FANCINE – REGULATIONS
35 FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MÁLAGA
12th – 18th NOVEMBER 2025
FANCINE – FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL is organized by the University of Malaga, a public institution whose core functions include the transmission and critique of culture, in collaboration with Festival de Málaga.
FANCINE is an adherent member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF), and as such, nominates in every edition a European short film for the Golden Méliès Award in its category.
1.- GOALS
FANCINE – FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL of the UNIVERSITY OF MALAGA has as its goal the presentation of a selection of the best world film production of the fantastic genre under all its variants (fantasy, science fiction, horror, adventure, thriller, mystery, action, animation) as well as other similar genres. Therefore, as a non-profit organization, the University of Malaga aims at offering the audience the development of this film genre as well as a better understanding between people and different cultures through film creation. This festival is willing to promote cinema among the student population, making this event attainable and universal, paying special attention to the most disadvantaged sections of society.
2.- FILMS IN COMPETITION
FEATURE FILMS.
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILMS.
ANIMATION SHORT FILMS.
3.- GENERAL CONDITIONS
3.1. Date of Production and Premiere Status
The films in the competition must be produced after the 1st of January 2024.
Only films not previously screened in the geographical region of Málaga can participate in the competition.
3.2. Running Time
Fancine will consider a feature film every film longer than 60 minutes.
The running time of competing Short Films must not exceed 15 minutes.
3.3. Screening Formats
Feature Films: professional digital formats (DCP preferably).
Short Films: HD digital file following encoding settings: video codec H.264, minimum resolution of 1080p, (.mov preferably) or DCP
Last-minute changes to the screening format will be rejected.
3.4. Subtitles
Selected films must be sent in the original version with Spanish subtitles if they are in a language other than Spanish. Short films must also include Spanish subtitles, unless they have no dialogue or subtitles are unnecessary for understanding the film. In the exceptional event that a non-subtitled film is accepted, Spanish or English dialogue lists with time code .doc, .txt, .xls, or .rft are required.
3.5. Exhibition Rights
Producers or distribution companies that own the exhibition rights of the selected films will transfer them to Fancine temporarily (during the festival).
The official competition of the short film section might be screened during the festival dates in other Andalusian Universities.
In the event the festival decides to program a non-competitive section for short films, it will be with the explicit authorization of the holder of the exhibition rights.
4.- FILMS SUBMISSIONS
The person responsible for the film submission must be authorized by the owner of the distribution rights of the film and commit to not withdrawing the copy of the film from the festival.
4.1.- Feature films
The participation of feature films in the competition section will require a prior invitation from the Fancine organization.
4.2.- Short films
Fancine accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com only. Log onto the website, set up an account, and submit your film to Fancine – Fantastic Film Festival of the University of Malaga.
Deadline: July 28th, 2025
Entry fee: 1€
5.-SELECTION
All the films presented to participate in the different sections will be chosen by the Selection Committee, formed by different professionals of the audiovisual area from the University of Malaga. Decisions taken by the Selection Committee are irrevocable.
Participants who submit a selected film will receive a notification by email. In 15 calendar days starting the following day after receiving the notification, they must send us the information listed below:
- Trailer or promotional video material, without watermarks, at the highest quality possible, to be used for cultural promotion of the Festival.
- At least 5 press photos (of the film and/or shooting) in .jpg format with a minimum quality of 300 dpi (15 x 10 cm).
- A recent photograph of the director in .jpg format and a minimum quality of 300 dpi (15 x 10 cm).
- Biofilmography of the director.
- 2 Posters of the film or a digital file in .pdf format.
The exhibition copy of selected films will be received at the festival headquarters no later than October 28th, 2025. Otherwise, organizers of the festival reserve the right to dismiss the selected film, replacing it with another.
The person responsible for the submission of a film declares to be authorized by the owner of the distribution rights to provide us with the screening copy and to be committed to not withdrawing the film from the festival.
Organizers of the festival reserve the right to reject a film in case the screening copy does not offer enough quality guarantees.
Not selected short films will be informed at least 15 days before the festival dates.
6.- SHIPMENT
FEATURE FILMS: Shipment expenses of selected feature films will be covered by the Fancine organization. Competitors must send their films via the transportation company indicated by the organizers.
SHORT FILMS: shipment expenses -sending and returning- of selected short films will be covered by participants in all cases. It can be done through an online link.
An email to info@fancine.org must be sent in order to inform the festival of the film’s title, the date of the shipment, and the tracking number.
Screening copies will be returned within a maximum period of thirty days after the festival’s end.
7.- JURY
7.1. Official Jury
Professionals of the film sector and culture will evaluate the films in competition and will grant the Awards of the FANCINE – FESTIVAL DE CINE FANTÁSTICO. Individuals involved in the production, direction, distribution, or commercial exploitation of the selected films are not eligible to serve on the Jury.
7.2. Young Jury
Students from the different Universities of Andalusia will form the Young Jury. People related to production, direction, distribution, or any other commercial form of exploitation of selected films cannot be members of the Jury.
7.3. Audience Jury
Assistants to the screenings of selected films will form the Audience Jury.
8.- AWARDS
Awards will be granted only to films in the competitive sections. In no case, cash awards shall be declared ex aequo or void.
Awards are subject to current laws regarding Personal Income Taxes.
Awards will be entirely given to the person or company who has acquired the rights for the distribution of the award-winning film in Spain. In the event the feature film does not have a distributor in Spain, the prize will go to the international distributor. This can be the production company or the company in charge of its international distribution. When advertising the awarded audiovisual work, the winning company commits to include a clearly noticeable legend with the corporate image of FANCINE – Fantastic Film Festival of the University of Malaga- (logo and name), referring specifically to the Award received.
The Official Jury will grant the following Fancine Awards:
• Best Feature Film, with a cash prize of €6.000
• Best Director.
• Best Actress.
• Best Actor.
• Best Original or Adapted Screenplay.
• Best Cinematography.
• Best Film Editing.
• Best Special Effects.
• Best Soundtrack.
The Young Jury, formed by young university students, will grant the following Awards:
• Best Fiction Short Film, with a cash prize of €1.500
• Best Animation Short Film, with a cash prize of €1.500
• SILVER MÉLIÈS diploma and nomination for Best European Fantasy Short Film for the GOLD MÉLIÈS AWARD sponsored by the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF) www.melies.org
• RC Service Award, with a discount of 1.500€ in cinematography rental to Best Cinematography in the category of Fiction Short Film.
The Audience Jury will grant the awards of:
• Audience Award for Best Feature Film, with a cash prize of €1.000.
• Audience Award for Best Live Action Short Film, with a cash prize of €500.
• Audience Award for Best Animation Short Film, with a cash prize of €500.
These awards will be given to the films that receive the greatest number of votes. In the event of a tie between two or more films, the Official Jury and the Young Jury will have the casting vote to resolve it.
If a film wins both the Audience Award and an award from the Official Jury or Young Jury, the Audience Award will be awarded to the film with the second-highest number of votes.
Accredited media will grant the Gato Rabioso Award for Best Feature Film.
The Festival organization will be able to grant other awards and honorary recognitions not included in these rules, promoted by the organization or other entities with which it has signed the corresponding agreements.
9.- GENERAL DISPOSITIONS
FANCINE – International Film Festival of the University of Malaga is hereby granted the right to use an excerpt no longer than 2 minutes from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that they are authorized to submit the film for screening. They also understand and accept these requirements and regulations.
The submission shall indemnify and hold harmless Fancine International Film Festival of the University of Malaga from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
In no event, the organization shall negotiate or discuss with the submitters the conditions of these rules. The organization shall decide all matters not provided therein and may authorize exceptions that may contribute to the better success of the competition or improved management.
Inscription or sending a film to the Festival, irrespective of the section, implies unconditional acceptance of these rules. The Selection Committee will decide the matters not foreseen by the rules, as well as might authorize exceptions.
The Spanish text of these regulations will be the only valid version in case of discrepancies regarding the meaning of any of the above regulations.
INSCRIPTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION ADDRESS
FANCINE – FESTIVAL DE CINE FANTÁSTICO
Edificio Contenedor Cultural.
Bulevar Louis Pasteur, 23
Campus de Teatinos
Universidad de Málaga
29010 Málaga (Spain)
Tel: +34 951 95 30 71
e-mail: info@fancine.org, fancine@uma.es
Web: www.fancine.org