45th INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF URUGUAY
REGULATIONS
Montevideo, March 16–28, 2027
1. ORGANIZATION AND AIM
The 45th International Film Festival of Uruguay (hereinafter, the “Festival”) is organized by Cinemateca Uruguaya, a member institution of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).
The Festival is an independent cultural event devoted to the presentation, promotion and appreciation of national and international cinema. Its aims are to foster interest in film, contribute to the development of film culture, present works of particular artistic and cinematic merit, and facilitate their discovery by audiences, critics and film professionals.
The Festival also seeks to provide a meeting place for filmmakers, producers, distributors, sales agents, critics, programmers and audiences, fostering dialogue and exchange between different cinematographies and cultures.
2. DATES AND VENUE
The 45th International Film Festival of Uruguay will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from March 16 to 28, 2027.
The dates, venues and screening schedules shall be determined by the Festival Direction and may be modified for organizational, technical or force majeure reasons.
3. SECTIONS
The Festival comprises the following sections:
Competitions
- International Feature Film Competition
- Ibero-American Feature Film Competition
- New Directors Competition
- Human Rights Film Competition
- International Short Film Competition
- Uruguayan Short Film Competition
- International Young Audience Film Competition
Panorama
- International Feature Film Panorama
- International Short Film Panorama
Focus & Retrospectives
- Focus sections devoted to filmmakers, national cinemas, movements, countries or specific themes
- Retrospectives and Special Programs
The Festival Direction may create, modify or introduce additional competitive or non-competitive sections whenever it considers this appropriate, based on artistic, cultural or programming considerations.
The Festival Direction shall determine the section in which each selected film will be presented.
4. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Fiction, documentary, animation and other forms of cinematic expression may be submitted, provided that they comply with the specific requirements of the relevant section.
Unless otherwise specified for a particular section, films must have been completed after January 1, 2026.
Previous selection or screening at other international festivals shall not prevent a film from being submitted to the Festival.
However, for competitive sections and any other sections for which the Festival expressly requires it, the film must retain its status as a Uruguayan premiere.
For the purposes of these Regulations, a Uruguayan premiere shall mean the first public screening of the film in the territory of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
Screenings held outside Uruguay, including screenings at international film festivals, film markets, cinematheques, showcases or professional-access platforms, shall not affect the film’s status as a Uruguayan premiere.
Any previous public screening of a film in Uruguay, including at a festival, showcase, cinema, television channel, streaming platform, cultural event or any other form of public access, may render the film ineligible for sections requiring a Uruguayan premiere.
The Festival Direction may, exceptionally, invite films that do not meet the premiere requirements to participate in non-competitive sections or special screenings.
5. RIGHT TO SUBMIT AND OWNERSHIP OF RIGHTS
The person or entity submitting a film declares and warrants that they are duly authorized by the relevant rights holders to submit the film for consideration by the Festival.
Submission of a film constitutes a declaration that the submitting party holds all authorizations necessary for the film’s participation in the Festival.
If selected, the submitting party warrants that the Festival shall be entitled to screen the film during the Festival dates and under the conditions established in these Regulations, without infringing the rights of any third party.
The Festival may request additional documentation confirming ownership of, or authorization to exercise, the relevant rights whenever it considers this necessary.
6. SUBMISSION
Films may be submitted by producers, distributors, sales agents, authorized representatives, film institutions or other legitimate rights holders.
The submission form must be completed online.
The submission deadline is November 30, 2026.
The Festival Direction may exceptionally accept submissions received after this date.
There is no submission fee.
Submission of a film does not imply selection or create any entitlement to inclusion in the Festival program.
7. SCREENING MATERIAL
An online screener must be provided with the submission.
The deadline for receipt of screening materials is October 20, 2026.
The screener must remain active and accessible to the Festival until at least April 1, 2027, unless otherwise indicated by the Festival.
The film must be available with Spanish or English subtitles.
Materials submitted for selection shall be used exclusively for evaluation and programming purposes by the Festival and by persons authorized by the Festival Direction.
8. SELECTION
Film selection shall be the responsibility of the Festival Direction and programming team.
The Festival’s selection decisions shall be final and shall not be required to be justified.
Submission of a film does not constitute any commitment by the Festival regarding its selection.
A film may be selected for a section other than the one for which it was originally submitted.
The Festival Direction may also propose a film for a non-competitive section if it considers that the film is more appropriate for such section.
9. SELECTION NOTIFICATION
Selected films shall be notified directly to their submitting parties or rights holders.
Selection shall be considered confirmed once the rights holder has confirmed in writing the film’s availability for screening at the Festival and has provided the required materials.
Once participation has been confirmed, a film may not be unilaterally withdrawn from the Festival program without the express authorization of the Festival Direction.
In exceptional circumstances, the Festival Direction may authorize the withdrawal of a film when sufficiently justified reasons exist.
10. URUGUAYAN PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVITY DURING THE FESTIVAL
When a film has been selected subject to Uruguayan premiere status, its representatives undertake not to authorize any public screening of the film in Uruguay prior to its official presentation at the Festival.
Once a film has been selected, its representatives must inform the Festival of any prior commitment for a screening in Uruguay that could affect its premiere status.
During the period between the film’s first screening at the Festival and the completion of all its scheduled screenings, no public screening of the film may take place outside the official Festival activities in Uruguay, unless expressly authorized by the Festival Direction.
11. LANGUAGE AND SUBTITLING
Films shall, in principle, be screened in their original version.
The Festival does not accept films dubbed into Spanish.
Whenever possible, exhibition copies should be Spanish-subtitled.
If the exhibition copy is not Spanish-subtitled, it must be accompanied by a subtitle file or complete dialogue list, including on-screen text, in Spanish or English, in a format that allows the Festival to prepare the necessary version for exhibition.
For films spoken in languages other than Spanish, English, French or Portuguese, the Festival may request a dialogue list in the original language together with an English translation.
The Festival Direction may establish specific subtitling requirements for particular films or sections.
12. EXHIBITION COPY AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Once a film has been selected, the rights holder or submitting party must provide an exhibition copy technically suitable for screening.
The preferred format is DCP (Digital Cinema Package). H.264, Apple ProRes or other digital formats may also be accepted, exceptionally, when required by the characteristics of the film, the screening conditions or the Festival’s technical needs.
The Festival will communicate the applicable technical specifications, delivery systems and subtitling requirements in due course.
The final exhibition copy must be received, unless otherwise agreed, by February 15, 2027.
The Festival may request a backup copy or alternative file whenever technical circumstances so require.
The submitting party must ensure that the copy provided corresponds to the authorized version of the film for exhibition.
13. SHIPPING AND DELIVERY COSTS
All costs related to the shipment, transfer or transportation of the exhibition copy to the Festival shall be borne by the rights holder or submitting party, unless otherwise agreed in advance.
Where physical materials are to be returned, the costs and conditions of return shall be agreed between the parties in advance.
When international shipping services are used, the sender shall be responsible for providing all documentation required for the shipment.
14. LIABILITY AND CUSTODY OF COPIES
The Festival shall take reasonable measures to ensure the proper custody and preservation of exhibition copies while they are under its responsibility.
Where applicable, the Festival’s liability for loss of or damage to a physical copy shall be limited to the reasonable replacement cost of the physical medium, except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence.
In the case of digital files, the Festival shall take reasonable measures to preserve their integrity during the period in which they remain under its custody.
15. NUMBER OF SCREENINGS
Each selected film may have up to three screenings during the Festival.
The final number of screenings, as well as dates, times and venues, shall be determined by the Festival Direction.
The program may be modified for artistic or technical reasons, venue availability or force majeure.
16. PRESS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
The representatives of selected films must provide, within the deadlines established by the Festival, the materials necessary for their promotion and communication.
These may include:
- Short and long synopsis;
- Technical and cast credits;
- Director’s biography and filmography;
- Film stills;
- Director’s photograph;
- Poster;
- Trailer;
- Press kit;
- Dialogue list;
- Production, distribution and sales agent information;
- Any additional materials considered necessary by the Festival.
The delivery of these materials constitutes authorization for Cinemateca Uruguaya to use them free of charge for the communication, promotion and dissemination of the Festival and the selected films.
17. USE OF EXCERPTS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL
The rights holder authorizes the Festival to use, exclusively for promotional purposes and without remuneration, excerpts from the film, photographs, trailers, posters, names, logos, synopses and other materials provided for Festival promotion.
Audiovisual excerpts used for promotional purposes shall not exceed the duration reasonably necessary for such purpose.
The Festival may use these materials on its website, social media, printed or digital publications, press materials, communications, presentations and other Festival promotional tools.
18. ACCREDITATION AND ATTENDANCE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Festival may invite directors, producers, actors and other representatives of selected films to attend the Festival.
Selection of a film does not imply any obligation on the part of the Festival to finance travel, accommodation, meals, transportation or any other expenses related to the attendance of representatives.
Where the Festival agrees to cover specific expenses, the applicable conditions shall be communicated individually.
19. JURIES
The Festival Direction shall appoint the members of the Juries for the various competitions.
Persons with a direct interest in any participating film or a professional relationship that could compromise their independence may not serve on a Jury.
Jury members shall maintain the confidentiality of their deliberations.
Jury decisions shall be final.
20. AWARDS
The Jury of the International Competition shall grant the following awards:
- Best Film Award
- Best Director Award
- Grand Jury Prize
- Special Mentions, in such number as the Jury may deem appropriate.
The Juries of the other competitive sections shall each grant:
- Best Film Award
Special Mentions may be granted in other sections whenever expressly authorized by the Festival Direction.
The Audience Award shall be determined through the voting system established by the Festival and may be granted independently of the Jury awards.
Any award may be withheld when the relevant Jury considers that none of the competing films meets the necessary requirements to receive it.
The decisions of the Juries shall be final.
21. SUBSEQUENT AND TRAVELLING SCREENINGS
The inclusion of a film in subsequent travelling programs, showcases or other activities organized by Cinemateca Uruguaya shall require the prior authorization of the rights holders, unless such authorization has been expressly granted in the submission form.
Any subsequent screening shall be subject to the conditions agreed with the rights holders.
22. DATA PROTECTION AND USE OF INFORMATION
Data provided during the submission process shall be used by Cinemateca Uruguaya exclusively for the management of the film’s participation, Festival-related communications, selection, programming, accreditation, promotion and activities connected with the Festival.
Data may be shared with members of the programming, production, press, communications and organizational teams whenever necessary for the performance of their duties.
23. FORCE MAJEURE
The Festival Direction may modify, postpone, suspend or cancel the Festival, in whole or in part, or individual screenings when circumstances of force majeure, legal requirements, security concerns, technical, health-related or weather-related problems, or any other circumstances beyond the Festival’s reasonable control make this necessary.
In such circumstances, the Festival Direction shall communicate the relevant changes to the representatives of selected films.
24. MATTERS NOT COVERED BY THESE REGULATIONS
The Festival Direction shall have authority to resolve any matter concerning the interpretation or application of these Regulations that is not expressly covered herein.
Decisions taken by the Festival Direction concerning programming and selection shall be final.
25. ACCEPTANCE OF THE REGULATIONS
Submission of a film constitutes a declaration that the person or entity submitting the film is duly authorized to do so and implies the full acceptance of these Regulations.
Confirmation of participation by a selected film also constitutes acceptance of the screening, promotional and participation conditions established by the Festival.
CINEMATECA URUGUAYA
45th INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF URUGUAY
Montevideo, Uruguay
March 16–28, 2027