1. General Information
1.1 Doclisboa aims to explore the dynamics and imaginaries proposed by cinema, linking them to the possibility of new modes of thought and forms of collective reflection. The festival is drawn to films that are conceptually and formally demanding; films that test the artistic and political possibilities of cinema and resist categorisation; films that both engage with and reflect the complexity of the world. Doclisboa offers a space in which cinema and contemporaneity can be examined as acts of coexistence both in and with their time.
1.2 Doclisboa 2026 – 24th International Film Festival – will take place from 15th to 25th October 2026.
1.3 All entries of films to Doclisboa imply knowledge and acceptance of these regulations.
1.4 For information regarding the participation in Arché and RAW, please check the sections’ own regulations at their website.
2. Eligibility
2.1 The Selection Committee is looking for films with cinematographic qualities that, as a whole, convey the author’s point of view.
2.2 Only films completed after 1 September 2025 are eligible.
2.3 Only films never before screened in Portugal – in cinemas or other theatrical venues, TV channels or through streaming – are eligible for the competitive sections. World Premieres (films never before screened), International Premieres (films which have only been screened in their production countries) and European Premieres (films which have never been screened in Europe) are preferred.
2.4 The following conditions shall apply to online festival screenings prior to Doclisboa:
• If the film has been screened with geo-block, and unavailable in Portuguese territory, our regular premiere status rules apply.
• If the film has been screened without geo-block, therefore available in Portuguese territory, it is not eligible to the competitive sections.
2.5 Films submitted to previous editions of the festival, which were not selected, won’t be considered for the 2026 edition of Doclisboa.
3. Competitive Sections, Juries and Awards
3.1 Competitive Sections
• International Competition – open to films of every length.
• Portuguese Competition – open to films of every length, directed by Portuguese filmmakers or produced in Portugal.
• Green Years – open to European-produced films of every length. Section dedicated especially to authors who are taking their first steps on film direction. World, International or European premiere is required.
3.2 Jury
The competition juries will be composed of nationally and internationally renowned figures from the cultural world, both Portuguese and international, selected by the festival.
3.3 Awards
The Doclisboa awards consist of a trophy and a monetary prize and/or technical support. The following awards are attributed to the film director(s):
3.3.1 International Competition
• City of Lisbon Award for Best International Competition Film (10.000€)
• Special Jury Award (3.500€)
• Award for Best Directing (2.000€)
3.3.2 Portuguese Competition
• Best Portuguese Film (6.000€)
• Special Jury Award (2.000€)
• School Award for Best Film (1.500€ in services)
3.3.3 Green Years Competition
• Award for Best Film (1.000€)
• Pedro Fortes Award for Best Director in a Portuguese film (Participation grant for Doc’s Kingdom – International Seminar on Documentary Film)
3.3.4 Cross-Sectional Awards
• New Talent Award for Best First Feature-Length Film (over 60’) from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospective (3.000€)
• Award for Best Short Film (up to 40’) from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospectives (the winner is automatically pre-selected to the Oscar© for Best Short Documentary)
• Healthy Workplaces Film Award – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Award for Best Feature-Length Film Dealing with Work from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospectives (5.000€)
• Audience Award for Best Portuguese Film comprising competitions, New Visions, Heart Beat and From the Earth to the Moon (1.000€)
• Audience Award for Best Film Dealing with Human Rights from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospectives (1.500€)
3.3.5 The cash amounts or support associated with the awards yet to be confirmed, will be finalised prior to the announcements of the 24th edition of Doclisboa’s programme.
3.3.6 The decisions of the juries are final.
3.3.7 The producer of a film that is awarded a prize at Doclisboa agrees to mention the Doclisboa award(s) in all promotional materials and in the credits of all copies produced after the festival, ensuring the inclusion of the festival’s official award(s) laurels.
4. Submission
The call for entries for all categories will open on 2 February 2026. Regardless of the submission date, the film screeners can be sent to the festival until 31 May 2026, with the exception of films produced in Portugal and that are competing in the Green Years section, which will be able to be submitted until 30 June 2026.
4.1 Deadlines and submission costs
International Film Submissions
Submission deadline: 31 May 2026 at 23h59 GMT+1:
• completed and paid entries until 31 March 2026:
– films over 60’ – 30,00€;
– films under 60’ – 15,00€.
• completed and paid entries from 1 to 30 April 2026:
– films over 60’ – 40,00€;
– films under 60’ – 20,00€.
• completed and paid entries from 1st to 31 May 2026:
– films over 60’ – 50,00€;
– films under 60’ – 35,00€.
Portuguese Film Submissions – films with portuguese production and/or direction
Submission deadline: 31 May 2026 at 23h59 GMT+1
Submission Fees:
• complete and paid entries until 31 March 2026:
– Free submission.
• complete and paid entries from 1 to 30 April 2026:
– films over 60’ – 10,00€;
– films under 60’ – 5,00€.
• completed and paid entries from 1 to 31 May 2026:
– films over 60’ – 15,00€;
– films under 60’ – 10,00€.
Green Years – films produced in Portugal
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026 at 23h59 GMT+1
– Free submission.
Green Years – films with international productions
Submission deadline: 31 May 2026 at 23h59 GMT+1
Submission Fees:
• complete and paid entries until 31 March 2026 – 10,00€;
• complete and paid entries from 1 to 30 April 2026 – 15,00€;
• completed and paid entries from 1 to 31 May 2026 – 20,00€.
The festival does not guarantee the viewing or evaluation of films received after 31 May 2026, with the exception of films submitted to the Green Years section – films produced in Portugal.
The festival reserves the right not to consider any film that does not comply with the eligibility criteria listed in item 2 of the Regulations, while not guaranteeing the refund of its submission fees.
The festival also reserves the right to consider the films submitted in all the above categories under the context of other festival sections.
4.2 Submission Methods and Materials
The submission of films for the festival must be done through the Eventival platform (accessible at: https://vp.eventival.com/doclisboa/2026), choosing the appropriate form for the film to be submitted, according to the desired category, and proceeding with the payment of the registration fee (when applicable).
Please note that a submission will be considered complete only once the submitter receives email confirmation of the registration fee payment (if applicable).
After the submission, Doclisboa should receive:
a) submission form duly completed via the Eventival platform.
b) screener with English subtitles, with the exception of films spoken in Portuguese or English. The screener it question may be sent using one of the following methods:
– Via a private viewing link for the film that does not require immediate download (Vimeo, YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.).
– After completing the submission via Eventival, a private viewing or download link can be sent directly by email to films@doclisboa.org.
If needed, other options for sending of the screener can be discussed with the Programme Coordination team.
4.3 The applicant is responsible for informing the festival if the premiere status indicated at the time of submission changes during the selection process (e.g., if screenings are booked), as well as if the submitted version of the film is modified.
4.4 In case questions regarding the submission process, please contact:
Programme Coordination
films@doclisboa.org
+351 213 470 816
5. Selection
5.1 Selection Announcement
Doclisboa is responsible for informing the applicants of the Selection Committee’s final decision up to one month prior to the opening of the festival.
The absence of notification of film selection from the festival by the above-mentioned dates, should indicate that the film was not selected for the 24th edition of Doclisboa. However, the festival will make every effort to inform all applicants of their film’s status via e-mail.
The festival is responsible for selecting the films that make up the entire programme. The Selection Committee will determine the section to which a film is invited, and this information will be communicated to the applicant via email. The decision of the Selection Committee is final.
After confirming the selection, the festival must be informed of any changes to the film’s premiere status.
5.2 Screenings
Any selected film can have up to three (3) public screenings over the duration of the festival. Films in competition may also be exhibited in closed-off private screenings, aimed specifically at jury viewings.
The dates, times and venues of the screenings will be determined by Doclisboa and shared with the rights holder upon completion of the scheduling process.
Any selected film may take part in the festival’s Education Project programme, if so decided by the Selection Committee and Apordoc’s Education Project team.
Films that win an award or receive a special mention in any of the competitive categories may be selected for one (1) additional public screening, to take place after the festival. These screenings are programmed by the Selection Committee in collaboration with the festival’s Direction.
5.3 Screening Fees
The festival won’t cover any screening rights or technical fees of films in competition.
6. Communication and Press Materials
6.1 Immediately after selection confirmation, all materials that are NOT requested in the film(s) registration form on the Eventival platform must be sent via e-mail.
Such as:
• Screener of the film – identical version of the exhibition copy – for subtitling and press promotion purposes;
• Dialogue list in English for purposes of Portuguese translation (if applicable);
• Screening copy (identical to the screening version of the film) for live-subtitling purposes;
• Film’s poster (if available), for online promotion;
• Film’s press kit and/or clipping (if available);
• Film’s premiere status, as well as previous festivals and awards (if applicable).
6.2 All texts used to promote films, sections, and programmes in the festival’s communication materials (catalogue, newspaper, website, and media platforms) are at the sole discretion of Doclisboa and are based on the information provided by the rights holders for the selected films.
6.3 The festival is responsible for the affixation/promotion of posters, postcards or any other physical promotional materials of the selected films. These can be delivered by post-office/courier services (costs to be borne by the rights holders) or brought by any representative of the film who attends the festival.
6.4 In the event that video excerpts are not available and/or are not sent over, the festival is permitted to copy an excerpt from the film, of up to three (3) minutes, for promotional use via TV, radio and Internet. For short films, the total duration of the excerpts is not to exceed more than 10% of the film running time.
6.5 The remaining materials (press kit, clipping, digital posters, etc.) can also be included in the festival promotion.
6.6 After selection, the rights holders are responsible for informing the festival of any change in the films’ montage from the submitted/selected version of the film. This is crucial information, as the translation process will begin as soon as the film is confirmed, based on the last received screener of the film.
6.7 The festival may provide authorized private viewing access to the programmed films for selected journalists and critics, for press and promotional purposes.
7. Hospitality
7.1 Upon invitation, the festival will inform the director and/or film representative of the hospitality conditions offered. These conditions will vary depending on the premiere status of the invited film, the programme it has been selected for, Portuguese distribution rights or the participation of guests in other festival events. All guests visiting Lisbon will be subject to a tourist tax of 4 euros per night, not covered by the festival.
7.2 Doclisboa’ guests are not covered by the insurance of the festival.
7.3 Presentation/Debate of Screenings and Premiere Protocol
Doclisboa values and promotes the communication between the film’s team and its audience. Directors and other film representatives that attend the festival are expected to present and/or debate the public screenings of their film.
The complete calendar for participation in screenings and events, as well as other relevant details, will be sent via e-mail close to the festival dates.
The films holding their World, International or European Premiere at Doclisboa will also receive a Premiere Protocol.
8. Screening Copies, Shipping and Other Important Arrangements
8.1 All the selected films must have English-subtitled screening copies, except for the ones that are in English.
8.2 The screening copies of the selected films must be provided in one of the following formats: DCP, 35mm, 16mm. Compliance with these screening formats is important to ensure the screening of the film in the best conditions. If a film needs to be exhibited in a format not listed above, the festival must be informed in a timely manner so that a suitable solution can be arranged. The festival is not responsible for converting files that do not comply with the specified formats
8.3 Until September 14 2026, the copy of the selected film (in the right screening format) should be delivered to the festival. The following delivery options are available:
– digital delivery of the DCP, through an upload to the official MyAirBridge platform: https://doclisboa.myairbridge.com/;
– digital delivery of the DCP, by providing download options from other online safe delivery platforms;
– physical delivery of exhibition format (16mm, 35mm or DCP), duly arranged with the festival’s Print Traffic team.
For this option, the costs of shipping the film to Portugal will be borne by the participant. The festival will cover the costs of customs clearance in Portugal and the return of the film to its country of origin. In the latter case, any customs duties in the country of origin remain the responsibility of the participant.
For physical delivery of films from non-EU countries, the print must be accompanied by a pro-forma invoice including the sender’s name, the film title, weight, measurements and number of reels.
8.4 When the festival is responsible for the transportation of a film, transportation insurance will be granted. After receiving the copies of the films, the festival is responsible for them until they are returned .
8.5 All films screened in the competitive sections of the festival must remain until their conclusion and will be returned only after the closing ceremony.
9. Video Library
9.1 The festival reserves the right to select films from its programme to take part in an online and/or physical video library dedicated to its current edition, at no additional cost. This secured platform would offer festival accredited Industry Professionals and Press a private access to the films included. It would be available during the festival, until a date to be confirmed
9.2 To this end, all participants will be asked to provide a Quicktime H.264 or DVD of the selected movie for inclusion in the digital Video Library.
9.3 If this option is available, the festival will ensure that Press access is given through private secured links from the Online Video Library. These will have a restricted time-limit and number of possible views.
10. Nonspecific Cases and Exceptions
The festival board will decide on all matters that are not covered by these regulations, in accordance with the international rules of film festivals.
Disclaimer: In the event of any discrepancy between the Portuguese and English versions of these regulations, the Portuguese version shall prevail.