OPEN CALL BIOSFERA AWARD 2026

OPEN CALL: BIOSFERA AWARD TO SUPPORT FILM CREATION

OPEN CALL DESCRIPTION

The call for proposals seeks projects that address one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda in the specific context of Menorca.

Three documentary short film projects will be selected to receive support from the Menorca Film Commission and the Menorca Tourism Promotion Foundation, with a production grant of €3,500 (taxes included). The payment will be structured as follows: 50% upon awarding of the grant and 50% upon submission of the project report along with the final short film. The award also includes documentary script training with the guidance of a mentor, aiming to support the creative and production process while ensuring technical, narrative, and content quality.

PHASES AND TIMELINE

Pre-production: until April 2026

Online group mentoring: March 12–13 (to be agreed upon by the parties).
Script residency at Casa d’Artistes: April 17–19 (exact dates to be confirmed).
Development of the short film script or treatment.
Production planning, location scouting, permit processing, etc.

Production: April – July 2026

Filming & material review, according to the agreed schedule beforehand.
Individual online mentoring: between May and July.
Es FAR Cultural and Casa d’Artistes will offer the necessary support and guidance to ensure that the objectives of the call for proposals are met.

Post-production: September 2026

Editing of the short film and mentorship-based review.
Final review of the short film in post-production.

SUBMISSIONS

Delivery of the Press Kit: September 10, 2026
Photograph of the authors (minimum resolution 150 dpi, 10×15 cm).
Brief text with the trajectory of the authors.
Synopsis of the film.
Promotional image of the film or poster.
3 Pictures of the film for promotion.
Trailer for projection and promotion in mp4 high quality H264.

Delivery final copy: September 25, 2026
Master copy for projection in mp4 high quality H264 8 bits (minimum).
Master copy for projection in DCP.
Subtitle file in Catalan and/or Spanish (delivery of file .srt).
The deliverable material must meet professional quality criteria.

DISTRIBUTION

Menorca Doc Fest Programming • October 2026

The resulting short films will be programmed and premiered as part of the 8th edition of MDF, within the BIOSPHERE Documentary Creation section, taking place over the weekend of October 16–18, 2026. The presence of the filmmakers at the premiere is mandatory.

MDF 2025 Audience Award

The documentary that receives the most votes from the audience during the screening will be awarded the Biosphere Audience Award.

Additional Screenings

The organizers of this call—Menorca Doc Fest, Menorca Film Commission, Fundación Fomento del Turismo de Menorca, and Menorca Preservation—reserve the right to arrange non-competitive public screenings at partner festivals, professional events, or film showcases to promote the award and the filmmakers. These screenings will always be coordinated with the filmmakers to determine whether their presence is required. The costs related to production, screenings, promotion, or associated expenses will be covered by the organizers.

2. PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

General Requirements:

Both emerging and established creators, as well as audiovisual production companies, may participate. Teams must consist of at least two people.
Projects must be newly created or in progress. Completed projects will not be accepted.
In-person participation in the script residency and agreed mentorship sessions is mandatory.
Teams must sign a sustainability commitment for the duration of the filming process.
The project’s theme and the resulting film are open-ended, as long as they align with the purpose and objectives of the call.
Content that disrespects any individual, group, community, or entity will not be accepted. The project must not promote proselytism, a specific political or religious agenda, or hate speech.
The Fundació de Foment del Turismo de Menorca (FFTM) – Menorca Film Commission will have the right to use the video for a non-commercial purpose for five years from the premiere date. The documentary may be subtitled in different languages for distribution.
The documentary must include the following logos: Menorca Doc Fest, Menorca Film Commission, Menorca Consell Insular de Menorca, Institut d’Estudis Baleàrics, Menorca Preservation, and Ajuntament de Sant Lluís. The Menorca Doc Fest organization will provide these logos during the post-production stage.

Exclusions:

Actions that go against the FFTM’s objectives, as stated in its statutes, or with the goals of Menorca Doc Fest.
Creators or audiovisual production companies that were directors, screenwriters, or producers of the 2025 Biosphere Grant-winning project can not take main roles. However, these individuals may still be part of a production team.
Actions that contradict Organic Law 3/2007, of March 22, for effective equality between women and men, or that violate Article 14 of the Spanish Constitution.

Requirements for the Final Films:

The short film must have a minimum duration of 8 minutes and a maximum of 25 minutes.
Producers and directors must hold all rights to the produced work and have legal authorization for all images and audio used.
The short film must be recorded in 4K resolution (recommended) or a minimum of Full HD (1080p).
Direct sound must be recorded using an external microphone and audio recorder, with a minimum quality of 44,100 Hz (recommended: 48,000 Hz, 32-bit).
The final films must be in original version (VO) in Catalan and/or Spanish, with subtitles in Catalan and/or Spanish.