The Community of Madrid is launching a new edition of one of its most established events for the short film format. From October 16 to 24, the 28th Short Film Week will take place, an event that this year brings together 45 works distributed across various competitive and parallel sections.
The event maintains its relevance in the Madrid audiovisual calendar by serving as a qualifying festival for the Goya Awards, in addition to offering a space for visibility to both emerging and established creators in Spanish and international cinema.
An Official Section with 14 short films in competition
The competitive core of this edition is the Official Section, consisting of 14 short films supported by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Community of Madrid. These works will compete for the festival's main awards.
The programming is expanded with parallel sections that diversify the offerings. The National Panorama presents five Spanish short films already recognized at festivals such as Medina del Campo, Aguilar de Campoo, or Cortogenia.
Meanwhile, the International Panorama adds twelve works, including titles nominated for Oscars, Césars, and BAFTAs, as well as award-winning works from prestigious events such as Cannes, Sundance, Annecy, and Clermont-Ferrand.
Fantastic cinema, the ECAM legacy, and a tribute to Marta Aledo
The Week also incorporates the Fantastic Panorama, featuring six Spanish and international short films linked to horror and fantasy cinema, several of which have been awarded at specialized festivals.
Another highlighted section is ECAM Shorts, a session dedicated to five historical short films from the School of Cinematography and Audiovisual of the Community of Madrid. The selection recovers graduation works by filmmakers such as Alauda Ruiz de Azúa and Miguel Ángel Vivas, chosen by critic Javier Ocaña, who will also moderate the subsequent discussion.
The 28th edition pays tribute to Marta Aledo, a Madrid-based actress and director closely linked to this format. As a filmmaker, she has written and directed five short films: Test, Pichis, Jingle, Seattle, and Ellas, works that have garnered numerous accolades. During the Week, Seattle, winner of the Silver Biznaga for the Audience Award at the Málaga Festival, will be screened as part of a special session dedicated to the filmmaker.
Meetings with the public and discussions
The program includes several meetings open to the public. In collaboration with ECAM, a talk will be held with director and screenwriter Gabriel Azorín, while an encounter with filmmaker Yolanda Centeno will take place alongside the SGAE Foundation.
Through the Madrid en Corto initiative, a meeting will also be organized with the team behind Montecarlo 67, a short film that has achieved notable impact at festivals. The first screenings of each block of the Official Section will feature presentations by the teams and subsequent discussions.
Awards at stake, including the Goya qualifier
The Short Film Week distributes distinctions aimed at recognizing both the artistic and technical value of the selected works. The Best Short Film Award of this 28th edition serves as a qualifying festival for the Goya Awards.
The Telemadrid Awards grant a first prize of 6,000 euros for broadcasting rights, in addition to five second prizes of 4,000 euros each.
The list of winners is completed by the Audience Award, the ECAM Impulse Best Direction Award —in collaboration with the School of Cinematography and Audiovisual of the Community of Madrid—, the RC Award for Best Cinematography, in conjunction with RC Service and the Spanish Association of Cinematographers, and the AMAE Award for Best Editing, presented by the Association of Audiovisual Editors of Spain.
The ECAM Impulse award includes consulting tailored to the winner's next project. The RC Award provides a 2,000 euro discount on camera equipment, while RC Service offers a 30% discount to all participants of this edition. The AMAE Award, for its part, grants an annual Adobe license.
4th Short Film Co-production Forum
Parallel to the Week, the 4th Community of Madrid Short Film Co-production Forum will be held, organized by the Madrid Audiovisual Association (AMA) with the collaboration of the Ortega-Marañón Foundation, the Madrid Audiovisual Cluster, the Camilo José Cela University, and the Bogoshorts Festival.
The forum will take place on October 15, 16, and 17 at the headquarters of the Ortega-Marañón Foundation, with the participation of Madrid-based and international production companies.
Venues and tickets
Activities are spread across various cultural spaces in Madrid. The Círculo de Bellas Artes – Cine Estudio will host the Official Section, the ECAM Shorts, and the Fantastic Panorama. The Pequeño Cine Estudio will be the venue for the National and International panoramas, and the Film Academy will host the tribute to Marta Aledo.
The meetings with Gabriel Azorín and Yolanda Centeno will take place in the Manuel de Falla Hall of the Palacio de Longoria – SGAE Foundation. The Palacio de Linares, meanwhile, will be the setting for the closing gala and awards ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, October 24.
Admission to screenings and parallel activities will be free until full capacity is reached. The closing gala, however, will be by invitation only.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 28th Madrid Short Film Week held?
It is held from October 16 to 24, with the closing gala and awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at the Palacio de Linares.
How many short films are participating in this edition?
A total of 45 works are participating, distributed among the Official Section, the National Panorama, the International Panorama, the Fantastic Panorama, and the ECAM Shorts session.
What awards are given at the festival?
The Best Short Film Award (Goya-qualifying), the Telemadrid Awards, the Audience Award, the ECAM Impulse Best Direction Award, the RC Award for Best Cinematography, and the AMAE Award for Best Editing are presented.
Who is being honored in this edition?
Marta Aledo, a Madrid-based actress and director, is being honored with the screening of her short film Seattle, which was awarded at the Málaga Festival.
Is it necessary to pay for a ticket to attend?
No, access to screenings and parallel activities is free until full capacity is reached, except for the closing gala, which is by invitation only.
What is the Short Film Co-production Forum?
It is a parallel meeting organized by the Madrid Audiovisual Association (AMA) held on October 15, 16, and 17, which brings together Madrid-based and international production companies interested in co-producing short films.
