FIRST. – OBJECTIVES.

The main objective of VALLADOLID INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (aka SEMINCI), which has been taking place every year in the city of Valladolid since 1956, is to show and promote films of high artistic quality, which contribute to the knowledge of worldwide cinematography.

SECOND. – DATES.

The Festival takes place every year at the end of October. In 2026, the 71st edition will take place from October 23rd to October 31st. The call for entries will be open until July 15th.

THIRD. – CONTACT DETAILS.

SEMINCI – Valladolid International Film Festival

Calle Leopoldo Cano, s/n, 4ª planta (Teatro Calderón)
47003 Valladolid (Spain)
Telephone: +34 983 426 460
info@seminci.com
www.seminci.com

FOURTH. – SECTIONS.

• 4.1. COMPETITIVE SECTIONS
  • INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL SECTION. It offers a panorama of current international cinema and may include feature lengths out of competition.
  • MEETING POINT OFFICIAL SECTION. Films inspiring dialogue which are worthy of special attention for their subject matter or style.
  • ALCHEMIES OFFICIAL SECTION. A section dedicated to works with an innovative cinematographic language.
  • TIME OF HISTORY OFFICIAL SECTION. Non-fiction films. Expository or factual documentaries are not eligible for competition.
  • SEMINCI YOUTH SECTION. This section is dedicated to young viewers between the ages of 13 and 17. Films competing in other sections may be included.
  • MINIMINCI. A selection of films for children between 6 and 12 years old. The season’s best titles for the younger generation.
  • SHORT FILM SECTION.
    • International Short Films Official Section, A selection of fiction, animation and non-fiction shorts grouped in specific programs.
    • Spanish Short Films Official Section, A selection of short films produced in Spain
    • Short films from Castile & Leon, a competitive section for shorts made or produced in the region, or made by directors who were born or live there.
• 4. 2. NON-COMPETITIVE SECTIONS
  The Festival will organize retrospectives on film movements and national cinemas, alongside thematic programs and filmmaker-focused monographs.
  • MEMORY & UTOPIA. Contributing to the preservation of film legacy and offering the public a chance to appreciate the value of the history of cinema, this section offers a selection of recently restored films.
  • FEATURES FROM CASTILE & LEON. a non-competitive showcase of fiction feature lengths or documentaries either made or produced in the region or by directors born there.
  • CINEPHILE WINDOW. an online selection of films for young audiences available on the FILMIN platform during the months of October and November, commissioned by the association of film festivals PROFESTIVALES21.

FIFTH. – REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITIVE SECTIONS.

All films submitted for the competitive sections (except Shorts from Castile & Leon) must comply with the following conditions:

• Being produced after the last quarter of 2025, and have NOT been presented in Spain, either in public cinemas or on television or platforms available in Spain. They must not have previously participated in any other Spanish festival, either in competition or out of competition. Nor have they been presented in any type of event in Spain, special or otherwise.
• A DCP is required for the screening during the Festival. A high quality downloadable archive should be uploaded to the Festival platform. The costs derived from sending via any other DCP transfer platform other than the one provided by the Festival will be covered by the participant.
• The producers or representatives of the film must provide the Festival Technical Department with the appropriate KDMs for each screening venue. The Festival will not cover the cost of generating these keys.
• Films will be screened in their original language version with Spanish and English subtitles. When the film is not Spanish spoken, a transcript of the English subtitles/ dialogue list and a downloadable link of the film must be supplied beforehand in order to permit preparation of electronic subtitles.
• Films submitted may be feature lengths or shorts. Films over 60 minutes will be considered feature lengths and short films should not exceed a running time of 30 minutes. Exceptionally, the Festival may programme medium-length films

SIXTH. – AWARDS.

The Juries of the different competitive sections will decide on the following awards, none of which may be declared void. No more than two joint prizes can be awarded in each category, in which case, cash awards will be split equally and each winner will receive a trophy.

• 6.1 INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL SECTION
  • GOLDEN SPIKE to the best feature length. The distributor in Spain of the film receives a trophy and a cash award of 70.000 €.
  • SILVER SPIKE to the second best feature length. The distributor in Spain of the film receives a trophy and a cash award of 25.000 €.
  • «RIBERA DEL DUERO» BEST DIRECTOR AWARD. The director receives a trophy and a cash award of 6.000 €.
  • BEST ACTRESS and BEST ACTOR AWARDS. Trophy.
  • BEST DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD. Trophy.
  • «MIGUEL DELIBES» AWARD FOR BEST SCRIPT. Trophy.
  • «JOSÉ SALCEDO» AWARD FOR BEST EDITING. Trophy.
• 6.2 MEETING POINT OFFICIAL SECTION
  • MEETING POINT AWARD. A Trophy and a cash award of 30.000 € for the company which submitted the film.
  • FUNDOS AWARD. A Trophy and a cash award of 10.000€ for the company which submitted the film.
  • ESCAC AWARD. The director competing with his/her first or second feature film receives a trophy and a cash prize of €5.000.
• 6.3 ALCHEMIES OFFICIAL SECTION
  • ALCHEMIES GRAND PRIZE. A trophy and a cash award of 10.000€ for the company which submitted the film.
• 6.4 TIME OF HISTORY OFFICIAL SECTION
  • TIME OF HISTORY GRAND PRIZE, The director of the documentary receives a trophy and a cash award of 20.000€.
  • TIME OF HISTORY SPECIAL AWARD. The director of the documentary receives a trophy and a cash award of 10.000 €.
• 6.5. OTHER AWARDS FOR FEATURE LENGTHS
  • «PILAR MIRÓ» AWARD TO THE BEST NEW DIRECTOR. Consisting of a trophy and a cash prize of €5.000, for the director or Spanish production company competing with his/her first or second feature film in the Official Section, the Meeting Point section or the Alchemies section.
  • DOC. SPAIN. The director of the best Spanish documentary receives a trophy and a cash award of 5.000 €.
  • SEMINCI YOUTH AWARD. According to the votes of the young audiences, the company which submitted the film receives a trophy and a cash award of 6.000 €.
  • MINIMINCI AWARD, endowed with a cash prize of €6,000 to the company that submits its film to the festival. This award will be granted after counting the votes cast by the elementary school students attending the screenings in this section.
    
    When the company which submitted the film is the recipient of a cash award, this company is responsible for making sure that everyone involved in the film (director, producer, international sales agent, Spanish distributor, if there is one) is familiar with the Festival regulations and for reaching an agreement with the same regarding the sharing of the cash. The Festival cannot be held responsible for any possible disputes.
    
    
• 6.6 SHORT FILM AWARDS
  • INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM OFFICIAL SECTION. One Golden Spike plus a cash award of 6.000€ and two SILVER SPIKES, plus a cash award of 3.000 € for the directors of the films.
  • BEST EUROPEAN SHORT AWARD. The director receives a trophy and a cash award of
    2.000 €. The film will also be nominated to be considered for the European Film Academy Short Film Award. This prize cannot be awarded jointly.
  • SPANISH SHORT FILM OFFICIAL SECTION. A specific prize will be awarded, consisting of a trophy and a cash prize of 3,000 € for the director of the film.
  • SHORT FILM FROM CASTILE & LEON AWARD. The director receives a trophy.
• 6.7. OTHER AWARDS
  • RAINBOW AWARD. Trophy for the film which shows most sensitivity towards the LGBTIQ+ community.
  • GREEN AWARD. Trophy for the film which best raises awareness of the need to protect our planet and environment.
  • FIPRESCI AWARD. Framed certificate. Three members of the International Federation of Film Critics will award the prize to a film in the International Official Section.
  • AUDIENCE  AWARDS  INTERNATIONAL  OFFICIAL  SECTION  and  MEETING  POINT OFFICIAL SECTION. Trophies. The audience acts as a Jury and casts their votes after each screening.
    
    In addition to those already mentioned, depending on the agreements signed with other entities linked to SEMINCI, monetary prizes may be awarded in which are assumed by the collaborating entity, as well as others without financial endowment.
    SEMINCI may award other honorary prizes, in the format of the HONOUR SPIKE or other special prizes, with a commemorative trophy but without financial endowment.
    
    
  • LA MESETA AWARDS
    The La Meseta Laboratory, established in 2025, is an initiative dedicated to supporting, developing, promoting, and distributing independent cinema. It provides a space for training, mentorship, and exchange between creators and industry professionals.
    As part of its activities, La Meseta includes a laboratory focused on the development of promotion and distribution strategies, with the aim of enhancing the circulation of independent cinema in Spain. Within this framework, the following awards will be granted:
    • La Meseta First Prize, endowed with €5,000, for the winning project.
    • La Meseta Second Prize, endowed with €4,000, for the runner-up project.

  Participation in the laboratory and the awarding of prizes will be governed by specific regulations.
  These awards may be complemented by in-kind prizes or additional financial support, depending on the agreements that SEMINCI establishes with partner organizations linked to the project.

SEVENTH. – JURIES.

The General Delegate Councillor for Tourism, Events and City Brand, by delegation of the President of the Municipal Foundation of Culture of the City Hall of Valladolid, through Resolution nº 308/2023, dated July 20th, according to proposals from the Festival Organizing Team, will appoint the following Jury members, who will act completely independently and whose function will be to concede the awards specified above further to their having viewed and analysed the different works taking into consideration exclusively artistic criteria:

• INTERNATIONAL JURY OFFICIAL SECTION: 5 professionals (minimum) of renowned repute in the cinematographic, artistic and cultural world ensuring a balance in the composition of the Jury members regarding geographical and professional terms.
• MEETING POINT OFFICIAL SECTION JURY: 3 professionals of renowned repute in the specific scope of this section.
• ALCHEMIES OFFICIAL SECTION JURY: 3 professionals from the cinematographic, artistic and cultural world.
• SHORT FILM JURY, 3 professionals from the specific field of production and programming of short films will award the different prizes for short films (International, Spanish and Castile & Leon).
• TIME OF HISTORY OFFICIAL SECTION JURY: 3 professionals of renowned repute from the specific field of documentaries. This Jury will also award the DOC. SPAIN prize.
• FIPRESCI JURY: Three members of the International Federation of Film Critics. The Festival and the FIPRESCI organization will reach an agreement on the composition of this Jury.
• «PILAR MIRÓ» AWARD JURY: 3 Spanish film critics or specialist journalists will concede the award to the best new Spanish director.

Apart from the above-mentioned Juries, in coordination with the corresponding associations with whom there are collaboration agreements separate non-official Juries will also designate the «Rainbow» and «Green» Awards, as well as a Youth Jury.

The granting of the prizes constitutes an administrative act that brings an end to the administrative process.

The decision of the awards will be submitted to the General Delegate Councillor for Tourism, Events and City Brand through the communication that the Juries make to the SEMINCI’s direction.

The Juries will announce their decisions on the morning of the last day of the Festival. The Juries’ decisions are unappeasable.

The members of the Juries will be subject to the duty of abstention in the cases indicated in article 23 «de la Ley 40/2015, de 1 de octubre, del Régimen Jurídico del Sector Público».

In matters not provided for in the bases, the provisions of «Sección 3ª del Capítulo II del Título Preliminar de la Ley 40/2015, de 1 de octubre, de Régimen Jurídico del Sector Público» will apply.

EIGHTH. – AWARD WINNER OBLIGATIONS.

Award winners must attend the Closing Gala of the Festival in order to receive their awards. Should this be impossible for material or physical reasons, they should designate a representative and/or provide a short video/online greeting for screening during the Gala.

Award-winning films must specify the prize obtained at Valladolid International Film Festival on all their publicity material and all posterior film copies that will be marketed or released in Spain, both in cinemas and on digital platforms as well as on TV channels or on disc formats.

Likewise, the SEMINCI logo must be prominently displayed in front of the logos of other festivals that have programmed the film after its premiere at the festival. The use of the SEMINCI name and logo is subject to prior approval by the Festival, which will ensure their correct application. Furthermore, the SEMINCI logo must be clearly and prominently displayed, and may not be placed in a secondary position relative to the logos of other festivals that screen the film following its premiere at the Festival.

The winners must not be prevented from becoming a beneficiary of a subsidy by any of the circumstances described in sections 2 and 3 of Article 13 of the General Subsidies Law 38/2003.

Cash awards will be paid by bank transfer. The amount of the awards includes 21% VAT or the amount of VAT applicable at the time of payment and will be subject to the corresponding withholdings and taxes, in accordance with prevailing legislation.

If the prize winner is a company or entity an invoice for the amount of the award must also be forwarded. The invoice must include applicable taxes, and must not exceed the amount of the cash award specified. In the case of foreign companies, the reverse charge mechanism will apply. As SEMINCI is a VAT-exempt managing entity and cannot reclaim the VAT it would otherwise be required to self-assess, the net prize amount will be reduced by the VAT rate applicable at the time of payment (21% in 2026).

Award winners must forward the documents specified below before November 30th to the Administration Department of The Municipal Foundation of Culture (email: admon.seminci@fmcva.org):

• CASH AWARDS UP TO AND INCLUDING 6.000 Euros
  • A photocopy of your ID card or passport.A bank account identification certificate with account details, bank address and IBAN/ SWIFT number.
  • A certificate of official tax residency. Participants who do not have their tax residency in Spanish territory must present a certificate of tax residency issued by the competent authorities in their country of residence.
  • An affidavit stating that you are not prevented from becoming a beneficiary of a subsidy by any of the circumstances regulated by Spanish law to obtain prizes described in «Artículo 13 apartados 2 y 3 de la Ley 38/2003, General de Subvenciones modified by L.O. 3/2015 on March 30th.
• CASH AWARDS OF MORE THAN 6.000 Euros
  • A photocopy of your ID card or passport.
  • A bank account identification certificate with account details, bank address and IBAN/ SWIFT number.
  • A certificate of official tax residency. Participants who do not have their tax residency in Spanish territory must present a certificate of tax residency issued by the competent authorities in their country of residence.
  • An affidavit stating that you are not prevented from becoming a beneficiary of a subsidy by any of the circumstances regulated by Spanish law to obtain prizes described in «Artículo 13 apartados 2 y 3 de la Ley 38/2003, General de Subvenciones modified by L.O. 3/2015 on March 30th».
  • A certificate stating you are up-to-date with tax obligations.
  • A certificate stating you are up-to-date with Social Security obligations.

The distributor in Spain of the winning feature lengths in the Official Section must also forward a copy of the distribution agreement and an affidavit stating they own the distribution rights of the films for Spain. They must also forward an invoice for the amount of the award. The invoice must include applicable taxes, and must not exceed the amount of the cash award specified.

NINTH. – SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.

The Festival does not charge entry fees and films should be submitted as follows:

• Films being submitted for preview by the Selection Committee. Films must be submitted online via the link on our web page (www.seminci.com) before July 15th. An entry form must be filled in and a secure link with password must be provided.
• Films already selected and officially invited. The Festival may send a direct invitation to certain films. The invitation sent for each film selected by the Festival must remain strictly confidential between the Festival management and the participant until the Festival makes an official announcement to this regard. A complete entry form must be filled in. This is available on the Festival web page www.seminci.com and the dialogue/subtitles list and promotional material requested must be forwarded as soon as possible.
• The Festival can download high quality archives for screening, or a DCP can be sent by courier to our office address. The digital copy should be uploaded to the Festival platform or the physical DCP should be sent by courier service to the address that appears in the THIRD Base, communicating the shipping details by email immediately. All films and promotional material must be in the hands of the Festival organization before October 1st of the year in which the edition takes place.
• Press and promotional material must be uploaded to the Festival management progr a mme i n di gi t a l for ma t or se n t t o t h e fol l ow i n g e – ma i l : documentacion@seminci.com and include a press book, high-resolution photographs and poster as well as audio and video files (3-minute trailer). This
  material will be distributed online in the area reserved for the media on the Festival website (www.seminci.com).

TENTH. – TRANSPORT OF FILMS.

Unless negotiated otherwise with the Festival, all transportation costs incurred in sending the print to and from Spain must be borne by the entity or individual(s) registering it for participation.

The Festival insurance policy covers fire, theft, damage and destruction of the print for the period spanning its arrival until its return.

The Festival will only accept claims on any print within a period of ONE MONTH after the date it was returned.

ELEVENTH. – PROGRAMMING DATES & ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION REQUISITES.

The Festival Direction will determine the order and date of the screening of all films. Once a film has been registered for participation, it cannot be withdrawn or screened elsewhere in Spain, as specified in Point Five, prior to its screening at Valladolid.

Participation in the Festival implies the unconditional acceptance of all the aforementioned regulations. The interpretation of the regulations will be the exclusive responsibility of the Direction of Valladolid International Film Festival. In any event of doubt, the Spanish version of these regulations will be deemed binding.

TWELFTH. – AWARDS BUDGET ALLOCATION.

The financial cost of the Awards is 229,000.00 €, and will be allocated to the 06/3343/481 budget, corresponding to 2026, of the Municipal Foundation of Culture of Valladolid City Hall.

THIRTEENTH. – LEGAL REGIME.

The following Spanish laws and regulations govern these grants: Regulation of Subsidies of the City Council of Valladolid and the Regulatory Bases for the Granting of Subsidies in the City Council of Valladolid, approved by agreement of the Plenary Session of the City Council of Valladolid on February 10, 2006 and published in the BOP of Valladolid on March 9 from 2006, as well as by the provisions of these terms and conditions and by Law 38/2003, of November 17, General Law on Subsidies (LGS), Royal Decree 887/2006, of July 21, which approves the General Regulations on Subsidies, and Royal Decree 130/2019, of March 8, which regulates the National Database of Subsidies and the publication of subsidies and other public funds. They are also governed by the Valladolid City Council’s Strategic Subsidy Plan 2026-2028, approved by the City Council Plenary Session on March 30, 2026, and by the Valladolid City Council’s Annual Operational Plan for Subsidies 2026.

In addition to the above, by the rest of Spanish regulations regarding administrative and private law.

Information on the call and the award resolutions issued in the terms established in Article 20 LGS will be sent to the National Subsidy Database (BDNS).

FOURTEENTH. – PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION.

All applicants consent to the processing of their personal data and to its publication in any media used to communicate the results and to ensure the proper administration and implementation of these terms and conditions. Refusal to provide such consent will result in exclusion from the selection process, as these terms are subject to legal requirements regarding transparency and publicity.

According to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as well as in Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, on the Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights, the data provided by the interested party will be used, solely and exclusively, for the purpose of processing and managing these awards.

Data will not be transferred to third parties except to those of legal obligation.