With the support of: Alcalá Film Office / Department of Tourism, Alcalá de Henares City Council
Organised in partnership with Alcalá Film Office, part of Alcalá de Henares City Council’s Department of Tourism, the festival’s most intense and youthful section returns. You have 72 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film—in landscape or portrait format—on the streets of Alcalá! Fast-paced creativity, adrenaline and teamwork, with €600 in prize money up for grabs and the chance to see the finalist films screened at the Teatro Salón Cervantes on Thursday 12 November.
Using a camera or a mobile phone, participants will compete for a jury award and an audience award, each worth €300. The organisers will select up to six finalist shorts in each category: Landscape and Portrait. The Alcalá Film Jam jury will comprise Madrid para llevar, the history-focused Instagram project run by Sara Velázquez and Daniel Utrilla; creative technology specialist and filmmaker Roberto Romero; and production coordinator María G. Periñán.
To take part, please read the Alcalá Film Jam rules carefully and complete the registration form on the same page before 6.00 pm on Thursday 5 November. The finalist films will be screened at the Teatro Salón Cervantes on Thursday 12 November at 5.00 pm. The awards ceremony will take place that same evening at the Noche Divergente party at Santissimo, alongside the Off ALCINE section, from 8.00 pm. Admission to both events is free, subject to capacity.
As the setting for hundreds of productions throughout its history, Alcalá de Henares has inspired countless filmmakers, who have found the perfect places to tell their stories among both its historic landmarks and its hidden corners. Alcalá Film Office facilitates and promotes these shoots, and now it wants to discover your own vision. That is why it is inviting you to take part in a 72-hour marathon to make the best very short films, up to five minutes long, in Alcalá, across two categories: Landscape and Portrait. Whether you prefer traditional short films or the latest formats going viral on social media, Stories and TikTok, go for it. Charge your phone and get rolling. You could win cash prizes and join the filmmakers from the official sections at the closing ceremony.
Here is a guide created by Entrebares and El Tornillo de Klaus, with nine handy tips for taking part in Alcalá Film Jam:
1. READ THE RULES AND COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION FORM
This is the first step for us to know that you exist and for you to be sure of all the deadlines and characteristics necessary to participate.
2. CHOOSE YOUR CATEGORY: HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL
They are different lengths and languages, choose the one that best suits what you want to tell.
3. ATTEND THE INITIAL SESSION AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE KEYWORDS.
Whether in person or by zoom, there we will solve all your doubts, you will have our jury of experts to help you and, above all, we will give you the keywords that you will have to include in your film in very different creative ways.
4. APPLY THE K.I.S.S. METHODOLOGY: KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!
It's an American saying, we don't want to mess with you. When it comes to the script and shooting, come up with a simple idea that you can easily shoot with what you have on hand.
Another saying: The simpler the better.
5. CHOOSE THE LOCATIONS WELL
Filming in a city like Alcalá de Henares is already a production value in itself. But, beyond its heritage, there are a thousand hidden and original corners to be discovered. Keep an eye out for possible permits and, above all, leave it as clean and tidy as you found it.
6. PLAN AND ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS
A lot can happen in 72 hours. Think about displacements, coordinating the team, daylight hours, noises, weather? The more you have everything prepared, the easier it will be not to get blocked and overcome the obstacles that arise along the way.
7. WHAT DID YOU SAY? NO SOUND...
Sound is the great forgotten. Take care of it as much as you can. Investing in good equipment can make a big difference in your movie.
8. NEVER SAY: "WE'LL FIX THEM IN POST".
Anything you can solve and repeat during the shoot will always be preferable to fixing it in editing. And when the time comes, don't be afraid to eliminate scenes or fine-tune the pacing to get the best possible video.
9. HAVE FUN AND... DON'T FORGET THE FORM!
A jam is to play and have fun doing something with friends in a short time. Don't get overwhelmed, avoid arguments and, above all, don't forget to fill in the last form and hand in your film on time.
