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Festival Internacional de Cine Shorts Costa Rica

Festival overview

About Festival Internacional de Cine Shorts Costa Rica

Physical film festival with submission categories including NATIONAL COMPETITION and INTERNACIONAL COMPETITION.

Festival is an initiative dedicated to promoting and celebrating the richness of short films, their diversity in themes, styles, and voices, and the outstanding national and international talent behind their creation. Under the concept of “stories that connect us,” the festival embraces the power of cinema to bring people together, build bridges between different realities, and create shared experiences through stories that resonate with our emotions, contexts, and identities.

The festival aims to strengthen cinematic diversity through the exhibition, education, and promotion of Costa Rican talent, as well as through the participation of international works in the country, bringing audiences closer to the best of short-form cinema.

Our proposal offers both emerging and established creators the opportunity to generate impact within the film landscape, activating a presence in movie theaters and alternative venues across the seven provinces of Costa Rica, as well as in other cities around the world. We recognize the importance of short films as a cultural expression capable of reflecting who we are and how we relate to one another.

We invite you to be part of this platform that promotes and celebrates stories that, from diverse perspectives, connect us. The Shorts Costa Rica International Film Festival will celebrate its fifth edition in 2027, continuing to establish itself as a platform for showcasing audiovisual talent, fostering connections among filmmakers, and expanding audience access to contemporary short films.

The festival will take place across five stages: CR Shorts Lab, Identidades Competition, Shorts Costa Rica Festival, Shorts Communities, and SHORTS+, offering a comprehensive experience that combines training, exhibition, competition, and distribution. The 2027 edition will be held from April 14 to April 24, 2027.

Shorts Costa Rica is now Entries Open to its three official competitions: National, Central American, and International. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Open to short films from all countries worldwide, except Costa Rica and Central American countries.

SUBMISSION FEES Submission fees vary depending on the category. A fee waiver option is available for filmmakers facing financial limitations.

Schedule

Important Dates

Call for Entries Opens
Apr 26, 2026
Final Submission Deadline
Jan 31, 2027
Notification Date
Mar 5, 2027
Festival Starts
Apr 14, 2027
Festival Ends
Apr 24, 2027
Eligibility

Rules & Eligibility

General Rules+
  1. ELIGIBILITY All listed genres are accepted. Short films completed on or after January 1, 2026. Maximum duration: 30 minutes (including credits). Only completed works will be considered. Premiere status is not required. Accepted screening formats: Apple ProRes 422 or

  2. 264. By submitting, filmmakers agree to screen their film if selected.

  3. SUBMISSION PROCESS Submissions must be made via External submission platform only.

  4. Deadline: January 31, 2027 (extended deadline).

  5. At least one still image must be uploaded.

  6. Ensure the screener link is working properly.

  7. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS Submissions outside official platforms will not be accepted.

  8. Physical formats (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) will not be accepted.

  9. All selected films must include Spanish subtitles (if applicable).

  10. IF SELECTED Only the submitter will be officially notified.

  11. Submitted information (synopsis, credits, etc.) will be used in all official materials.

  12. The screening copy must match the screener and include Spanish subtitles.

  13. The festival may use up to 10% of the film for non-commercial promotional purposes.

  14. SHOR

Current Categories, Deadlines & Fees

Category

NATIONAL COMPETITION

Our national competition rescues the efforts of all the audiovisual sectors regardless of their background and artistic expression. The festival is committed to bringing this diversity to the national public, expanding these registers through the recognition of those artistic foundations that will lead to the evolution of our national identity.

Current FeeUSD 5.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

INTERNACIONAL COMPETITION

Short films from all parts of the world (except Costa Rica) are eligible to participate. Those short films where the origin of the director or the production are not from Costa Rica or any other Central American country are eligible for the International Competition. Eligible categories: Fiction Animation Documentary Videoclip Experimental

Current FeeUSD 5.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

Central American Competition

The Central American Competition aims to promote the efforts of all audiovisual sectors, regardless of their formation and artistic training in this region. The festival is committed to bring this diversity of projects to the public, recognizing those artistic foundations that lead to the evolution of our Central American identity. The Central American Competition is open for projects in the following categories: Fiction Animation Documentary Music video Experimental

Current FeeUSD 5.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes