Lima PUCP International Film Festival

Overview

The Lima PUCP International Film Festival is Peru's leading international film festival. The 30th edition runs August 6 to 15, 2026, organized by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) through its Cultural Center. The festival programs competitive sections for Peruvian cinema, Latin American fiction, and Latin American documentary, alongside non-competitive showcases. The top prize in each competitive section is the Spondylus Trophy plus USD 5,000.

The festival accepts submissions via FilmFreeway, Festhome, or the official form on the festival website. Regular registration runs January 22 to February 28, 2026. Extended registration runs March 1 to 31, 2026, with a USD 20 fee. Films must be completed in 2025 or 2026 and must not have been previously screened in Peru.

The festival's August timing places it during Peru's winter dry season, when Lima's coastal climate is mild and outdoor programming is feasible. The PUCP Cultural Center in the San Isidro district is the festival's primary venue, with additional screenings across partner venues in Lima.

Submission Details

Submissions for the 30th edition (2026) are open. Key details:

The extended registration period requires direct submission through the festival's online form, not through FilmFreeway or Festhome. The USD 20 extended fee is paid via a payment link obtained by contacting the festival office at krojas@pucp.pe or +511-6161620. Films submitted through FilmFreeway or Festhome during the regular period do not pay the extended fee, though platform fees may apply.

Films must include a viewing link with a password that does not expire. Incomplete submissions or submissions with expired viewing links will not be considered.

Competition Sections and Eligibility

Peruvian Competition

Open to films of all genres (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental) with a minimum runtime of 45 minutes. Films must be produced or co-produced by a Peruvian company. Films must be completed in 2025 or 2026 and must not have been previously screened in Peru. The festival's Selection Committee curates the section.

Latin American Fiction Competition

Open to fiction features from Latin America. The jury awards prizes across multiple craft categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best First Feature. A separate Cinematography Jury awards Best Cinematography. An International Critics' Jury (FIPRESCI) awards Best Fiction Film.

Latin American Documentary Competition

Open to documentary features from Latin America. The jury awards Best Latin American Documentary. Films must meet the same completion year and Peru-premiere requirements as the other competitive sections.

Non-Competitive Sections

The festival also programs non-competitive showcases including a Peruvian short film program, a Latin American panorama, and special curated sidebars. These sections are programmed by invitation and do not accept open submissions.

Awards and Prizes

The 30th edition awards the following prizes, announced at the closing ceremony on August 15, 2026:

Peruvian Competition

• Best Peruvian Film - Spondylus Trophy + USD 5,000 to the Peruvian production or co-production company
• Best Director - Spondylus Trophy
• Special Jury Prize - Spondylus Trophy

Latin American Fiction Competition

• Best Latin American Fiction Film - Spondylus Trophy + USD 5,000 to the director
• Special Jury Prize - Spondylus Trophy
• Best Director - Spondylus Trophy
• Best Actor - Spondylus Trophy
• Best Actress - Spondylus Trophy
• Best Screenplay - Spondylus Trophy
• Best First Feature - Spondylus Trophy + USD 2,500 to the director
• Best Cinematography - Spondylus Trophy (awarded by separate Cinematography Jury)
• International Critics' Prize - Spondylus Trophy + USD 2,500 to the director (awarded by FIPRESCI Jury)

Latin American Documentary Competition

• Best Latin American Documentary - Spondylus Trophy + USD 5,000 to the director

Cross-Section Awards

• Audience Award - Spondylus Trophy + USD 2,500 to the director (voted across all competitive sections)
• PUCP Community Award - Spondylus Trophy + USD 2,000 to the director (best Peruvian film across all competitive sections, voted by PUCP community)
• LGBTQ+ Award - Spondylus Trophy (best LGBTQ+ themed film across all competitive sections)

The total cash prize pool across all competitive sections exceeds USD 25,000. Additional partner-institution prizes may be announced at the festival press conference.

Festival History

The Lima Film Festival was founded in 1997 as a showcase for international cinema in Peru. The festival was originally organized by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and has maintained that institutional affiliation throughout its history, operating through the PUCP Cultural Center. The festival's 30th edition in 2026 marks nearly three decades of continuous operation.

Peruvian cinema has developed steadily over the festival's lifetime. The 1990s and 2000s saw limited domestic production, but the establishment of Peru's film law (Ley de Cine) in 2011 created a tax incentive structure that increased production volume. Peruvian films have since achieved recognition at major international festivals, including Berlin, Cannes, and Sundance. The Lima festival has been a consistent domestic platform for these films, particularly through its Peruvian Competition section.

The festival's Latin American focus reflects Lima's position as a Pacific-facing capital with cultural and trade connections across the Andean region. The Latin American Fiction and Documentary competitions draw submissions from across the continent, making Lima one of the primary festival platforms for regional cinema on the Pacific coast of South America.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Peruvian filmmakers, the Peruvian Competition is the most important domestic festival platform. The USD 5,000 Best Peruvian Film prize and the PUCP Community Award (USD 2,000) provide meaningful production support. The Peru premiere requirement means that filmmakers should plan their festival circuit carefully - screening at another Lima-area event before the festival will disqualify the film.

For Latin American filmmakers, the Latin American Fiction and Documentary competitions offer substantial cash prizes (USD 5,000 each for Best Film) and multiple craft awards. The FIPRESCI jury prize adds international critical visibility. The festival's August timing places it after major first-half festivals like Sundance (January), Berlin (February), and Guadalajara (June), meaning films that have premiered at those festivals remain eligible as long as they have not screened in Peru.

The festival does not hold FIAPF accreditation and does not operate a formal film market. However, the festival attracts Latin American programmers and sales agents who attend to scout regional cinema. Filmmakers seeking market deals should not expect a transactional environment comparable to Cannes or Berlin, but the festival's competitive visibility can support subsequent market placement.

The submission process through FilmFreeway is straightforward, but filmmakers should verify that their viewing link password does not expire. The festival explicitly rejects submissions with expiring passwords. For the extended deadline, filmmakers must use the official form and pay the USD 20 fee - FilmFreeway submissions are not accepted during the extended period.

See Also

Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. Estimate your acceptance probability with the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For Latin American cinema markets and distribution, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit strategy and planning, see Film Festival Strategy. Submit through the Lima Film Festival on FilmFreeway or the official website.