Torrejón de Ardoz City Council has opened registration for the IX edition of the 'Reyes Abades' Short Film Competition, which will remain open until September 24. Participants must be over 18 years old and residents in Spain with original works of up to 15 minutes.
Torrejón de Ardoz City Council has launched a new edition of the 'Reyes Abades' Short Film Competition, a contest that pays tribute to the renowned special effects technician who passed away in 2018 and had a close connection to the town. The registration period for this ninth edition opened this Thursday and will last until September 24.
The initiative, organised by the Torrejonero City Council, aims to promote local audiovisual talent and foster cinematic culture in the city. Individuals over 18 years old, both Spanish and foreign, may participate as long as they reside in Spain by the end of the registration period.
The short films must have been produced after November 10, 2025, and have a maximum duration of 15 minutes, including title and credits. The theme is free, and works of fiction, documentary, animation, or any other genre are accepted. Pieces must be submitted in their original version; if the original language is not Spanish, Spanish subtitles must be included.
One of the fundamental requirements is that the works are original, unpublished, and owned by the author. Registration is done through a form available on the municipal website, where participants must attach a link to YouTube or Vimeo for viewing the short film. If the video is private, the corresponding password must be included.
The competition includes a total of seven awards, distributed across different categories. A professional jury will award three prizes: the best short film will receive €1,500; the best local short film will also receive €1,500; and a special mention for a local short film, worth €1,000. Additionally, the public will be able to choose their favourite short film among the non-local entries, with a prize of €1,500.
The youth jury, composed of local young people, will award two prizes of €1,000 each: one for the best national short film and another for the best local one. Finally, a special award for the best special effects will consist of a master class for four team members at the Reyes Abades production studios, whose professionals will act as judges for this category. To be eligible for this award, the contribution of the making-of of the short film will be evaluated.
During October and November, public screenings will be held featuring the short films selected by the professional jury. The attending audience will be responsible for deciding the audience award. The names of the winners will be announced in November. After the awards ceremony, all local short films submitted will be available for viewing for a month through a banner on the website www.torrejoncultural.es.
With this initiative, Torrejón de Ardoz keeps alive the legacy of Reyes Abades, one of the great masters of special effects in Spanish cinema, whose company is based in the city. The competition has established itself as a key event for audiovisual creators, especially for those with ties to the Community of Madrid.
The complete rules of the competition are available on the culture page of the Torrejón de Ardoz City Council. Interested parties can consult them to resolve any questions regarding technical requirements, the registration process, or the evaluation criteria of the juries.
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