Gáldar Film Festival Gains Prestigious Goya Awards Status
The International Film Festival of Gáldar (FIC Gáldar) has been officially recognized as a qualifying festival for Spain’s prestigious Goya Awards, the festival’s production team announced this Monday. This accreditation means winning short films at FIC Gáldar will automatically advance to the official preselection for Best Fiction Short Film, Best Documentary Short, or Best Animated Short at the Goya Awards starting in 2026—the year Spain’s top film honors celebrate their 40th anniversary.
A First for Gran Canaria, a Milestone for Canarian Cinema
With this distinction, FIC Gáldar becomes Gran Canaria’s first festival to earn Goya preselector status and the second in the Canary Islands overall, following the Lanzarote International Film Festival, which has held the accreditation since 2018. The production team emphasized that qualifying as a Goya preselector requires meeting rigorous criteria: a proven track record, consistent programming, competitive sections with professional juries, national and international reach, and a strong commitment to promoting Spanish cinema and emerging talent.
Rigorous Standards for Prestige
The Spanish Film Academy also evaluates organizational transparency, programming quality, and a festival’s ties to the audiovisual industry. This official accreditation—reserved for festivals demonstrating excellence in professionalism, outreach, transparency, and dedication to national cinema—places FIC Gáldar among only 33 Spanish festivals with this honor.
A Gateway for Filmmakers
Julio Mateo Castillo, Gáldar’s Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture, called the recognition “a direct gateway to the Goya Awards for filmmakers competing in Gáldar.” He added that the distinction “raises the festival’s prestige to the level of Spain’s major film events and reinforces the Canary Islands’ commitment to culture and cinema from a non-metropolitan location like Gáldar.”
Elevating Industry Appeal
Beyond boosting FIC Gáldar’s national reputation, the Goya preselector status transforms it into a strategic platform for filmmakers, distributors, and producers aiming for Spain’s highest cinematic honors. The accreditation significantly enhances the festival’s appeal to participants, institutions, and audiovisual professionals alike.
