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:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regular Registration | January 22 to February 28, 2026 |
| Extended Registration | March 1 to 31, 2026 (USD 20 fee, form only) |
| Eligibility Window | Films completed in 2025 or 2026 |
| Peru Premiere Requirement | Must not have been previously screened in Peru |
| Minimum Runtime (Features) | 45 minutes |
| Submission Platforms | FilmFreeway, Festhome, or official website form |
| Festival Dates | August 6 to 15, 2026 |
| Notification | Before festival opening |
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, organized by PUCP through its Cultural Center. The 30th edition in 2026 marks nearly three decades of continuous operation. Peru's film law (Ley de Cine) established in 2011 created a tax incentive structure that increased domestic production, and Peruvian films have since achieved recognition at Berlin, Cannes, and Sundance. The festival's Latin American focus reflects Lima's position as a Pacific-facing capital, making it 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 PUCP Community Award (USD 2,000) provide meaningful support. The Peru premiere requirement means filmmakers should plan their circuit carefully.
For Latin American filmmakers, the 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 Sundance, Berlin, and Guadalajara, meaning films that premiered at those festivals remain eligible if they have not screened in Peru.
The festival does not hold FIAPF accreditation or operate a formal film market, but attracts Latin American programmers and sales agents scouting regional cinema.
Past Winners
The 29th edition (August 7 to 16, 2025) awarded the following prizes:
Latin American Fiction Competition:
- Best Film - O Agente Secreto (Kleber Mendonca Filho, Brazil/France/Netherlands/Germany). Premiered at Cannes 2025 (Best Director, Best Actor), received 4 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, won 2 Golden Globes, and was distributed theatrically in multiple territories. Mendonca Filho's second consecutive Lima Best Fiction win after Bacurau (2019).
- Special Jury Prize - Un poeta (Simon Mesa Soto, Colombia/Germany/Sweden)
- Special Mention / Best First Feature - La misteriosa mirada del flamenco (Diego Cespedes, Chile/France/Germany). Won Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2025.
- Best Director - Johanné Gomez Terrero for Sugar Island (Dominican Republic/Spain)
- Best Actor - Ubeimar Rios for Un poeta
- Best Actress - Jenny Navarrete for Querido Tropico (Panama/Colombia)
- FIPRESCI Prize - O Agente Secreto
Latin American Documentary Competition:
- Best Documentary - Bajo las banderas, el sol (Juanjo Pereira, Paraguay/Argentina/USA/Panama/Germany). Uses archival footage to expose the Stroessner dictatorship's propaganda machinery.
Peruvian Competition:
- Best Peruvian Film / Best Director - Los inocentes (German Tejada)
- Audience Award - Runa Simi (Augusto Zegarra)
- PUCP Community Award - 1982 (Garcia JC)
- LGBTQ+ Award - Alma del desierto (Monica Taboada-Tapia)
- NUNA Award for Best Latin American Director - Clarisa Navas for El principe de Nanawa
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
The Lima festival has a strong track record of programming films that go on to wider international success:
- Bacurau (Kleber Mendonca Filho and Juliano Dornelles, 2019) - Won Best Fiction Film at Lima 2019 after winning the Cannes Jury Prize. Distributed by Kino Lorber (US) and MUBI (UK/Europe).
- O Agente Secreto (Kleber Mendonca Filho, 2025) - Won Best Fiction Film and FIPRESCI at Lima 2025 after Cannes. Received 4 Oscar nominations, 2 Golden Globes, and broad theatrical distribution.
- La misteriosa mirada del flamenco (Diego Cespedes, 2025) - Won Best First Feature at Lima after winning Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
- La memoria de las mariposas (Tatiana Fuentes Sadowski, 2025) - Won Best Peruvian Film recognition from the Ministry of Culture.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
The Lima festival's curatorial focus is Latin American fiction and documentary, with a dedicated Peruvian competition. The festival values politically engaged, socially relevant cinema from the region. Films engaging with Latin American historical memory, indigenous communities, or sociopolitical commentary tend to perform well, as evidenced by winners like Bajo las banderas, el sol and Runa Simi.
The Peru premiere requirement is strictly enforced. However, films that have premiered at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, or Guadalajara remain eligible. This makes Lima a strong second-stop festival for films that have already launched at a major first-half festival. The FIPRESCI jury adds international critical visibility. The LGBTQ+ Award signals the festival's commitment to diverse programming.
For the extended deadline, filmmakers must use the official form and pay the USD 20 fee. FilmFreeway is not accepted during the extended period. Ensure your viewing link password does not expire.
Industry Reputation Notes
The Lima festival is the leading Pacific-coast platform for Latin American cinema. It compares to Guadalajara in Mexico and Valdivia in Chile in regional scope, but PUCP's university backing gives it a more academic character than Guadalajara's market-oriented approach. The festival does not hold FIAPF accreditation or operate a formal film market.
The festival attracts Latin American programmers and sales agents scouting regional cinema, but filmmakers should not expect a transactional environment comparable to Cannes or Berlin. Kleber Mendonca Filho's repeated wins (2019 and 2025) signal that the jury values formally ambitious, politically engaged Latin American fiction. The August timing makes it a destination for films that have already built buzz at Cannes, Berlin, or Sundance.
Watch
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.
