionals from the film industry and the cultural sector. Jury members will be nominated by the Organizing Committee and approved by the Patronato del Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara (PFICG).
F.8. The Mezcal Jury Award will be presented by a jury composed of five distinguished professionals from the film industry and the cultural sector. In addition to the Mezcal Jury Award, a Young Jury Award will be presented by a jury composed of fifteen students of film, audiovisual media, and communications from leading universities in Mexico and Ibero-America. Each institution invited by FICG will nominate its representative(s).
F.9. FICG representatives may attend jury deliberations but shall not have voting rights. The jury's decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
F.10. No official award may be declared void. Awards for Best Film in each section may not be presented ex aequo (shared). Should the jury deem it appropriate, Special Mentions may be granted.
F.11. The Audience Award shall be presented to the highest-rated film, as determined by audience voting, within the Mezcal Award section.
F.12. FICG also hosts non-official awards presented independently by institutions, associations, and companies affiliated with the Festival. The sponsors of these awards establish their own rules and selection procedures. FICG has no involvement in these awards and assumes no responsibility for their administration.
F.13. The Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film, Ibero-American Short Film, and Rigo Mora Award sections are recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Accordingly, the winning films in each section may qualify for Academy Award® consideration.
F.14. Winning films in the Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film and Mezcal Award sections may be submitted for consideration by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA®), whose members vote for the Golden Globe Awards®. Selected films must confirm their intention to participate and comply with all eligibility requirements established by the HFPA®.
G. EXHIBITION
G.1. FICG will provide the contact person for each selected film with a shipping guide containing the detailed technical requirements, submission deadlines, and delivery methods for the exhibition copy. Exhibition copies must arrive in accordance with the specifications and deadlines established therein.
G.2. Filmmakers must deliver, either personally or through a courier service, their exhibition copy in Digital Cinema Package (DCP) and Blu-ray formats to the FICG offices. Submissions sent through regular postal mail (Mexican Postal Service) will not be accepted.
G.3. DCPs must be delivered unencrypted and without KDM protection. If a DCP is encrypted, the production company or distributor shall be responsible for covering the cost of each required KDM (Key Delivery Message).
G.4. Films selected for the Official Competition must also provide a Blu-ray backup copy, which will be retained as part of the internal archive of the Cineteca Universidad de Guadalajara / FICG.
G.5. FICG does not pay screening fees for films participating in the Official Competition.
G.6. FICG will cover only the outbound shipping costs for returning the exhibition copy after the Festival. All inbound shipping costs shall be borne by the entity submitting the film. FICG will not assume responsibility for customs duties or import charges required to release exhibition copies.
G.7. The production company or submitting entity must provide the contact information and shipping address for the return of the exhibition copy. FICG shall not be responsible for exhibition copies that remain unclaimed 30 calendar days after the Festival's Closing Ceremony.
G.8. The Programming Department of FICG shall determine the screening schedule and the order of exhibition for all selected films.
G.9. Selected films may also be invited to participate in the Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival (FICPV), the GuadaLAjara Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, and in screening programs organized by institutions affiliated with FICG and the University of Guadalajara, which take place throughout the State of Jalisco during the Festival and in the months following it.
G.10. All films must be screened in their original version and original language. Screening copies must not include any additional content such as one-minute promotional clips, trailers, or behind-the-scenes material.
G.11. If the original language of the film is Spanish, the exhibition copy must include English subtitles. If the original language is English, the exhibition copy must include Spanish subtitles. If the original language is neither Spanish nor English, the exhibition copy must include both Spanish and English subtitles. For films requiring subtitles in both languages, the Festival may make its electronic subtitling system available to filmmakers. All costs related to subtitling and electronic subtitling shall be borne by the submitting entity. Failure to provide the required subtitles may result in disqualification.
G.12. In the event of fire, loss, theft, damage, or destruction of an exhibition copy during the period between its arrival at the Festival and its delivery to the courier service contracted by the Festival, the liability of FICG shall be limited exclusively to reimbursement of the replacement cost of the physical carrier on which the exhibition copy was delivered (CRU, HDD, Blu-ray Disc, etc.). Any claim relating to an exhibition copy must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of FICG.
G.13. For press and publicity purposes regarding its film, the production company shall submit a digital press kit, three posters, four digital photographs, a technical profile and synopsis, biographies of the director, producer, screenwriter, and lead actors, as well as a link to the film’s trailer by January 1, 2027; if no trailer is available, the Festival will use a three-minute clip from the film via its streaming link for promotional purposes. Promotional materials submitted to the FICG will not be returned. The Festival is not responsible for the safekeeping, maintenance, or return of promotional materials distributed by the production during the FICG. The FICG will send the contact person for each film a submission guide with detailed technical requirements, deadlines, and delivery methods for the screening copy. Copies must be received in accordance with the guidelines and dates specified therein.
H. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
H.1. By submitting an entry to this Call for Entries, the participant declares, under penalty of perjury, that they are the lawful owner of the rights to all information, documents, and materials submitted, and that they have obtained all necessary authorizations required for participation in the Festival.
H.2. Should the participant infringe upon any third party's intellectual property rights, they shall bear sole responsibility and agree to indemnify and hold harmless FICG and its affiliated institutions from any claims arising from copyright or intellectual property disputes.
H.3. Participants grant FICG a non-exclusive, royalty-free, and revocable license to use the submitted information, documents, materials, and content solely for purposes related to evaluation, promotion, and dissemination, without implying any transfer of economic or exploitation rights.
H.4. Participants authorize FICG to use their name, image, corporate name, submitted materials, and any general information contained in the documentation provided exclusively for cultural, promotional, informational, and communication purposes related to the Festival. This authorization shall not generate any right to remuneration, payment, or financial compensation, nor shall it imply any transfer of intellectual property rights over the submitted works or projects.
H.5. Submission and participation constitute the participant's express acceptance of all provisions contained in the Call for Entries, these Regulations, internal policies, guidelines, and administrative decisions issued by FICG, which shall govern every stage of the Festival process. Failure to comply with any provision may result in cancellation of participation or disqualification from the Official Competition.
H.6. FICG maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any act of disrespect, harassment, or conduct that jeopardizes the safety or integrity of invited guests, members of the Organizing Committee, volunteers, or the general public.
H.7. The Parties acknowledge that FICG shall remain the exclusive owner of the trademarks, logos, and visual identity associated with each Call for Entries, project, competition, award, and event described in these Regulations. Such elements may be modified by FICG whenever deemed necessary. Their use is strictly subject to prior written authorization from FICG.
H.8. Participants are strictly prohibited from creating, printing, reproducing, or using any materials bearing the name, logo, or image of the Guadalajara International Film Festival, including but not limited to any promotional or graphic materials, without prior written authorization from FICG.
H.9. The evaluation and selection of participants shall be conducted by a committee appointed by FICG. The Committee's decisions are final and not subject to appeal. No individual feedback will be provided regarding projects that are not selected.
H.10. Any matter not expressly provided for in the Call for Entries shall be interpreted and resolved exclusively by FICG, which reserves the right to amend, update, or modify these Regulations whenever necessary for the proper operation of the Festival. Likewise, any dispute arising from the interpretation, application, or enforcement of these Regulations shall be resolved finally and without appeal by FICG.
H.11. Participation, selection, and/or exhibition of a project shall not be construed as creating any employment, commercial, partnership, joint venture, agency, or representative relationship between the parties. Each party shall remain legally independent and solely responsible for its own rights and obligations. Participants may not represent themselves as agents, representatives, attorneys-in-fact, or legal representatives of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
H.12. FICG, with its registered address at Av. Periférico Norte Manuel Gómez Morín 1695, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, will process your personal data solely for purposes related to your participation in the Festival. Please consult our Privacy Notice at: https://ficg.mx/aviso-privacidad/
For further information, please contact: programacion@ficg.mx
PRIVACY NOTICE: The Guadalajara International Film Festival, located at Avenida Periférico Norte 1695, Rinconada de Las Azaleas, Zapopan, Mexico, will use the personal data collected from you for all the purposes described in this call for entries and will also safeguard the projects for documentation purposes. For more information about the processing of your data and the rights you can exercise, you can access the full privacy notice via the following link: https: https://ficg.mx/aviso-privacidad/