- The Independent Film Market will take place as part of SEMINCI from October 28 to 30, 2026.
- Organized by SEMINCI and ADICINE, MERCI has seen a 58% increase in professional participation since its inception, reaching its largest edition to date in 2025.
The MERCI Independent Film Market, organized by SEMINCI and the Association of Independent Film Distributors (ADICINE), will hold its sixth edition from October 28 to 30, 2026, in Valladolid. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with Rentrak, ECAM Industria, and Sociograph.
Established as one of Spain’s leading platforms for independent cinema, MERCI promotes the circulation and visibility of arthouse films, facilitating connections among distributors, exhibitors, programmers, streaming platforms, and television networks. Since its inception, it has become a strategic platform for strengthening the presence of independent cinema in theaters and expanding its opportunities for distribution and public access.
In recent editions, MERCI has seen a 58% increase in professional participation, and in 2025 it held its largest edition to date, with 190 accredited professionals, the participation of all 20 distributors belonging to ADICINE, and a program featuring 27 films across 54 screenings. This growth has also earned it recognition from the sector, as demonstrated by the FECE Special Mention it received in 2024 for its contribution to strengthening film exhibition.
The market will pay tribute to José Luis Cienfuegos, who directed SEMINCI between 2023 and 2025 and played a decisive role in promoting and consolidating MERCI from its inception. His commitment to independent cinema, his support for cinematic diversity, and his unique ability to create spaces for professionals in the sector to connect were fundamental to the growth of an initiative that today occupies a prominent place within the Spanish film industry. In his memory and to carry on the legacy he left behind, the MERCI Lifetime Achievement Award—which recognizes the contributions of key figures to the development and strengthening of independent cinema—will now be known as the José Luis Cienfuegos Award.
The 6th edition of MERCI will once again bring together leading professionals at the Broadway Cinemas for a comprehensive program of screenings, presentations, meetings, and professional activities.
Among the participating organizations will once again be Europa Cinemas, which will organize a themed session as part of the program of activities. The continuation of this collaboration reinforces MERCI’s European dimension and the interest the market generates among strategic organizations in the sector.
MERCI’s growing prominence is also reflected in the quality and international reach of the films featured in its program. In recent editions, the market has showcased titles from major international film festivals, many of which went on to play a prominent role in the film season and were later recognized at leading events such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and the Academy Awards.
The market’s closing ceremony will also feature the presentation of the 2nd La Meseta Distribución Laboratory Awards, organized by SEMINCI to recognize the best distribution and promotion strategies for independent cinema.