Overview
Alternativa is a global non-profit initiative founded in 2023 by inDrive that supports and promotes filmmakers from the Global South whose work has the potential to bring positive social change. The initiative operates three programs: the Alternativa Film Festival (a nomadic festival that moves to a new focus region each edition), Alternativa Film Labs (free educational programs for Global South filmmakers), and Alternativa Distribution (an impact distribution initiative helping films reach global audiences). The third edition of the Alternativa Film Festival took place in Medellín, Colombia, from April 21 to April 30, 2026, with Latin America as its focus region. The festival awarded $120,000 in prizes across six categories. Africa has been announced as the focus region for the fourth edition. If you are a filmmaker from the Global South making impact-driven cinema, Alternativa offers festival exhibition, cash awards, free training labs, and distribution support. Submissions for the 2026 edition are closed; the next call will open for the Africa-focused edition.
History
Alternativa was founded in 2023 by inDrive, a global mobility platform, as a non-profit initiative to support impact-driven filmmakers from the Global South. The first edition of the Alternativa Film Festival took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2024, with a focus on Asia. The second edition moved to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2025, focusing on Southeast Asia. The third edition took place in Medellín, Colombia, from April 21 to 30, 2026, with Latin America as the focus region, and also extended to Bogotá. Africa has been announced as the focus region for the fourth edition in 2027. The initiative expanded from a festival to a 3-program ecosystem: the Film Festival, Alternativa Film Labs (free educational programs), and Alternativa Distribution (impact distribution). Alternativa Film Labs alumni have been selected for Berlinale Talents 2026, with 4 alumni chosen from 3,438 applicants from 120 countries. The initiative is led by Head of Alternativa Liza Surganova and funded by inDrive, which operates in 8 countries.
Programs
Alternativa Film Festival
The Alternativa Film Festival is a nomadic festival that moves to a new focus region with each edition, celebrating impact-driven cinema from the Global South:
- 1st edition (2024): Almaty, Kazakhstan - focus on Asia
- 2nd edition (2025): Yogyakarta, Indonesia - focus on Southeast Asia
- 3rd edition (April 2026): Medellín, Colombia - focus on Latin America. The festival also extended to Bogotá (Cinemateca de Bogotá, May 1-10, 2026).
- 4th edition (2027): Focus on Africa (announced at the 2026 closing ceremony)
The 2026 edition featured an expanded program of screenings, discussions, public events, and Industry Days - a professional program connecting filmmakers, producers, and social impact leaders. The festival presents free public screenings of selected competition films, accompanied by discussions and audience engagement events.
Alternativa Film Labs
Alternativa runs free educational programs for filmmakers at different career stages who explore social issues in their countries and seek to develop local film industries. Labs in 2025-2026 include:
- Just Futures Impact Story Lab (September 6-9, 2025, Bali, Indonesia) - for storymakers from Southeast Asia creating narratives envisioning a just future for the region
- Impact Distribution Lab (November 2025 to February 2026, online) - for filmmakers and changemakers from Central Asia seeking to drive positive social change through impact distribution strategies
- Additional labs planned for the Africa-focused edition
Alternativa Film Labs alumni and partners have been selected for Berlinale Talents 2026 - four alumni (Banu Ramazanova, Katerina Suvorova, Alina Mustafina, and Yuda Dilianzia) were chosen from 3,438 applicants from 120 countries.
Alternativa Distribution
Launched in 2025-2026, Alternativa Distribution helps impact-driven films from the Global South reach broad and diverse audiences through innovative screening and distribution strategies. The program brings together film producers and changemakers to design and implement campaigns that connect socially-driven films with the audiences who need them most.
Typical Award Size Range
The Alternativa Film Awards are presented in six categories with a total prize fund of $120,000. Fiction, documentary, hybrid, and animated films of all genres compete together:
Feature-length awards ($20,000 each):
- Spotlight: Honors a film that brings overlooked stories into the light, inviting awareness and deeper public engagement with what is often ignored
- Future Voice: Recognizes bold new talent - a first or second feature demonstrating outstanding creative vision and the potential to bring positive change to both cinema and society
- Alter: Champions catalysts for change - a film that addresses critical issues and can inspire action, motivating audiences toward transformation
- Nativa: Illuminates identity - a film that explores national or cultural identity, portraying a place or community with depth and care
- Focus: Reveals a region's challenges and hopes - a film offering insight into the complexities of the current Alternativa Focus Region
Shorts Awards ($10,000 each, two winners):
- Two short films from the current Alternativa Focus Region receive $10,000 each, supporting filmmakers who forge their own paths with a strong vision for impact
Winners are determined through a two-stage process: films in the Competition program are selected by the Selection Committee, and winners are chosen by the International Jury.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the 2026 edition (Latin America focus):
- Feature-length films: Fiction, documentary, animation, and hybrid films made by directors from Latin America and Asia, completed after January 1, 2025
- Short films: Any genre, exclusively from Latin America (the current focus region)
- Impact focus: Films must express what matters most to the filmmaker and have the potential to bring positive change to the world and society
- Geographic scope: The festival accepts films from the Global South, with each edition expanding to include the current focus region alongside previously covered regions
For the 2026 edition, the festival received a record-breaking number of submissions from Latin America. The Selection Committee included film curators, programmers, and impact experts from Latin America, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and beyond.
Payment Structure
Alternativa Film Awards are paid as cash prizes upon winner selection at the festival. The $120,000 total prize fund is distributed across 6 categories: 5 feature-length awards of $20,000 each and 2 short film awards of $10,000 each. Winners receive the cash prize directly. No milestone-based installments are required, as the awards recognize completed films rather than funding future production.
Past Recipients and What They Made with the Money
Alternativa Film Awards have recognized impact-driven cinema from the Global South:
- Bird of a Different Feather (2024 winner) - A feature film from the inaugural edition in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Explores identity and belonging through the story of a young person navigating cultural expectations.
- Cu Li Never Cries (2024 winner) - A Vietnamese feature film that won at the inaugural edition. The film blends fiction and documentary to explore memory and family history across generations in Vietnam.
- Grand Me (2024 winner) - A feature film recognized at the first edition for its exploration of childhood and self-discovery.
- The Adamant Girl / Kottukkaali (2024 winner) - Directed by PS Vinothraj from India. A Tamil-language film that explores caste, gender, and rural life. The film was also selected for Semaine de la Critique at Cannes.
- Washhh (2024 winner) - A documentary exploring labor and dignity, recognized at the inaugural edition.
What Makes an Application Competitive
Alternativa evaluates submissions on several concrete signals:
- Impact potential: Films must express what matters most to the filmmaker and have the potential to bring positive change to the world and society. The Selection Committee includes impact experts alongside film curators.
- Global South origin: The festival exclusively serves filmmakers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Each edition expands geographic coverage to include the current focus region alongside previously covered regions.
- Cinematic quality: Fiction, documentary, hybrid, and animated films of all genres compete together. The Selection Committee evaluates cinematic craft alongside impact.
- Regional relevance: The Focus award specifically honors a film offering insight into the complexities of the current Alternativa Focus Region. The Nativa award explores national or cultural identity.
- Career stage for Future Voice: The Future Voice award recognizes bold new talent, specifically a first or second feature demonstrating outstanding creative vision.
- Completion date: Films must be completed after January 1 of the year preceding the festival edition. The festival does not require premiere status.
Application Process
- Submissions open: June 10, 2025 (for 2026 edition)
- Regular deadline: October 10, 2025
- Late deadline: November 6, 2025
- Host city and dates announcement: November 6, 2025 (Medellín, Colombia, April 21-30, 2026)
- Competition program announcement: March 2026
- Festival dates: April 21-30, 2026
Rules and regulations are available in English and Spanish on the open call page. Winners are determined through a two-stage process: films in the Competition program are selected by the Selection Committee, and winners are chosen by the International Jury. The next call will open for the Africa-focused edition in 2027. Check alternativa.film for the most current information.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Alternativa is one of the few film festivals explicitly designed for Global South filmmakers making impact-driven cinema. The nomadic structure means the festival moves to a new focus region each edition, celebrating creative cities rather than political capitals. The 2026 edition in Medellín received a record-breaking number of submissions from Latin America. The festival presents free public screenings of competition films, maximizing audience reach. Beyond the festival, Alternativa offers a complete pipeline: filmmakers can move from training (Film Labs) to exhibition (Festival) to audience engagement (Distribution). The Film Labs are free educational programs for Global South filmmakers at different career stages. The Distribution program, launched in 2025-2026, helps impact-driven films reach broad audiences through innovative screening strategies. The $120,000 prize fund is among the largest for a Global South-focused festival. Both documentary and fiction filmmakers are eligible. The festival does not require premiere status, but films must be completed after January 1 of the year preceding the festival edition. The 2027 edition will focus on Africa.
Watch
See Also
For understanding how impact cinema and festival strategy intersect, see Film Festival Strategy. For modeling revenue across international festival and distribution windows, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For other grants serving Global South filmmakers, see Film Grants No US Citizenship Required. For building a financing plan, see Film Grants and Funding. To estimate festival ROI, use the Festival ROI Calculator.
