About the Festival
La Guarimba is a cultural organization and film festival in Amantea, Calabria, Italy, dedicated to making cinema accessible to all. The 13th edition will take place from August 7–12, 2025. The festival welcomes diverse voices and themes while fostering values of participatory democracy, integration, and accessibility.
Eligibility & Categories
Open to short films of any nationality and language.
Categories: Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Music Videos, Experimental, Dance Films, and La Grotta dei Piccoli (Children’s Animation, in partnership with UNICEF ITALIA).
Maximum length: 30 minutes (including credits).
Only films produced after January 1, 2023 are eligible.
No premiere requirements; online-released or previously screened films are welcome.
No limit on the number of entries, but each must be submitted separately.
Deadlines:
Early: September 30, 2024
Regular: March 10, 2025
Late: March 31, 2025
Official Selection Announcement: May 26, 2025
Fees (varies by category):
Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Experimental: €7.5 (early), €15 (regular), €30 (late)
Music Videos, La Grotta dei Piccoli: €7.5 (early), €10 (regular), €30 (late)
Submission Platforms:
Must include English subtitles (except music videos).
Submissions via online platforms only; no email or postal entries.
Selection & Screening
Around 170 films will be chosen for screening.
Selected films must provide a clean screener (H264, .mp4, stereo) and subtitles file (.srt) in English and Italian.
The festival covers accommodation and meals for directors but not travel expenses.
A dedicated laurel logo will be provided for selected films.
Awards & Jury
The jury consists of professionals from cinema, television, and media. Awards include:
Best Fiction, Animation, Documentary – €800 + Trophy
Best Experimental, Audience, Guarimberos, and Nonnina Awards – Trophy
Best Music Video, Best La Grotta dei Piccoli – €300 + Trophy
Additional Opportunities
Non-selected animation films may still be included in La Grotta dei Piccoli.
Selected films may be showcased in La Guarimba On Tour, a cultural screening program.
Contact & More Information
For inquiries, email info@laguarimba.com.
Submission period: September 15, 2024 – March 10, 2025.
For details on past editions, visit the festival website. Join La Guarimba and bring cinema back to the people!
Website link: https://www.laguarimba.com/submit/