The Balsas International Film Festival (FICBalsas) invites Mexican and international filmmakers, directors, and producers to submit their films (feature and short) to the 3º FICBalsas, which will take place in the City and Port of Lázaro Cárdenas, the Coast and Tierra Caliente of Michoacán, as well as neighboring communities in Guerrero, Mexico.
The 3º FICBalsas will be held in two periods:
-Period 1, with Children’s Program, on October 23, 24, and 25, 2025;
-Period 2, with Full Program, March 3 to 7, 2026.
*The 4th Edition of FICBalsas will take place in October/November 2026.
**We recommend reading the full call for entries.
— CALL FOR ENTRIES / OPEN —
3º FICBalsas 2026
FICBalsas‘goal is to decentralize the access to film education and film exhibition, while artistically and creatively connecting Tierra Caliente, the Michoacán Coast, and neighboring municipalities of Guerrero with Mexico and the world through a port, a river, and a sea of perspectives.
COMPETITION
This 3rd edition (2025) will unfold in two periods:
Period 1 – Children’s Program: October 23, 24, and 25, 2025
Period 2 – Full Program: March 3 to 7, 2026.
Films in competition and out of competition may include fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, and hybrid works.
COMPETENCIA – PROGRAMACIÓN COMPLETA (OPEN)
Period 2, with Full Program, from March 3 to 7, 2026.
Gran Mirada (Great Lens)
A competition for Mexican and international feature films in fiction, documentary, experimental, or hybrid formats, including films for children.
Films longer than 60 minutes, produced in 2023, 2024, or 2025, will be considered.
They may be either unreleased or previously shown at a festival, but should not be available on any online platform.
Subtitles in Spanish.
Up to 8 feature films will be selected.
Mirada en Corto (Short Lens)
Competition for National and International Short Films. This category includes fiction, documentary, experimental, or hybrid short films that have participated in international festivals, directed by experienced filmmakers.
Films between 1 and 30 minutes in length, produced between 2023 and 2025, will be considered.
They can be either unreleased or have premiered at a festival, but should not be available on any online platform.
Subtitles in Spanish.
Up to 12 short films will be selected.
Nuevas Miradas (New Lens)
Competition for local, national, and international short films, including fiction, documentary, experimental, or hybrid films, with little to no presence in global festivals. It is aimed at emerging directors seeking a platform to showcase their early work.
Films between 1 and 30 minutes in length, produced between 2023 and 2025, will be considered.
They can be either unreleased or have premiered at a festival, but should not be available on any online platform.
Subtitles in Spanish.
Up to 10 short films will be selected.
Mirada infantil (Lens for Kids)
Competition for local, national, and international short films with themes aimed at children.
Films between 1 and 30 minutes in length, produced between 2023 and 2025, will be considered.
They can be either unreleased or have premiered at a festival, but should not be available on any online platform.
Subtitles in Spanish.
Up to 10 short films will be selected.
Fuera de Competencia (Out of Competition – CLOSED)
In addition to the competitive selection, filmmakers, directors, and producers are invited to participate in the «Out of Competition» programming if they have a film (feature or short) that seeks further exhibition and wishes to be part of FICBalsas.
Subtitles in Spanish.
Film submissions to the 3rd FICBalsas 2025 are completely free.
The call for submissions for Period 2 – Full Program will open in November 2025.
SUBMISSIONS
The application to submit local, national, or international feature films or short films is done through a form according to the category being applied for.
To fill out the form, you will need to have the following ready:
1. Film title
2. Director’s name, contact information, and a photograph (JPG)
3. Technical sheet: Film title, duration, country/place of production, festivals (PDF)
4. Private link with download access to an H264 digital file (e.g., DRIVE), stereo sound. Dialogues in Spanish and/or with Spanish subtitles.
5. Poster and 1 still from the short film (JPG)
SUBMISSION FORMS
***
COMPETITION – CHILDREN’S PROGRAM (OFFICIAL SELECTION)
Period 1 – October 23, 24, and 25, 2025
Mirada Infantil
Competition of local, national, and international short films with themes aimed at children.
Eligible films must:
-Have a running time between 1 and 30 minutes.
-Be produced between 2023, 2024, or 2025.
-Be either premieres or have already screened at other festivals.
-Be spoken exclusively in Spanish or contain no dialogue.
-Foreign-language films may participate only if they contain no dialogue requiring subtitles.
-Not be available on any online streaming platform.
A maximum of 10 short films will be selected.
Film submissions to the 3rd FICBalsas are completely free of charge.
The call for entries opens on August 16, 2025.
The deadline for submissions is September 21, 2025 (11:59 p.m. Mexico time).
SUBMISSION FORMS
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
– CLOSED –
***
OFFICIAL SELECTION
The Official Selection for Period 1 – Children’s Program of the 3rd FICBalsas will be announced on the festival’s website and social media channels on October 1, 2025.
The Official Selection for Period 2 – Full Program will be announced in February 2026.
Filmmakers and producers of the selected short and feature films will be notified by email.
AWARDS
The Award Ceremony for both competitions (Children’s Competition and Main Competition) will take place during the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, March 7th 2026.
Only one winning film will be awarded in each competition category, and each winner will receive a festival statuette.
If additional cash or in-kind prizes are confirmed, they will be announced in advance.
LINEAMIENTOS
1. The 3rd FICBalsas will take place in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, with venues across the Michoacán Coast, Tierra Caliente, and neighboring municipalities in Guerrero, Mexico, on October 23, 24, and 25, 2025, with additional dates from March 3 to 7, 2026.
2. The selection of feature and short films to participate in the 3rd FICBalsas is final and cannot be appealed.
3. All selected films will have multiple in-person screenings in Lázaro Cárdenas, as well as nearby rural communities.FICBalsas does not hold virtual screenings.
4. Selected FILMS may continue their (in-person) exhibition route through screenings and discussions in the “Piezas de una Mirada” series of Foro Piezas.
5. Any changes or adjustments will be communicated to the filmmakers in advance.
UPDATES TO THE CALL FOR ENTRIES, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
Website: https://www.ficbalsas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FICBalsas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FICBalsas
Further information:
ficbalsas@gmail.com
FICBalsas 