The International Benalmádena Film Festival (FICCAB) announces the opening of the registration period to participate in the Official Short-Term Section of its 25th edition, to be held from 10 to 17 October 2026 in the Malagasy town of Benalmádena.
Organized by the Independent Cultural Association of Benalmádena (ACIBE), the competition continues to be consolidated as one of the reference festivals for independent short film in Spain. The festival was born in 1998, recovering the spirit of the historic International Film Week of Benalmádena (SICAB), which made the city a prominent meeting point between 1969 and 1989.
Over more than two decades, FICCAB has been characterized by combining the proximity of a festival open to all audiences with a programming focused on author, independent, alternative and little-known cinematographies, with particular attention to European production.
Each edition receives more than a thousand short films from many countries, making Benalmádena a privileged window for new filmmakers, producers and emerging talents.
Open call
Short films of any kind (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental or hybrids) made after 1 January 2025 may be involved.
The maximum duration of the works shall be 30 minutes.
Spanish short films must include English subtitles.
Those in other languages must include subtitles in Spanish.
There is no limit to works per participant.
The registration may be made exclusively through the FESTHOME platform: https: / / festhome.com / f / ficcab
The deadline for the receipt of works will remain open until 16 August 2026 at 23: 59.
PREMOS
- The selected works will compete for a total of 3,500 euros in prizes:
First prize: 2,000 euros. - Second prize: 1,000 euros.
Best Malaysian short film: 500 euros.
In addition, the following awards shall be granted:
- Best Direction Award.
Best Script Award.
Best Interpretation Award.
They will all consist of an accredited trophy.
The economic awards shall be subject to the tax retention established by the Spanish legislation in force.
Selection and exhibition
A selection committee shall elect the works to be part of the Official Section. The participants will be informed of the results through the same platform used for registration.
The selected short films will be displayed during the festival, between 10 and 17 October 2026.
The official jury shall be appointed by the organization and its judgement shall not be appealed. It may also grant special mention or declare desert any of the awards.
A festival open to the world
FICCAB remains committed to the dissemination of short film as a space for creation, innovation and cultural encounter. For a week, Benalmádena will again become a meeting point for filmmakers, industry professionals and seventh-art fans from different countries.
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