THE COMPETITION INITIATES THE SUBMISSION PROCESS FOR SHORT FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD UNTIL FEBRUARY 8.
SUBMITED WORKS ENTER THE PRESELECTION TO THE THREE OFFICIAL DANZANTE CONTESTS ENDORSED BY THE OSCAR AND GOYA AWARDS.
The 52nd Huesca International Film Festival initiates the first phase of its current edition: the registration of short films. This submission of works from the five continents will remain open until February 8. Around 2,000 works from about 90 countries are received each year to go through the selection process of a specialized jury to enter the three contests of the Aragonese event: international, Ibero-American, and documentary. The historic cultural event in Huesca holds a prominent international reputation as one of the six festivals in Spain that qualifies for The Academy’s Oscars, and it is also recognized as an endorsement for the Goya Awards from the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain.
Short films aspiring to be part of the official selection must comply with the guidelines published on the festival’s website and complete the established steps through the online platform Festhome. In case of selection, they would compete for awards totaling over 24,000 euros (solely dedicated to filmmakers, academies, schools, or any other cinema educational institutions); the highest honors are the three Danzante Awards (5,000 euros each), all of which grant the first passport to the Hollywood red carpet.
The submission incurs a fee of 2.5 euros per short film, separate from the platform’s service charges. This amount intends to cover the processing and management expenses for the festival. This fee allows creators to value their own work and the context in which they present it. The festival’s management takes into account the specificities and diverse situations of each territory, hence including exceptions in the guidelines for countries in conflict or those with geographical challenges regarding online access or payment.
In 2024, one of the novelties is the creation of a new award for the best debut film in the documentary competition (1,000 euros and a trophy). With this addition, each of the three contests recognizes the best first or second work of participating filmmakers. This new initiative aligns with the roots and spirit of the festival, supporting emerging talents both artistically and financially across diverse genres of the seventh art.
Once again, the capital of Huesca will gather filmmakers and audiences at the Olimpia Theater to present and engage in discussions about the films. Additionally, the audience will decide the Aragón Televisión Audience Award through their votes. This collaboration is made possible through the renewed agreement with the Aragon Radio and Television Corporation, involving the purchase of broadcasting rights worth 900 euros, along with promotion and dissemination on the regional public entity.
Alongside in-person participation, the online visit format introduced in 2015 enables productions to reach audiences worldwide without impacting attendance in Huesca theaters.
