Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) - Industria

Overview

The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) is the most important film festival in Latin America for Ibero-American cinema. The 41st edition (FICG 41) runs April 17 to 25, 2026, in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Jalisco, Mexico, with nearly 30 venues and approximately 200 films across competitive and non-competitive sections. FICG is the primary platform for films from Mexico, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal seeking industry exposure and distribution in the Spanish-speaking world.

FICG Industria is the festival's industry component, running alongside the public program. It includes the Encuentro de Coproduccion (Co-Production Meeting), Guadalajara Construye (post-production support), DocuLab, and a Series Showcase. The industry programs connect Ibero-American projects in development and post-production with international financiers, producers, sales agents, and distributors. Registration for industry calls opened August 21, 2025, and closed October 24, 2025.

If you make Ibero-American films or are seeking co-production partners in Latin America, FICG is the most direct route to the region's industry. Visit the official regulations page for current rules and the calls page for industry program applications.

Submission Costs and Deadlines

FICG uses its own submission platform via Eventival, not FilmFreeway. Submissions are made at https://vp.eventival.com/ficg/2026.

FICG 41 submission schedule:

Submissions are free during the first 18 days (September 8 to 26, 2025). After that, a nominal fee applies: 400 Mexican pesos for features and 200 Mexican pesos for shorts. At current exchange rates, these fees are approximately $20 USD and $10 USD respectively, making FICG one of the most affordable major festivals to submit to.

All costs associated with the submission and selection process are the responsibility of the applicant. FICG does not pay screening fees for films selected in the Official Competition.

Eligibility Requirements

Feature films (60 minutes or longer):

• Completed between 2025 and 2026
• Must have Mexican premiere during FICG 41 (not previously shown at any film festival in Mexico, in cinemas, on television, or on VOD/streaming platforms)
• Submitted by a person or entity officially representing the filmmakers

Short films (30 minutes or less, including credits):

• Completed between 2025 and 2026
• Must have Mexican premiere during FICG 41
• Maximum running time of 30 minutes including all credits

No limit: Filmmakers or production companies may submit multiple titles.

Official Competition Sections

FICG 41 features 10 competitive sections:

Feature Film Competition:

• Mezcal Award - Mexican fiction and documentary features. Best Mexican Film wins MX$500,000 (approximately $25,000 USD) for the majority production company, plus a Mayahuel Statuette. Additional awards for Best Direction, Best Performance, Best Technical-Artistic Achievement, and Audience Award (MX$100,000 for the director).
• Ibero-American Fiction Feature - fiction features from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. Best Film wins MX$500,000 for the majority production company. Additional awards for Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Debut Feature, Best Performance, and Best Technical-Artistic Achievement.
• Ibero-American Documentary Feature - documentaries from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. Best Documentary wins MX$200,000 for the majority production company. Additional awards for Best Direction and Best Technical-Artistic Achievement.
• International Animated Feature - animated features from any country. Best Animated Feature wins MX$300,000 for the majority production company, plus a Chucho Statuette.
• Maguey Award - fiction or documentary features from any country addressing LGBTQ+ themes. Awards for Best Film, Best Performance, and Jury Award, all with EMME Statuettes.
• Made in Jalisco - features produced in Jalisco or directed by Jalisco filmmakers. Best Jalisco Feature Film wins a Mayahuel Statuette.
• Socio-Environmental Film Award - international fiction and documentary features exploring relationships between nature, society, justice, and urbanization. Best Socio-Environmental Film wins a Mayahuel Statuette.

Short Film Competition:

• Ibero-American Short Film - shorts from Mexico, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal
• Rigo Mora Award - international animated short films
• Made in Jalisco Short Film - shorts from Jalisco filmmakers

FICG Industria

The industry section is the core of FICG's value for working filmmakers. Key programs:

• Encuentro de Coproduccion (Co-Production Meeting) - up to 15 Ibero-American projects in development pitch to financiers, producers, buyers, and sellers. Projects must have at least 20% of financing secured. Free to participate, but travel and accommodation costs are borne by participants. Two representatives per project receive free industry accreditation. Registration ran August 21 to October 24, 2025.
• Guadalajara Construye - up to 6 Ibero-American fiction features in post-production are presented to producers, distributors, sales agents, service companies, and festival representatives to facilitate completion and distribution.
• DocuLab - a documentary development and production support program.
• Series Showcase (Showcase de Series) - Ibero-American series in development (fiction, animation, documentary) presented to industry professionals, platforms, and distributors. Projects must have at least 10% of financing secured and a teaser.
• FICGeneracion - a new program (launched at FICG 41) giving aspiring filmmakers guided immersion in the festival through partnerships with film schools.

Non-Competitive Sections

• Panorama Internacional - standout productions from the past year from major global festivals
• Panorama Frontera en Corto - short films from US festivals promoting Latin American cinema (in collaboration with GLAFF, LALIFF, and SDLFF)
• Son de Cine In-Edit - intersection of film and music
• Cine de Genero - genre cinema
• Restored Images - restored classic films
• Charity Galas - premiere screenings with proceeds going to local nonprofits. Tickets cost 250 pesos each.
• Chile, Guest of Honor - FICG 41 features Chile as guest of honor
• Tributes - FICG 41 honors Darren Aronofsky (international Mayahuel), actress Luisa Huertas (Silver Mayahuel for Mexican cinema), Elena Vilardell (industry tribute), Lola Duenas (Maguey Lifetime Achievement), Sebastian Lelio and Pablo Larrain (Ibero-American Mayahuel), and Maite Alberdi (international tribute)

What Filmmakers Should Know

FICG is the most important festival for Ibero-American cinema. If your film is from Mexico, Latin America, Spain, or Portugal, FICG offers the largest competitive platform and industry network in the Spanish-speaking world. The Mexican premiere requirement is strictly enforced: your film cannot have screened at any Mexican festival, cinema, or streaming platform before FICG.

The free submission window (September 8 to 26) is unusual for a major festival. If you miss it, the paid fees are still among the lowest of any major international festival. Plan to submit during the free window if possible.

FICG does not pay screening fees for films selected in the Official Competition. This is standard for many Latin American festivals but differs from festivals like Glasgow that do pay. Factor this into your festival budget if you are attending from outside Mexico.

The Encuentro de Coproduccion is the most valuable industry program for filmmakers with projects in development. It requires at least 20% of financing to be secured and a complete project dossier (in Spanish and English) including synopsis, treatment (8 to 10 pages), director and producer bios, budget summary in USD, and a financing plan. Selected projects get two free industry accreditations and direct access to international co-producers and financiers.

The 41st edition features Chile as guest of honor, which means additional programming and industry focus on Chilean cinema. The festival also introduced FICGeneracion, a new program for film students.

Festival History

FICG was founded in 1985 and has grown into Latin America's leading film festival. The festival presents three official statuettes: the Mayahuel (for most competitive categories), the Chucho (for animation), and the EMME (for the Maguey Award/LGBTQ+ categories). In 2012, FICG created the Maguey Award to support LGBTQ+ cinema, following the lead of major European festivals like Berlin, San Sebastian, Venice, and Cannes.

The festival has been a consistent champion of Ibero-American cinema and has expanded its industry component over the years to include co-production meetings, post-production support, documentary labs, and a series showcase. The 41st edition in 2026 continues this expansion with the new FICGeneracion program and the Panorama Frontera en Corto section.

Practical Information for Attendees

• Dates: FICG 41 runs April 17 to 25, 2026, in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.
• Venues: Nearly 30 venues across Guadalajara, including Cineteca Universidad de Guadalajara and partner cinemas.
• Submission platform: https://vp.eventival.com/ficg/2026
• Industry contact: info.industria@ficg.mx
• Charity Gala tickets: 250 pesos, available at Cineteca Universidad de Guadalajara box office or venue website.
• Guest of honor (2026): Chile

See Also

For understanding Latin American cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. Use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator to evaluate whether the submission cost makes sense for your project.