Regulations

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 2024, the 69th edition with be held from October 18th to 26th.

THIRD.- CONTACT DETAILS.

VALLADOLID NTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – SEMINCI

Calle Leopoldo Cano, s/n, 4ª planta (Teatro Calderón)
47003 Valladolid (Spain)
Telephone: +34 983 426 460
www.seminci.com
info@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 elegible for competition.
  • SEMINCI YOUTH SECTION. A section dedicated to the younger generations of spectators. Films competing in other sections may be included.
  • SHORT FILM SECTION. The Festival programmes:
    • International Short Films Official Section, A selection of fiction, animation and non-fiction shorts grouped in specific programmes. 
    • Spanish Short Films Official Section, A selection of short films produced in Spain entitled «The Night Of The Spanish Shorts».
    • 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 devoted to the presentation and analysis of directors, genres, styles, a nation’s cinema, etc.
  • 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.
  • MINIMINCI. a non-competitive showcase of films for 7 to 12 year olds. 
  • CINEPHILE FRAME. an «online» selection of films for young audiences available 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 conditons:

• They must be produced in 2024 or during the last six months of 2023, and must be Spanish premieres. (no previous commercial, video, TV or online screening in Spain).  They must not have been screened at any other film festival in Spain, neither in nor out of competition, nor have been presented in any kind of event.
• A DCP (Digital Cinema package) 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 (tecnica@seminci.com) with the appropiate 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 Spanish distributor of the film receives a trophy and a cash award of 70.000 €.
  • SILVER SPIKE to the second best feature length. The Spanish distributor 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 20.000 € 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.
• 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 25.000€.
  • TIME OF HISTORY SPECIAL AWARD. The director of the documentary receives a trophy and a cash award of 15.000 €.
• 6.5. OTHER AWARDS FOR FEATURE LENGTHS
  • «PILAR MIRÓ» AWARD TO THE BEST NEW DIRECTOR. The director of the best Spanish first or second feature competing in the International Official Section, in Meeting Point Official Section or in Alchemies Official Section receives a trophy and a cash award of 5.000 €.
  • 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 €.
    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.  
  • SECCIÓN OFICIAL CORTOMETRAJES ESPAÑOLES. agrupados bajo la denominación  “La noche del corto español”. Se otorgará un premio específico, consistente en trofeo y premio en metálico de 3.000 euros que se entregará al realizador o realizadora de la película ganadora.
  • SHORT FILM FROM CASTILE & LEON AWARD. The director receives a trophy.
• 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.

Apart from the above-mentioned awards, the Festival may include other sponsored awards.
HONOURARY TROPHIES may also be awarded.

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 funtion 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.
• 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.

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 Director of SEMINCI.

The Juries will anounce 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 prints/DVDs/ Blu-rays that will be marketed or released in Spain, both in cinemas and on digital platforms as well as on TV channels.

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, approved on November 17th, and later modified by section five of law L.O. 3/2015, approved on March 30th.

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

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. En el caso de compañías extranjeras, se aplicará la inversión del sujeto pasivo. Since the Festival is exempt from VAT, when the award is payable to a foreign company the Festival cannot assume the reverse charge VAT scheme so the liquid amount of the award will be reduced by  the amount of VAT applicable at the moment of payment (21 % in 2024).

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) A photocopy of your ID card or passport.
  • b) A bank account identification certificate with account details, bank address and IBAN/ SWIFT number.
  • c) 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.
  • d) 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)A photocopy of your ID card or passport.
  • b) A bank account identification certificate with account details, bank address and IBAN/ SWIFT number.
  • c) A certificate of official tax residency. Participants who do not have their tax residency in Spanish territory must present a certicate of tax residency issued by the competent authorities in their country of residence.
  • d) 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».
  • e) A certificate stating you are up-to-date with tax obligations.
  • f) A certificate stating you are up-to-date with Social Security obligations.
    The Spanish distributors 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 August 4th. 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 programme in digital format or sent to the following e-mail: 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 214.000,00 €, and will be allocated to the 09.3343.481 budget, corresponding to 2024, 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. (Reglamento de Subvenciones del Ayuntamiento de Valladolid y las Bases Tipo Reguladoras para la Concesión de Subvenciones en el Ayuntamiento de Valladolid, aprobados por acuerdo del Pleno del Ayuntamiento de Valladolid de fecha 10 de febrero de 2006 y publicados en el BOP de Valladolid de 9 de marzo de 2006, así como por lo regulado en las presentes bases y en la Ley 38/2003, de 17 de noviembre, General de Subvenciones (LGS), el Real Decreto 887/2006, de 21 de julio, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento General de Subvenciones y por el Real Decreto 130/2019, de 8 de marzo, por el que se regula la Base de Datos Nacional de Subvenciones y la publicidad de las subvenciones y demás ayudas públicas. Se rigen también por el Plan Estratégico de Subvenciones del Ayuntamiento de Valladolid 2023-205, aprobado por acuerdo del Ayuntamiento Pleno de 13 de enero de 2023 y por el Plan Operativo Anual de Subvenciones 2024 del Ayuntamiento de Valladolid, aprobado por Decreto nº 1283, de 22 de febrero de 2024).

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

Everyone applying to participate consents to the processing of their personal data and its publication in any medium used for the communication of the results and for the correct preparation and execution of these bases. Refusing consent will result in not being admitted for participation, since the bases are regulated by publicity laws.
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.

The provisions of «Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos Personales y garantía de los derechos digitales» guarantee of digital rights will be applied to everything relating to personal data protection not expressly stipulated in this procedure.