International Short Film Competition 'El Pecado 2026': August 3, 4, 5 and 7

A festival organized by the Llerena City Council and Cineclub Llerena, offering free, open-air screenings at locations of special tourist and architectural interest throughout the city.  

After decades of being co-organized by the Mórrimer Cultural Association, the City Council of Llerena and Cineclub Llerena are organizing the 25th “El Pecado” International Short Film Festival, which will also feature the collaboration of its creators.

The submission period for short films will be open from May 4 through Sunday, June 7.

To participate in the festival, you must register online on any of the following platforms: www.festhome.com, www.clickforfestivals.com, or www.movibeta.com. 

In this edition, the winners will once again receive the characteristic Iberian hams from Extremadura.

The prizes for El Pecado 2026 are:

· Jury Prize for Best Comedy Short Film, the “Antonio Gallardo” Award: €700, an Extremaduran Iberian ham, and a statuette.

· Special Audience Award: €700, an Extremaduran Iberian ham, and a statuette.

· Jury Prize for Best Animated Short Film: €700, an Extremaduran Iberian ham, and a statuette.

· Jury Prize for Best Short Film from Extremadura: €700, Extremaduran Iberian ham, and a statuette.

· Organizer’s Award for Best Short Film from the Southern Countryside, Tentudía, and Northern Mountains: 300 euros and a statuette.

· “Linda Chacón” Award in recognition of women for their professional work in the film industry: €300 and a statuette. Award sponsored by the Department of Youth, Leisure, Equality, and Diversity of the Llerena City Council and presented by the organization. 

· Promofest Award for Best Fiction Short Film: Free submission to 50 national festivals through the distributor.

· Jury Prize for Best Fiction Short Film: €1,500, an Extremaduran Iberian ham, and a statuette.

The El Pecado 2026 International Short Film Festival will take place from August 3 to 7, with a preliminary opening presentation also scheduled for July 30 at the Plazuela de la Fuente. On August 3, 4, and 5, the official selection of films in competition will be screened. These screenings will be free and open-air, beginning at 10:30 p.m. in the Plaza de la Merced and Cieza de León Park, sites of special architectural and tourist interest in the town. The awards ceremony will be held on Friday, August 7, starting at 10:00 p.m. at the Ciudad de Llerena Auditorium.

The El Pecado International Short Film Festival has established itself as a festival with a long-standing tradition, showcasing the best short films produced in Spain and abroad over the past 24 years. Numerous films that participated in El Pecado have won or been nominated at other festivals such as the Goya Awards, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Academy Awards. Over the years, the festival has also welcomed award winners of the caliber of Borja Cobeaga, Esteban Crespo, Kae Bahar, Bernabé Rico, José Luis Alemán, Kepa Sojo, Isabel de Ocampo, Gabe Ibáñez, Oskar Santos, Alex Pastor, Toni Bestard, Javier Fesser, and Rodrigo Sorogoyen.

In the last edition, 1,067 short films were submitted to the competition: 862 Spanish short films and 205 from 35 countries around the world. Among them were 11 short films from Extremadura and two from the Southern Countryside, Tentudía, and the Northern Mountains. Fifty-five short films were part of the festival’s official selection, and 57 short films were screened.

The festival’s various events drew an attendance of 5,000 people. More than 85,000 people have attended as audience members across its various editions, during which a total of some 12,000 short films have been submitted.

The El Pecado International Short Film Festival has been awarded the "Festival Amigo" seal by the Fugaz Awards. These awards are presented annually by CortoEspaña to recognize the best professionals in each of the various specialties of Spanish short film. They aim to be the short film-focused version of the Goya Awards.

For further information or inquiries, please contact the festival organizers via email at certamenelpecadollerena@gmail.com

More information is also available at www.certamenelpecado.com and on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as Certamen El Pecado)