Introduction to the film festival
Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in Portugal, reaching its 34th edition in 2026.
The festival will be held from 17th to 26th July 2026 and its main objective is the promotion of audiovisual and film production, selected according to quality criteria, at an event which focuses not only on the discovery of new films and directors, but also on the legacy of cinema.
Fiction, animation, documentary, and experimental films, as well as music videos, no longer than 60 minutes (unless otherwise noted), produced in 2025 or 2026 are eligible for the various competitions.
Out-of-competition programmes will highlight not only a selection of worldwide contemporary short films but also the relations between shorts and features, music and film, or art and cinema.
Awards
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION PORTUGUESE COMPETITION EXPERIMENTAL COMPETITION TAKE ONE! COMPETITION MY GENERATION COMPETITION CURTINHAS COMPETITION MUSIC VIDEOS COMPETITION
– Great Prize – to the best film in this competition;
– Fiction Award – to a distinguished fiction film;
– Animation Award – to a distinguished animation film;
– Manoel de Oliveira Award – to a distinguished documentary film;
– Vila do Conde Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards;
– International Competition Audience Award – to the film in this competition with the highest average.
– Best Film Award – to the best film in this competition;
– Portuguese Competition Audience Award – to the film in this competition with the highest average.
– Best Experimental Film Award – to the best film in this competition.
– Best Film Award – to the best film in this competition;
– Best Director Award – to a distinguished filmmaker in this competition.
– My Generation Award – to the film in this competition with the highest audience voting average.
– Curtinhas Award – to the best film in this competition.
– Best Music Video Award – to the best music video in this competition.
Rules
Fiction, animation, documentary, and experimental films, as well as music videos, no longer than 60 minutes (unless otherwise noted), produced in 2025 or 2026 either in film (16 mm or 35 mm) or digital (DCP) are eligible for the various competitions.
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
|---|
Authorization type
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2025-07-21
Submission start time
2025-12-29
Earlybird Deadline
2026-02-26
Regular Deadline
2026-04-28
Late Deadline
2026-04-28
Submission end time
2026-06-12
Finalist notification start time
2026-06-12
Finalist notification end time
2026-07-17
Award ceremony start time
2026-07-26
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2025/12/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 30 Dollar
2026/02/26
Regular Deadline
Standard: 35 Dollar
2026/04/28
Late Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
2025/12/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 30 Dollar
2026/02/26
Regular Deadline
Standard: 35 Dollar
2026/04/28
Late Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
Related film festivalMore
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