ALTERNATIVA FILM FESTIVAL 2026
Medellin, Colombia
Focus Region: Latin America
Festival at Glance
From April 21–30, 2026, Medellín became a vibrant hub for bold stories, fresh voices, and new perspectives from the Global South as the Alternativa Film Festival arrived in Latin America for the first time.
AFF’s third edition was record-breaking in many ways, bringing new ideas and formats to the festival. For the first time, the festival’s key visual was selected through an open call for local artists, and AFF welcomed its first-ever festival ambassador. The programme was bigger and more diverse than ever, extending beyond traditional cinema spaces with open-air screenings and creating new ways for audiences to discover and experience films.
10
days
36
films
42
sreenings
11,200
attendees
107
international guests
62
partners
1561
publications
150+
people in the team
Official Selection
The Competition featured 30 films from Latin America and Asia, with feature-length titles representing both regions and a short film selection focused on Latin America.
For the first time, the festival also introduced an Out of Competition section, Impact Hits, showcasing a selection of standout audience favourites and acclaimed titles.
Jury
Led by Colombian actress, producer and activist Natalia Reyes, the AFF 2026 Jury brought together filmmakers and industry professionals from across the globe, each bringing their own experience, expertise and perspective on cinema. More
Natalia Reyes
Actress, producer | Colombia
Cyril Aris
Director, screenwriter | Lebanon
Amanda Nell Eu
Writer, director, producer | Mexico
Juan Sarmiento G
Cinematographer, producer | Colombia
Consuelo Castillo
Film promotion strategist | Colombia
Fernando Epstein
Producer, film editor | Uruguay
Jessica Kiang
Film critic, programmer | Ireland
Program
The program brought free public screenings to some of Medellín’s key cultural venues, alongside discussions with filmmakers and audiences. Beyond the screenings, the Industry Days brought together film community for conversations, exchange, and new connections. The Festival culminated in a vibrant and unconventional Awards Ceremony, bringing its ten days in Medellín to a close.
Winners
Spotlight Award
9-MONTH CONTRACT
A Georgian mother turns to surrogacy to secure a roof over her daughter’s head. What begins as a quick way to earn cash transforms into a profound sacrifice, questioning how far a mother can go.
Future Voice Award
A USEFUL GHOST
Focus Award
RUNA SIMI
A Peruvian voice actor embarks on a quest to persuade Disney to dub The Lion King into Quechua—only to discover that the journey becomes a deeply personal odyssey of fatherhood and activism, with his 8-year-old son by his side.
Nativa Award
LOST LAND
In the hope of reuniting with their scattered family, four-year-old Shafi and his nine-year-old sister Somira leave a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh on a perilous journey to reach Malaysia.
AFF 2026: Bogotá Edition
After the festival wrapped up in Medellín, AFF 2026 brought a selection of its programme to Bogotá. The 10-day run at the iconic Cinemateca de Bogotá featured nine feature films from the competition across 18 screenings, giving audiences in the Colombian capital a chance to experience the festival.
