The Madrid Art Film Festival is an international film event to celebrate the movie making whilst bringing together film makers and the business of film making, from the smallest independent film maker to the most popular English and foreign language films and is open to all film genres.
An inventive selection that is neither too traditional nor too sophisticated, a selection that is the most international in the world, open to all film types and yet never forgetting our over-riding passion- that of the love of film, a selection that is attentive to the arrival of new generations and which combines all the necessary conditions for the films to be hosted and honoured in the great tradition of film makers around the world.
A daring selection that seizes the best of the moment, a selection that creates desire, that triggers curiosity, that carries that certain vitality which currently fills film today and gives a hint of the film of tomorrow, a selection that helps these films, cinema, its creators and artists to exist and to continue their work....
The Madrid Art Film Festival is an international cinematic event dedicated to celebrating the art of filmmaking while bringing together creators, producers, and industry professionals from across the global film landscape in a single shared space of cultural exchange. The festival embraces cinema in all its forms, welcoming independent productions, auteur-driven projects, experimental works, and mainstream international films across every genre and language, ensuring that the program reflects both diversity and artistic ambition. At its core, the festival is built on a deep respect for the creative process, where filmmaking is understood not only as an industry but as a cultural expression that connects people, ideas, and generations through visual storytelling.
The festival curates an inventive and carefully balanced selection of films that avoids strict categorization or limitation, instead focusing on originality, emotional resonance, and cinematic quality. The program is intentionally international in scope, bringing together works from different regions, cultures, and production backgrounds, and highlighting the shared language of cinema that transcends geographical and linguistic boundaries. This approach allows both emerging filmmakers and established creators to exist within the same artistic space, where their work is evaluated based on vision, execution, and impact rather than scale or commercial status.
A defining characteristic of the Madrid Art Film Festival is its commitment to showcasing cinema that reflects both tradition and innovation, where classical storytelling techniques coexist with contemporary experimentation and new cinematic forms. The selection is designed to capture the current moment in global filmmaking while also pointing toward future directions in narrative, aesthetics, and production. This dynamic balance creates an environment where films are not only presented but actively contextualized within the ongoing evolution of the medium itself.
The festival also serves as an important meeting point between artistic creation and the broader film industry, offering a space where filmmakers can engage with producers, distributors, festival programmers, and other professionals involved in the business of cinema. Through screenings, discussions, and networking opportunities, participants are able to explore potential collaborations, distribution pathways, and future projects, making the festival both a cultural showcase and a professional platform for career development within the international film ecosystem.
Special attention is given to the role of new generations of filmmakers whose work introduces fresh perspectives and evolving storytelling methods into contemporary cinema. The festival recognizes the importance of supporting emerging talent and providing them with opportunities to present their work in an environment that values experimentation, originality, and creative courage. In doing so, it contributes to the ongoing renewal of cinematic language and ensures that new voices are integrated into the global film conversation.
The festival atmosphere is shaped by a strong sense of passion for cinema as both an art form and a cultural force, where films are not only screened but also experienced, discussed, and celebrated within a community of creators and audiences. Each selected work is treated as part of a larger artistic dialogue that reflects the diversity of human experience and the evolving nature of visual storytelling in the modern world.
Ultimately, the Madrid Art Film Festival positions itself as a space where cinema is honored in its most expansive and inclusive form, where artistic ambition is encouraged, and where films are given the opportunity to exist, develop, and continue their life beyond the screen through recognition, audience engagement, and professional connection. It stands as a celebration of cinema’s enduring power to inspire, challenge, and unite people across cultures and generations.
Awards & Prizes:
Audience Awards (determined by Public Votes):
1) Best Music Video
2) Best Student Short
Judges Awards (determined by Judges' Decision):
1) Best Cinematography
2) Best Actor
3) Best Actress
4) Best Director
5) Best Music Score
6) Best Screenplay
7) Best Editing
8) Best Sound Design
9) Best Feature
10) Best Narrative Short
11) Best Documentary Short
12) Best Animation Short
13) Best Visual Effects
14) Best Recording Artist
15) Best Web Series
16) Best Youth In Arts (For Filmmakers/Artists Under 16)
17) Best Trailer
18) Best Original Song Lyrics
19) Best Casting Director
20) Best Talent Agency
21) Best Film School
Winners:
Films of all lengths (short & feature) and all genres (family, animated, comedy, drama, sci-fi, action, horror, documentary, foreign, music video) are welcome to submit.
Screenplays (both short & feature) of all genres are welcome to submit. Screenplays must be unproduced as of the date of the film festival.
Films in language other than English must include English subtitles.
No feedback on submissions can be given.
Short must be under 59 minutes and Features should be at least 59 mins or more.
All foreign Submissions must be subtitled.
Online screeners, and posters are mandatory and must be uploaded via Withoutabox.
The festival does not make your film available online.
The Madrid Art Film Festival is an international cinematic event dedicated to celebrating the art of filmmaking while bringing together creators, producers, and industry professionals from across the global film landscape in a single shared space of cultural exchange. The festival embraces cinema in all its forms, welcoming independent productions, auteur-driven projects, experimental works, and mainstream international films across every genre and language, ensuring that the program reflects both diversity and artistic ambition. At its core, the festival is built on a deep respect for the creative process, where filmmaking is understood not only as an industry but as a cultural expression that connects people, ideas, and generations through visual storytelling.
The festival curates an inventive and carefully balanced selection of films that avoids strict categorization or limitation, instead focusing on originality, emotional resonance, and cinematic quality. The program is intentionally international in scope, bringing together works from different regions, cultures, and production backgrounds, and highlighting the shared language of cinema that transcends geographical and linguistic boundaries. This approach allows both emerging filmmakers and established creators to exist within the same artistic space, where their work is evaluated based on vision, execution, and impact rather than scale or commercial status.
A defining characteristic of the Madrid Art Film Festival is its commitment to showcasing cinema that reflects both tradition and innovation, where classical storytelling techniques coexist with contemporary experimentation and new cinematic forms. The selection is designed to capture the current moment in global filmmaking while also pointing toward future directions in narrative, aesthetics, and production. This dynamic balance creates an environment where films are not only presented but actively contextualized within the ongoing evolution of the medium itself.
The festival also serves as an important meeting point between artistic creation and the broader film industry, offering a space where filmmakers can engage with producers, distributors, festival programmers, and other professionals involved in the business of cinema. Through screenings, discussions, and networking opportunities, participants are able to explore potential collaborations, distribution pathways, and future projects, making the festival both a cultural showcase and a professional platform for career development within the international film ecosystem.
Special attention is given to the role of new generations of filmmakers whose work introduces fresh perspectives and evolving storytelling methods into contemporary cinema. The festival recognizes the importance of supporting emerging talent and providing them with opportunities to present their work in an environment that values experimentation, originality, and creative courage. In doing so, it contributes to the ongoing renewal of cinematic language and ensures that new voices are integrated into the global film conversation.
The festival atmosphere is shaped by a strong sense of passion for cinema as both an art form and a cultural force, where films are not only screened but also experienced, discussed, and celebrated within a community of creators and audiences. Each selected work is treated as part of a larger artistic dialogue that reflects the diversity of human experience and the evolving nature of visual storytelling in the modern world.
Ultimately, the Madrid Art Film Festival positions itself as a space where cinema is honored in its most expansive and inclusive form, where artistic ambition is encouraged, and where films are given the opportunity to exist, develop, and continue their life beyond the screen through recognition, audience engagement, and professional connection. It stands as a celebration of cinema’s enduring power to inspire, challenge, and unite people across cultures and generations.