Festival de Cine de Comedia de Tarazona y el Moncayo 2027 – Spain

What to expect

The Festival de Cine de Comedia de Tarazona y el Moncayo “Paco Martínez Soria” is a specialist Spanish film festival dedicated to comedy and one of the best-known events of its kind in the Spanish-speaking cinema circuit. Based in Tarazona, Zaragoza, the festival combines competitive cinema screenings with filmmaker meetings, comedy performances, workshops, talks, live entertainment and special cultural activities.

The festival has developed a strong identity around comedy as a serious cinematic genre, giving emerging directors, actors, screenwriters and production teams an opportunity to present their work to audiences and industry professionals. Its programme traditionally combines short films with feature-length productions and complements the competition with activities designed for a broader public.

The festival is particularly important for Spanish short-film creators. Its official competition has been connected with the preselection process for the Goya Awards and also participates in the qualifying systems associated with the José María Forqué Awards and the Fugaz Awards. This gives selected and winning short films an additional professional pathway beyond the festival itself.

The atmosphere is also an important part of the experience. Rather than functioning solely as a cinema screening programme, the event brings comedy into theatres, cultural spaces and public areas around Tarazona. Recent editions have included stand-up performances, live podcasts, music, educational activities, filmmaker workshops and meetings with well-known actors and comedians.

The 2027 programme is not yet fully published, so individual films, guests, activities and venues should be regarded as unannounced until confirmed by the organiser.

Festival dates

August 2027 – Dates TBD

The 2027 edition is planned for August in Tarazona, Zaragoza, Spain. The exact opening and closing dates have not yet been announced by the festival, so visitors should check the official festival website for the confirmed calendar before making travel arrangements.

The event is an established recurring festival, with more than two decades of editions and a consistent focus on Spanish comedy cinema. Recent editions have followed a multi-day format combining competition screenings, cultural activities, professional meetings, workshops and closing celebrations.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venues & festival locations

The main festival venue is the Teatro Bellas Artes de Tarazona, an important cultural and cinematic location in the city. It has hosted the official short-film competition, feature-film screenings, opening activities, filmmaker encounters and major ceremonies.

The theatre has particular historical relevance because Tarazona is the birthplace of Francisco Martínez Soria, the celebrated Spanish actor whose name is incorporated into the festival’s official title.

Recent editions have also expanded beyond conventional cinema screenings. Additional activities have taken place at locations such as Palacio de Eguarás, local hospitality venues and cultural spaces in Tarazona and the surrounding comarca. Some educational and family-oriented activities have also travelled to other municipalities in the area.

For 2027, the final venue plan has not yet been announced. The Teatro Bellas Artes should be considered the key reference location based on the festival’s established format, while additional spaces will depend on the official programme.

Full programme

The complete 2027 programme has not yet been released. Based on the festival’s established structure, visitors can expect a combination of competitive film screenings, feature presentations, comedy-related activities and cultural events.

The core programme is expected to include:

• Official national comedy short-film competition
• Feature-film competition or selection
• Public screenings
• Filmmaker and professional discussions
• Actor and director encounters
• Comedy performances
• Film-related workshops
• Educational activities
• Family programming
• Live podcasts or recorded conversations
• Music and entertainment
• Opening and closing ceremonies
• Awards presentations
• Special tributes and career recognitions

The most recent edition expanded the festival’s feature-film focus with an official Ibero-American comedy feature section, while the short-film competition attracted hundreds of submissions before the selection committee chose the official programme.

The festival also has a strong educational side. Its short-film production workshop allows participants to experience filmmaking from inside the production process, with participation extending across different age groups.

Featured films & premieres

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced, so there are currently no confirmed titles that should be presented as official 2027 premieres.

The festival’s short-film competition is the strongest recurring component. Recent selections have included fiction, animation and different styles of comedy, with films selected from a large national submission pool. The organiser has emphasised both the quality and variety of the works received.

The most recent selection included titles such as Cara de cona, Epifanía, In memoriam, Influyencers, Montecarlo 67, Quinto primera, Rodeo, Sota el sol and Tenéis que verlo. These titles belong to the previous edition and should not be interpreted as part of the 2027 programme.

For visitors, the best approach is to wait for the official 2027 selection announcement. The festival’s competitive programme is particularly valuable for discovering Spanish filmmakers before their work reaches wider festival and distribution circuits.

Directors, actors & guests

The final 2027 guest list has not yet been announced.

Guest participation is nevertheless one of the festival’s defining features. Previous editions have welcomed established actors, comedians, directors, writers and other cinema professionals, with special recognition given to figures who have made an important contribution to comedy.

The festival has recently honoured personalities including Salva Reina, Toni Acosta, Susana Abaitua and Mariona Terés. Earlier recognition has also been given to performers such as Vanesa Romero, Luis Zahera and Eduard Fernández.

These appearances demonstrate that the event is not limited to emerging filmmakers. The festival combines new talent with established names, creating opportunities for audiences to see professionals discussing their careers and relationship with comedy.

Once the 2027 programme is announced, visitors should check the official guest announcements for confirmed directors, actors, presenters and special guests.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2027 screening schedule has not yet been published.

Based on the festival’s established structure, screenings are likely to be organised into dedicated short-film competition sessions, feature-film presentations and additional special screenings. Competition films are generally grouped into sessions so that audiences can see several productions during a single programme.

The Teatro Bellas Artes is the central reference venue for official competition screenings. The festival’s schedule may also include non-competitive films, opening presentations, documentary or cultural material and special cinema-related events.

Visitors should avoid planning individual screening times until the official programme is released. The festival normally publishes detailed programme information through its website and associated communication channels.

Ticket types & accreditation

Public ticket information for the 2027 edition has not yet been announced.

The festival’s recent programme shows that admission arrangements can vary according to the type of activity. Standard cinema screenings and special cultural activities may have different access arrangements, while stand-up performances and particular entertainment events can require individual tickets.

As a reference, a recent paid comedy performance associated with the festival was priced at approximately $14, with a reduced cultural-card price of approximately $10. This is based on the previously published ticket price and should be treated as a previous-edition reference rather than a confirmed 2027 price.

Visitors should wait for the official 2027 ticket announcement before treating any price as final. Tickets for individual performances may be sold separately from cinema activities.

Industry & professional access

The festival has a meaningful professional dimension, particularly because of its role in promoting Spanish short filmmaking.

For filmmakers, participation can provide visibility before programmers, critics, audiences, actors, producers and other industry professionals. The official short-film competition is particularly valuable because its qualifying relationships can give successful films opportunities beyond Tarazona.

Professional activities can include filmmaker meetings, discussions, workshops, presentations and opportunities to meet other people working in Spanish cinema.

The festival also supports emerging creators through practical filmmaking activities. Its production workshop is designed to give participants hands-on experience of developing and making a short film, rather than simply studying cinema theoretically.

For industry visitors, the festival is therefore most interesting as a combination of exhibition, networking and talent-discovery platform.

Red carpet & special events

The festival traditionally gives considerable importance to its opening and closing ceremonies.

The closing gala at the Teatro Bellas Artes is particularly significant because it brings together the competition winners, filmmakers, guests, festival organisers and audiences. Awards for acting, directing, scriptwriting, photography, editing, art direction and music can form part of the overall recognition programme.

Recent editions have also included tributes to prominent comedy figures and special live performances.

The festival’s wider entertainment programme can include stand-up comedy, live music, podcasts and informal meetings. This combination gives the event a broader cultural identity than a traditional film competition.

The final 2027 red-carpet guests and special-event programme remain to be announced.

Festival rules

The official competition rules establish comedy as the central requirement for the short-film competition.

Recent regulations have allowed short films produced in different formats, including live action and animation, provided that they belong to the comedy genre. The competition has been open to filmmakers from across Spain, with responsibility for rights remaining with the participating authors.

Recent rules have also specified a maximum running time of 30 minutes for competing comedy shorts. Films in languages other than Spanish have been required to provide Spanish subtitles.

Selected films must meet the festival’s technical requirements for public exhibition. The organiser has used DCP projection for official competition screenings and has provided selected filmmakers with information about delivery requirements.

The exact 2027 regulations should be checked when the new call for entries is published because eligibility, production requirements, submission procedures and technical specifications can change between editions.

How to get there

Tarazona is a historic city in Zaragoza province, Aragón, in northeastern Spain. It is positioned close to the Aragón–Navarra border and is accessible from several larger cities in the region.

The most convenient major-city gateway for many international visitors is Zaragoza. From Zaragoza, travellers can continue towards Tarazona by road or regional transport.

Visitors travelling by car have the advantage of greater flexibility, particularly if they want to combine the festival with visits around the Moncayo area.

Tarazona itself is compact enough that visitors staying near the historic centre can reach many cultural locations on foot. This makes the city particularly convenient for festival visitors who want to attend several activities without relying on a car throughout their stay.

Public transport & parking

Regional bus services provide connections between Tarazona and Zaragoza and other towns in Aragón and surrounding regions. Visitors should check current operator timetables before travelling because service frequency can vary.

For those driving, Tarazona can be reached by road from Zaragoza and other nearby cities. Driving is particularly useful for visitors who want to explore the wider Moncayo area in addition to attending the festival.

Parking arrangements can vary according to the venue and activity. Visitors staying in central accommodation should ask their hotel or apartment provider about available parking before arrival.

Because many festival activities are concentrated around central cultural locations, visitors staying near the historic centre may find walking more convenient than driving between every event.

Accommodation areas

The best place to stay is generally central Tarazona, particularly for visitors who want easy access to the Teatro Bellas Artes and other cultural locations.

Accommodation options in and around the city can include:

• Historic centre — convenient for cultural attractions, restaurants and festival activities.
• Central Tarazona — practical for visitors attending several screenings and events.
• Outskirts of Tarazona — useful for travellers arriving by car and looking for easier parking.
• Towns around Moncayo — suitable for visitors combining the festival with rural tourism and nature activities.
• Zaragoza — an alternative for travellers who prefer a larger selection of hotels and are willing to commute.

Booking accommodation early is advisable once the 2027 festival programme is confirmed, particularly if special events attract visitors from outside the region.

Food & dining

Tarazona provides a strong local food culture that complements a cinema-focused visit.

Visitors can try traditional Aragonese dishes, Spanish tapas, local meats, seasonal vegetables and regional products. The city’s restaurants and cafés are also useful places for informal conversations between screenings.

The historic centre is particularly suitable for visitors who want to combine sightseeing with dining. Local establishments can provide a more relaxed alternative to eating around a busy festival venue.

For visitors interested in regional gastronomy, the wider Moncayo area offers opportunities to explore local wines, produce and traditional cuisine.

A festival visit can easily be combined with an evening meal after screenings, especially because many activities are concentrated around central Tarazona.

Accessibility

The festival’s principal theatre and cultural venues should be checked individually for current accessibility arrangements before attendance.

Visitors with mobility requirements should contact the festival or venue in advance to confirm step-free entrances, accessible seating, toilets and the most suitable route to the auditorium.

Tarazona’s historic character means that some streets and public spaces may have uneven surfaces or architectural limitations. The historic centre can also include sloped or narrow streets.

For specific accessibility requirements, contacting the festival organiser before purchasing or reserving tickets is recommended. The festival can be reached through info@cinetarazonaymoncayo.es or +34 696 13 87 51.

Best screenings to attend

Because the 2027 selection has not yet been announced, individual films cannot currently be ranked as confirmed must-see choices.

For the strongest overall festival experience, visitors should prioritise:

• Official short-film competition — the heart of the festival and the best place to discover emerging Spanish comedy filmmakers.
• Feature-film competition — particularly useful for audiences interested in longer-form comedy and Ibero-American cinema.
• Opening screening — a strong introduction to the festival’s atmosphere and artistic direction.
• Filmmaker Q&As — valuable for hearing directors and performers discuss their work.
• Award-winning films — useful for discovering productions recognised by the jury or audience.
• Comedy performances — ideal for visitors wanting entertainment beyond cinema.
• Professional meetings — particularly useful for filmmakers, students and industry visitors.
• Closing gala — the main opportunity to experience the awards, recognitions and festival atmosphere together.

Short-film sessions are especially worthwhile because they allow audiences to see several different approaches to comedy within a single programme.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition was particularly notable for expanding the festival’s feature-film competition and introducing an official Ibero-American comedy feature section. The programme also maintained its established national short-film competition.

The short-film selection contained 44 works chosen from 361 submissions, demonstrating the level of competition for a place in the official programme. The selected films included live-action and animated productions and represented a broad range of contemporary Spanish comedy.

The previous edition’s short-film awards included recognition for Best Short Film, Audience Award, Best Actor, Best Actress, Direction, Script, Cinematography, Editing, Art Direction and Original Music.

The festival also strengthened its professional importance through its qualifying relationships with the Goya Awards, José María Forqué Awards and Fugaz Awards. The main short-film prize carried a cash award of approximately $1,700, based on the published award amount, alongside a trophy and the associated qualifying opportunities.

The closing programme also recognised major figures from comedy and entertainment. Salva Reina and Toni Acosta were honoured as comedy talents, while Susana Abaitua and Mariona Terés received emerging or younger-talent recognitions.

The festival also extended beyond cinema through stand-up comedy, live podcasts, workshops, music and family activities. This broader programme is one of the reasons the event has become a significant cultural gathering for Tarazona and the surrounding Moncayo area.

Official tickets & accreditation

The official festival website is the best source for the confirmed 2027 programme, competition rules, public ticket information, guest announcements and professional opportunities.

Official website: Festival de Cine de Comedia de Tarazona y el Moncayo official website (https://www.cinetarazonaymoncayo.es/)

General contact: info@cinetarazonaymoncayo.es

Telephone: +34 696 13 87 51

The festival’s previous competition rules demonstrate that selected filmmakers can receive support connected with their participation, including accommodation arrangements for selected short-film competitors. The organiser also provides technical instructions for selected works and communicates screening and attendance conditions directly to participating filmmakers.

For audience members, public ticket arrangements should be checked once the 2027 programme is published. As a previous-edition reference, a separately ticketed comedy performance cost approximately $14, with a reduced price of approximately $10 for holders of the relevant cultural card. These figures are not confirmed 2027 prices.

The festival’s official website should therefore be treated as the authoritative source for final admission arrangements, programme information and filmmaker submissions.