AFF 2026: Record-Breaking Call for Entries

This year’s call became the largest in Alternativa’s history, with 1,831 submissions from 55 countries, including 22 from Latin America. 1,093 films were deemed eligible: 439 feature-length titles and 656 shorts.

Top 10 Countries by Number of Submissions

1. Brazil — 357

2. Mexico — 323

3. Argentina — 299

4. Colombia — 222

5. Peru — 74

6. Chile — 73

7. India — 72

8. Iran — 46

9. Venezuela — 35

10. China — 32

Latin America dominated the call, contributing 1,499 films (877 of which were eligible), accounting for roughly three-quarters of all submissions. Filmmakers from the region submitted 362 feature-length films (221 eligible) and 1,137 short films (656 eligible), showcasing the creative energy of contemporary Latin American cinema.

From Asia, the festival received 319 submissions (216 eligible). Indonesia (15 titles), Malaysia (14), and the Philippines (11) stood out as leaders in Southeast Asia. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan led the region with 20 films, followed by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

The feature-length submissions showed a strong creative balance, with 368 documentaries and hybrid works and 309 fiction and animation projects, reflecting the diversity of contemporary filmmaking across the Global South.

Our Selection Committee — a group of outstanding curators, programmers, and impact experts from Latin America, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and beyond — has already begun working on the festival’s lineup, evaluating submissions for both artistic excellence and impact. The Competition Program of AFF 2026 will be announced at the end of February 2026.