RULES AND REGULATIONS

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41st MAR DEL PLATA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

ARTICLE 1

Organized by the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) and accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), the 41st Mar del Plata International Film Festival will take place in Mar del Plata from November 5 to 15, 2026. The purpose of this Festival is to stimulate and facilitate encounters between members of the national and international film industry and to present films of all genres, accompanied by their representatives, to contribute to the development of culture and the progress and dissemination of the audiovisual industry.

ARTICLE 2

The call for entries in all categories is open to feature films, medium-length films, and short films, both national and international, across all genres. Productions must have been completed during the twelve (12) months prior to the start of the Festival. Films or projects linked to any member of the Festival organization or programming team are ineligible to participate.

Registration Fees:

  • International Feature Films: USD 60.00.
  • International Medium and Short Films: USD 30.00.
  • National Feature Films: ARS 60,000.00.
  • National Medium and Short Films: ARS 30,000.00.

Payment must be made at the time of registration through the official Festival website and is a mandatory requirement for the process to be considered complete. For payment purposes, a feature film is defined as any film exceeding sixty (60) minutes in duration.

ARTICLE 3

The 41st edition will include the International, Latin American, and Argentine Competitions for both feature and short films. Additionally, it will feature the En Tránsito (Work in Progress)

competition for Argentine and Latin American co-productions currently in development, alongside various parallel sections and special events.

ARTICLE 4

Each film may have up to five (5) screenings, including one additional screening for the press if determined by Festival authorities. Once the selection is notified and written consent is granted by the producer or representative, the film cannot be withdrawn.

Submission Requirements:

  • Producers must send the film and requested promotional materials before the deadline specified in Annex I.
  • Materials will be used for the catalogue, website, press, and advertising.
  • Films must be presented in their original language, with English subtitles and electronic Spanish subtitles.
  • Programmed films may not be commercially released in Argentina until the end of the Festival.
  • Public exhibition outside of the Festival is prohibited unless an agreement is signed with INCAA for screenings in other venues within the country.

ARTICLE 5

To submit a film, the fee must be paid and the following steps completed:

  1. Complete the Online Registration Form.
  2. Provide a download link (password valid until Nov 15, 2026) with the download option enabled for the Selection Committee. A maximum file size of 2GB is recommended.

Registration for all categories is open from Monday, May 4 to Tuesday, June 30. The process is exclusively online. The Festival will notify all applicants of the results once the selection process is complete.

ARTICLE 6

The programming team will recommend films to the Festival authorities based on artistic and innovative values. Authorities will make the final selection to ensure an Official Section compatible with the standards of an International Competitive Festival accredited by FIAPF.

ARTICLE 7

Festival authorities will appoint the jury members for each competition.

  • Anyone with an interest in the production or exploitation of a film in competition is ineligible to serve on the Jury.
  • Jury members must not express public opinions on the films before the official awards announcement.
  • Decisions are made by absolute majority in the first two rounds and relative majority thereafter.

ARTICLE 8

OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

National and international feature films are eligible to participate. Productions must have been completed during the TWELVE (12) months prior to the start date of the Festival; they must be a premiere within the territory of the Republic of Argentina, within the framework of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival; and must not have had any type of public exhibition in our country.

If selected, they may not be exhibited in any other venue until the end of their screening at the Festival, unless the organization decides otherwise.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina prior to the date of selection for their presentation in Mar del Plata are not disqualified from joining the Competition.

The following awards will be granted:

  • Best Feature Film;
  • Special Jury Prize;
  • Best Director;
  • Best Actor;
  • Best Actress;
  • Best Screenplay.

The Jury may grant up to TWO (2) Special Mentions, stating the motivation that makes the winners deserving of such mentions. Only one ex aequo award may be granted, which cannot be for Best Film. No film may receive more than TWO (2) awards, and no award may be declared void.

ARTICLE 9

LATIN AMERICAN FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

Films of Latin American production and co-production are eligible to participate in the competition. They must have been completed during the TWELVE (12) months prior to the start date of the Festival, must be a premiere in the territory of the Republic of Argentina, within the framework of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival; and must not have had any type of public exhibition in our country.

If selected, they may not be exhibited in any other venue until the end of their screening at the Festival, unless the organization decides otherwise.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina prior to the date of selection for their presentation in Mar del Plata are not disqualified from joining the Competition.

Screening copies must be presented with English subtitles.

The Jury will grant the award for Best Feature Film of the Latin American Competition, which cannot be declared void.

Likewise, it may grant up to TWO (2) Special Mentions.

ARTICLE 10

ARGENTINE FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

Films of Argentine production will participate. Productions must have been completed during the TWELVE (12) months prior to the start date of the Festival; they must be a premiere in the territory of the Republic of Argentina, within the framework of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival; and must not have had any type of public exhibition in our country.

If selected, they may not be exhibited in any other venue until the end of their screening at the Festival, unless the organization decides otherwise.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina prior to the date of selection for their presentation in Mar del Plata are not disqualified from joining the Competition.

Screening copies must be presented with English subtitles.

The Jury will grant ONE (1) award for Best Feature Film of the Argentine Competition, and ONE (1) award for Best Director.

No award may be declared void, and up to TWO (2) special mentions may be granted.

ARTICLE 11

SHORT FILM COMPETITIONS

International Short Film Competition

International production and co-production short films are eligible to participate. Productions must have been completed during the TWELVE (12) months prior to the start date of the Festival; they must be a premiere in the territory of the Republic of Argentina, within the framework of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival; and must not have had any type of public exhibition in our country.

If selected, they may not be exhibited in any other venue until the end of their screening at the Festival, unless the organization decides otherwise.

Short films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina prior to the date of selection for their presentation in Mar del Plata are not disqualified from joining the Competition.

Screening copies must be presented with English subtitles.

Short films may not exceed TWENTY (20) minutes in length, including credits.

The Jury will grant ONE (1) award for Best Short Film of the International Competition.

Likewise, it may grant up to ONE (1) Special Mention.

Latin American Short Film Competition

Latin American production and co-production short films are eligible to participate. Productions must have been completed during the TWELVE (12) months prior to the start date of the Festival; they must be a premiere in the territory of the Republic of Argentina, within the framework of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival; and must not have had any type of public exhibition in our country.

If selected, they may not be exhibited in any other venue until the end of their screening at the Festival, unless the organization decides otherwise.

Short films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina prior to the date of selection for their presentation in Mar del Plata are not disqualified from joining the Competition.

Screening copies must be presented with English subtitles.

Short films may not exceed TWENTY (20) minutes in length, including credits.

The Jury will grant ONE (1) award for Best Short Film of the Latin American Competition.

Likewise, it may grant up to ONE (1) Special Mention.

Argentine Short Film Competition

Argentine production short films are eligible to participate. Productions must have been completed during the TWELVE (12) months prior to the start date of the Festival; they must be a premiere in the territory of the Republic of Argentina, within the framework of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival; and must not have had any type of public exhibition in our country.

If selected, they may not be exhibited in any other venue until the end of their screening at the Festival, unless the organization decides otherwise.

Short films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina prior to the date of selection for their presentation in Mar del Plata are not disqualified from joining the Competition.

Screening copies must be presented with English subtitles.

Short films may not exceed TWENTY (20) minutes in length, including credits.

The Jury will grant ONE (1) award for Best Short Film of the Argentine Competition.

Likewise, it may grant up to ONE (1) Special Mention.

ARTICLE 12

EN TRÁNSITO / WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP) COMPETITION

Argentine or Latin American feature film projects in the process of production and co-production are eligible to participate. They may be fiction, documentary, or experimental films.

To register, it is necessary to:

  • Complete the Online Registration Form.
  • Send a download link with footage of the project (unlimited duration). For selected works, the duration of the fragment to be exhibited during the Festival may not exceed TEN (10) minutes. Download links for registered films must include the download option for viewing by the Festival’s programming team. A maximum of 2GB is recommended. Its use will be strictly internal.
  • Attach a Word or PDF file with the following information:

○ Project title.

○ Director’s first and last name.

○ Producer’s first and last name.

○ Project contact information (phone, email).

○ Technical information (genre, duration, shooting format).

○ Synopsis (maximum 1 page).

○ Treatment (maximum 10 pages). The script does not replace the treatment and should only be sent if requested.

○ Director’s letter of intent regarding the project.

○ Director’s and producer’s biofilmography.

○ Production status of the project.

A committee composed of Festival programmers will select the participating projects.

The jury will grant ONE (1) En Tránsito Award to the best work in progress.

Likewise, it may grant up to ONE (1) Special Mention.

ARTICLE 13

Once a film has been programmed and has been approved in writing by the producer or their representative, it cannot be withdrawn from the Festival.

Producers and distributors of those films included in the Competitions commit to including the phrase “Official Selection of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival” in all their advertising and press material, using the Festival logo.

Producers and distributors of films that receive awards commit to highlighting this in all their advertising and press material, using the Festival logo.

This logo will be available on the Festival website.

All awards not received at the Closing Ceremony may be collected at the Festival offices in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (or where and how indicated according to circumstances), up to one month after the end of the event.

ARTICLE 14

Films participating in VOD platforms will not be admitted, with the exception of those cases where it is for strictly professional use and with restricted access. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate each individual case.

ARTICLE 15

The Festival authorities will resolve all matters not covered by these Regulations, as well as reserve the right to make decisions regarding registration.

They will also ensure compliance with the rules of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).

ARTICLE 16

The Festival works to achieve the greatest accessibility in all its content. To this end, Argentine films selected in any of the sections mentioned in these regulations must include a file with a list of dialogues in Spanish.

ARTICLE 17

The submission of a film or project to participate in the Mar del Plata International Film Festival implies, on the part of the interested parties, the acceptance of these Regulations.

The Festival reserves the right to modify the composition of all competitions and sections, according to its needs.

ANNEX I OF THE REGULATIONS

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The screening copy of the selected film must be delivered in DCP format to the address indicated by the Festival organization before October 5, 2026, respecting the requested technical requirements. Presentation in other formats requires authorization from the Festival.

Those interested in participating in the Festival must complete the following steps:

  • Complete the registration form and the corresponding registration payment on the Festival website: https://www.mardelplatafilmfest.com/
  • Send a download link of up to 2G, whose password is valid until November 15, 2026.
  • Commit to accepting the decisions issued by INCAA, through the officials and juries appointed to evaluate these technical issues.

Registration for all sections will close on June 30, 2026.

FORMATS

Only DCPs compatible with DCI standards will be accepted. Disks with USB 2.0 connections will not be accepted.

Presentation in other formats requires the express authorization of the Festival’s Technical Department.

The DCP name must follow the parameters of the Digital Cinema Naming Convention.

Disk formatting must be EXT2 or EXT3. NTFS is also accepted. Other file systems will not be accepted.

KDM: Encryption is optional. The Festival handles a large amount of DCP content that does not require KDM. For each encrypted DCP, we request a KDM (Key Delivery Message). This must be valid from the day of the DCP’s arrival and must remain operational until the last day of the Festival.

JPEG 2000 / COLOR SPACE: XYZ /: The maximum bit rate supported in JPEG 2000 is 250 Mbps.

The frame rate supported in 2D is 24 fps, 25 fps, and 48 fps, and in 3D is 24 fps. 2K or 4K material is reproduced in progressive scan at 2048 x 1080.

The supported subtitle file types are TICineCanvas™ and SMPTE 428-7-2007.