{"id":11611,"date":"2016-08-15T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2016-08-15T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ismaelmartin.com\/7-spanish-film-festivals-for-debut-features\/"},"modified":"2016-08-15T09:30:00","modified_gmt":"2016-08-15T07:30:00","slug":"7-spanish-film-festivals-for-debut-features","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ismaelmartin.com\/en\/7-spanish-film-festivals-for-debut-features\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Spanish film festivals for debut features"},"content":{"rendered":"

A first feature film is very important for a new director<\/strong>, as a film career can depend heavily on the success of the first film.<\/p>\n

In this regard, it should be borne in mind that there are specific ICAA grants for new directors and a whole international circuit of debut-feature festivals, so it is really important to prepare properly for the step up to directing feature films and to take advantage of every opportunity we can.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many successful short-film directors in recent years are already shooting their first feature or have projects to shoot in the near future. Most of these directors have gone through the festival circuit with their short films and have won many awards. <\/p>\n

But, what is the debut-feature festival circuit in Spain?<\/strong> What are the festivals or specific sections where you can participate only with your first (or second) film as a director?<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at the landscape of these festivals. To begin with, I have counted up to 7 specific competitions<\/b> for new directors and debut features:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. First, let\u2019s start with a classic: the Tudela Debut Feature Festival<\/a><\/strong>, in the province of Navarre, dedicated exclusively to the director\u2019s first film. It programmes very few titles; in the last edition there were 7 films in competition. It takes place between October and November and the submission deadline is September 16. There is an important detail to bear in mind, as a first film is considered to be one directed solo:
    \n“All feature films that constitute a first directing work may take part in this festival. A first documentary does not exclude participation with a first fiction feature, and vice versa. Likewise, those directing their first film solo may participate even if they have previously co-directed.<\/em>” <\/li>\n
  2. In Extremadura we find the International Debut Feature Film Festival – Novel\u00edsimo<\/a><\/strong>, held in Herv\u00e1s, with both short- and feature-film sections, only for the director\u2019s debut feature (over 30 minutes, so medium-length films are eligible). It takes place in July (the last edition closed on July 30) and its submission deadline was May 31. <\/li>\n
  3. The Opera Prima Almeria en corto Festival<\/strong><\/a> was born as a natural evolution of the short-film festival. This year they have increased the prize fund to \u20ac9,000 for best film. Submissions are open until September 30 and it takes place in November. As in Tudela, a debut feature is considered the first film directed solo:
    \n“all Spanish feature films that constitute a first directing work will be admitted to competition. A first documentary does not exclude participation with a first fiction feature, and vice versa. Likewise, those directing their first feature solo may participate, even if they have previously taken part in a co-direction<\/em>” <\/li>\n
  4. The Tarragona REC International Film Festival<\/strong><\/a> is another case of short-film festivals evolving towards feature films, but in this case there has been a very clear commitment to debut features exclusively. It is an international festival for first films (or second films, if the first has not been commercially released in Spain). It should be noted that the awards do not have a cash endowment, except for the distribution award, endowed with a minimum of \u20ac2,000 guaranteed for screening rights in non-commercial cinemas. Submissions are open until September 15 and it takes place from November 30 to December 6. Films in competition must be Spanish premieres<\/strong>. <\/li>\n
  5. The Ourense International Film Festival<\/strong><\/a> closes its submission period on August 18, and has a specific section for debut features. Directed this year by programmer Fran Gayo, the films submitted in this section must be Spanish premieres, and it is only for debut features:
    \n“The aim of this competition will be to champion new voices in contemporary cinema, placing special emphasis on young filmmakers working independently<\/em>” It takes place from October 28 to November 5. <\/li>\n
  6. It is also worth taking into account the Punto de Encuentro<\/strong> section of the Valladolid Film Festival – Seminci<\/a><\/strong>. It is a “competitive parallel showcase that brings together first or second fiction films that stand out for their thematic or stylistic merit<\/em>” with an international scope, and it programmes very few Spanish titles. Seminci takes place from October 22 to 29 and it must be a national premiere in Spain. <\/li>\n
  7. Finally, one of the most prestigious sections for new directors, the “New Directors<\/strong>” section of the San Sebasti\u00e1n Film Festival<\/a><\/strong>. First and second features are accepted, and in the case of Spanish films they must be world premieres at the festival. Like Ourense and Tarragona, it is international in scope. It has the most important prize of all, with \u20ac50,000 for the director and distributor. The festival takes place from September 16 to 24. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In the cases of Tudela, Almeria and Novel\u00edssimo, it is not necessary for them to be national premieres, something essential in Ourense, Tarragona, San Sebasti\u00e1n and Seminci, so we will need to plan our national premiere strategy well.<\/p>\n

    Do you know of any other debut-feature festival in Spain?<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A first feature film is very important for a new director, as a film career can depend heavily on the success of the first film. In this regard, it should be borne in mind that there are specific ICAA grants for new directors and a whole international circuit of debut-feature festivals, so … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11612,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[250],"tags":[298,414],"class_list":["post-11611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-festival-strategy","tag-debut-features","tag-new-director"],"yoast_head":"\n7 Spanish film festivals for debut features - Ismael Martin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Festival strategies for debut features, analysing the festival circuit in Spain, where there are 7 dedicated festivals and sections.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ismaelmartin.com\/en\/7-spanish-film-festivals-for-debut-features\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Spanish film festivals for debut features - 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