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International
Competition 2027
Made a documentary short or mid-length film? Submit it to LimaDocs and screen it in Lima, Peru, from 13 to 22 May 2027, to audiences that fill the theatres.
- Deadline
- 17 March 2027
- Running time
- Up to 59 min
- Entry fee
- From USD 10
- Results
- April 2027
Is my film eligible?
We look for audiovisual exploration, aesthetic independence, bold use of form and a plurality of themes: films that engage with knowledge and with social, cultural, environmental or personal issues of our time, and that dare to explore the unexpected.
- Format
- Documentary shorts and mid-length films
- Running time
- Up to 59 minutes, credits included
- Completed
- January 2025 or later
- Who can apply
- Filmmakers from any country
- Entry fee
- USD 10 until 25 February · USD 15 from 26 February to 17 March
- Award
- Cash prize for Best Documentary (amount to be confirmed)
Key dates
15 Nov 2026
Call for entries opens
25 Feb 2027
Last day of the USD 10 regular fee
17 Mar 2027
Final deadline, 23:59 Lima time (UTC-5)
April 2027
Selected films announced
13–22 May 2027
LimaDocs festival in Lima, Peru
How to submit
01
Read the rules
Check that your film is eligible. Submitting means you accept the rules and commit to take part if selected.
02
Submit on FilmFreeway or Festhome
These are the only submission platforms. Tell us whether you are sending a final cut, a rough cut or a work in progress.
03
Wait for the results
We announce the selection in April 2027 on our social media and on this website.
Before you submit
- Submit the film in its original language. If it is not in Spanish, we need a copy with embedded Spanish subtitles.
- We give priority to Peruvian, international and world premieres. Tell us which festivals the film has already played at.
- Music videos, promotional pieces and works distributed for free online, on DVD or on Blu-ray are not accepted. Films on password-protected platforms are fine.
- If selected, we will ask for a DCP, Apple ProRes 422 or H.264 file. Do not send it until you receive delivery instructions.
- The festival does not pay screening fees.
- If selected, please do not announce it until we publish the official programme.
Why premiere at LimaDocs
In two editions, LimaDocs has become Peru's meeting point for documentary cinema. Films are presented by their makers and followed by conversations with the audience. In 2026 we screened at venues such as Cineplanet Alcázar, the MALI art museum and Universidad de Lima, as well as in neighbourhoods outside the city centre such as Villa El Salvador and Chorrillos.
4,500
attendees in 10 days
70%
of screenings sold out
300+
films submitted
83
films screened
15
countries represented
40+
media outlets covered us
Figures from the 2nd edition (May 2026).
“At last, a festival devoted to documentaries.”
Alfonso Rivadeneyra, El Comercio
“You see a protean programme, a lot going on, several venues and an extraordinary effort.”
Hugo Aguirre, Somos Cultura (Radio Nacional)
“Long live LimaDocs.”
Ricardo Bedoya, Maldeojo
Press quotes translated from Spanish.
FAQ
How much does it cost to submit?
USD 10 until 25 February 2027 and USD 15 from 26 February until the final deadline on 17 March 2027.
Can I submit an unfinished film?
Yes. You can send a rough cut or a work in progress, as long as you say so when you submit.
My film has already premiered. Can I still apply?
We give priority to premieres, but films that have already screened may be accepted at the programming team's discretion. List the festivals where it has played.
Does my film need Spanish subtitles?
If the film is not in Spanish, yes: the screening copy must have embedded Spanish subtitles.
Is there an international competition for feature films?
Not in this edition. The International Competition accepts films of up to 59 minutes.
What happens if my film is selected?
We will ask for a registration form, a trailer or clip, poster, vertical and horizontal images, stills, a short synopsis, full credits, contact details, and the director's biography and photo. Selected films may also join LimaDocs showcases in Peru and abroad during 2027 and 2028.
Other questions? Write to contacto@limadocs.org.
Peruvian filmmaker? The three Peruvian competitions are free: see them in Spanish.
Deadline: 17 March 2027, 23:59 Lima time