2026 Rules

Our goal is to create an inclusive and diverse environment within the festival landscape. We aim to champion and celebrate films whose main characters or storylines represent the LGBTIQA+ community, women, and other dissident identities, reflecting the issues and discrimination they face every day. By doing so, we help foster greater visibility and understanding, dismantle mythgs, clichés, and stereotypes, and break down barriers creating a space where every voice is heard and every talent is valued.

The Walpurgis Queer Horror Film Festival opens the call for its 2026 International Short Film Competition, aimed at creators from all over the world aged 18  and older. We’re looking for works within the horror, sci-fi, or fantasy genres that incorporate LGBTIQ+, feminist, or marginalized perspectives .colectivos discriminados.

The festival will take place in Barcelona, at Inusual Project, during the spring of 2026.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Open to individuals or audiovisual collectives of any nationality, aged 18 and older.
  • Each participant may submit up to two works.
  • The following categories are accepted:
    • Live action
    • Animation
    • Documentary
  • Maximum duration: 30 minutes, including credits.
  • Eligible works must have been produced between 2023 and 2026.
  • Only works that include elements of horror/sci-fi/fantasy cinema and LGBTQI+, feminist, or dissident representation consistent with the festival’s values will be considered.
  • Works containing hate speech or messages contrary to human rights will not be accepted.

SUBMISSION

  • Submissions will be made exclusively through Festhome or FilmFreeway.
  • The entry fee is 6,66 € per film.
  • Each submission must include:
    • Film credits and production info.
    • Synopsis.
    • Poster or promotional stills.
    • Screening link (public or private, with password if needed).
    • Films whose original language is not Spanish or Catalan must include English subtitles, which the festival will use to create the necessary translations for public screening.

DEADLINES

  • Call opens: October 31st, 2025.
  • Call closes: March 1st, 2026.
  • Notification of selected works: April 1st, 2026.

SELECTION AND JURY

  • The festival’s programming team will conduct the pre-selection of submitted works.
  • An external jury composed of professionals from the audiovisual sector will decide the awards.
  • The jury’s decision will be final and unnappealable.
  • Selected worlds will be screened in the official selection of the festival during its celebration dates.

AWARDS

  • Walpurgis Award for Best Short Film, which includes:
    • Cash price.
    • DCP conversion of the short film, suitable for theatrical screening and participation in other film festivals or showcases. This process ensures the work is available in the professional exhibition format most commonly used in the industry.
    • Creation of accessible subtitles (SDH) for Spanish productions or Spanish subtitles for international works. This service, provided free of charge by the festival, enhances the accessibility and visibility of the selected works both nationally and internationally.
  • Audience’s Special Mention for the most voted short film.

SCREENING RIGHTS

  • By participating, filmmakers authorize the public screening of their works during the festival and in possible future showcases or extensions, with prior notification.
  • The festival may use excerpts, stills, or graphic materials for promotional and cultural purposes, always respecting the authorship of the work.
  • Submitting a film implies the non-exclusive and free transfer of exhibition rights for these purposes.
  • Filmmakers guarantee that they hold all necessary rights to the works submitted.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES

Submitting a film implies full acceptance of these rules and the decisions made by the organizing committee. Any unforeseen situations will be resolved by the festival organization.

JURY

The festival will announce the jury members for the 2026 edition in the months leading up to the event.