ALCINE (Alcalá de Henares / Community of Madrid Film Festival) is one of the longest-running and most established film festivals dedicated to short films in Spain and Europe. It takes place every year in the first week of November. Founded in 1970 through initiatives led by the Antonio de Nebrija Film Club, the festival has established itself over more than half a century as a meeting point for emerging filmmakers, audiovisual innovation and avant-garde cinema.
Jointly organised by Alcalá de Henares City Council and the Community of Madrid, ALCINE combines high-level film competitions with audience development, research, specialist publications, screenings of auteur feature films and support for the film industry.
ALCINE is an official qualifying festival for leading national and international film academies, further reinforcing its position as one of Spain’s most prestigious film festivals.
In 2017, the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognised ALCINE as an Academy Qualifying Festival. Short films winning the top awards in the National and European competitions in the Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film categories automatically qualify for consideration for the Academy Awards®.
The main awards in ALCINE’s National Short Film Competition provide direct qualification and access to the points-based system for Goya Awards submissions in the Live Action, Documentary and Animation categories. The Goya Awards are organised by the Spanish Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences.
Throughout its more than 50-year history, ALCINE has evolved under the direction of different teams and directors who have shaped the festival’s identity, profile and international reach.
| Period | Artistic / Festival Direction | Key Milestones and Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 1970–1972 |
Founding Committee / Cine-Club Nebrija |
The first Amateur Film Competition is launched as part of the city’s local festivities. In 1971, Fernando Colomo wins the Golden Quixote for Sssouffle, marking the festival’s early role as a platform for emerging talent. |
| 1973–1987 |
Fernando Calvo |
A period of consolidation and professionalisation. The competition becomes independent from the summer festivities and establishes its annual autumn dates. 16mm screenings are introduced, debates are expanded and the festival publishes its first monographic books. |
| 1988–1997 |
Pedro Medina |
Modernisation and a stronger avant-garde profile. The festival moves to the Teatro Salón Cervantes and becomes a key platform for the so-called “Generation of the 90s”, including Álex de la Iglesia, Juanma Bajo Ulloa and Icíar Bollaín. Major monographic publications are produced. |
| 1998–1999 |
Pedro Medina & Luis Mariano González |
Organisational transition and a growing European and international profile. |
| 2000–2021 |
Luis Mariano González |
The festival’s longest period of leadership. Consolidation of ALCINE as a year-round brand, with Annette Scholz joining the organisation and playing a key role in its internationalisation. New publications and initiatives are launched, including the Shortlatino market, ALCINE Pro and ALCINE Kids. The festival is also designated an Academy Qualifying Festival for the Oscars®. |
| 2022–present |
Pedro Toro |
A new phase focused on innovative formats, encounters between music, live arts and cinema through initiatives such as Short Music, digitalisation, the recovery of the festival’s historical memory, and the development of younger audiences and the film industry. |
Often described within the industry as a true “barometer of Spanish cinema”, ALCINE has provided an early platform for many of the leading filmmakers of contemporary Spanish cinema. Among those who presented their early short films at the festival are Alejandro Amenábar, Álex de la Iglesia, Isabel Coixet, Fernando León de Aranoa, Icíar Bollaín, Mateo Gil, Javier Fesser, Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, Nacho Vigalondo, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Carla Simón and J. A. Bayona, among many others.
National Short Film Competition: The festival’s main competitive showcase for Spanish fiction, documentary, animation and experimental short films.
International / European Short Film Competition: A competitive selection bringing together some of the most acclaimed and forward-looking short films from around the world.
Pantalla Abierta (New Filmmakers): A section dedicated to showcasing and recognising the first feature films by filmmakers who previously developed their careers in short film and have passed through ALCINE.
ALCINE Pro & Industry: Professional meetings, pitching sessions, workshops, project development and networking opportunities, including Shortlatino and Alcalá Film Jam.
Cinema and Education (ALCINE Kids / La Clase / El cine y los jóvenes): Morning screenings, educational resources and programmes designed to promote audiovisual literacy among school and secondary-school students.
Exhibitions and Publications: A longstanding programme of books and research publications on cinema and film history, alongside exhibitions and interdisciplinary artistic projects in municipal exhibition spaces.
Concerts and Special Events: Encounters between live music and cinema, including performances with the Orquesta Ciudad de Alcalá, independent music groups and expanded cinema projects.
ALCINE Club: A year-round programme of auteur and independent cinema in Alcalá de Henares.
The festival’s main activities take place in the historic centre of Alcalá de Henares, a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Teatro Salón Cervantes: The festival’s main venue for screenings, opening and closing ceremonies, and official competition programmes.
Corral de Comedias: A historic venue for experimental cinema, intimate screenings, interdisciplinary events and professional encounters.
Capilla del Oidor and Antiguo Hospital de Santa María la Rica: Exhibition venues for ALCINE-produced projects, visual arts and installations.
Organised by: City Council of Alcalá de Henares / Community of Madrid
Administrative offices: Calle Santa María la Rica, 3, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Phone: +34 91 887 05 84
Email: festival@alcine.org
Official website: alcine.org
