Festival Internacional de Cine de Sax 2027 – Spain

What to expect

The Festival Internacional de Cine de Sax is an international film festival held in Sax, Alicante, bringing together filmmakers, actors, film professionals and audiences around independent cinema. The festival was founded in 2006 and has developed into an established meeting point for both cinema enthusiasts and industry professionals. Its programme combines competitive short films and feature-film projects with screenings, talks, presentations, exhibitions, concerts, workshops, tributes and meetings with filmmakers.

For 2027, the festival is expected to continue its focus on emerging filmmakers and independent audiovisual work, while maintaining its connection with Alicante’s cultural and filmmaking community. The 2026 edition demonstrated the breadth of the festival, with an Official Short Film Section, feature-film projects, children’s and youth programming, premieres, exhibitions, conferences, book presentations, invited films, concerts and award ceremonies.

One of the festival’s most important distinctions is its relationship with the Spanish Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences. The festival has been recognised as a qualifying festival for the Goya Awards, with its fiction, animation and documentary short-film categories connected to Goya consideration.

The event also has a strong community character. Screenings have traditionally been presented in an informal environment, including outdoor cinema, while audiences can participate in voting for the Audience Award. This makes the festival suitable for visitors looking for a more intimate alternative to Spain’s larger metropolitan film festivals.

Festival dates

July 2027 (Dates TBD)

The 2027 dates have not yet been officially announced on the festival’s website. The July timing is based on the festival’s established scheduling pattern and the user’s requested 2027 listing designation. Previous editions have taken place during the summer period, while the exact 2027 programme and daily schedule should be confirmed through the official festival website once released.

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

Venues & festival locations

The principal festival location is the Centro de Estudios y Archivo Histórico Municipal Alberto Sols (CEAHM), also known as Casa Alberto Sols, at Calle Mayor 30, Sax, Alicante. The building is located in Sax’s historic centre and functions as a multidisciplinary cultural space. It contains a projection room, exhibition areas and a large patio that can accommodate cultural events and outdoor screenings.

The patio of Casa Alberto Sols has been particularly important to the festival’s identity. Previous programming has used the outdoor space for Official Section screenings, premieres, special film presentations and the closing ceremony.

Because the festival can incorporate additional cultural spaces and activities around Sax, visitors should check the official programme before attending individual sessions.

Full programme

The detailed 2027 programme has not yet been published. Based on the festival’s established format and recent editions, visitors can expect a combination of competitive cinema and complementary cultural activities.

The programme can include:

• Official short-film competition
• Fiction, animation and documentary screenings
• Alicante-related short-film selections
• Valencian-language cinema
• Social and socially relevant short films
• Artificial-intelligence film competition
• Feature-film development projects
• Special screenings and invited films
• Film premieres
• Children’s and youth sessions
• Directors’ presentations
• Talks, conferences and colloquiums
• Book presentations
• Exhibitions
• Workshops and educational activities
• Music and cultural performances
• Opening and closing ceremonies

The recent festival structure shows that the event is not limited to film screenings. Its organisers combine cinema with educational, artistic and cultural programming, giving visitors several ways to engage with the local film community.

Featured films & premieres

The 2027 film selection has not been announced, so specific titles should not be treated as confirmed.

The festival’s recent editions have included premieres and special screenings alongside the Official Selection. Previous programming has featured films presented personally by their directors, creating opportunities for audiences to hear directly about the creative process behind a production.

The festival also accepts projects at different stages of development, meaning that its feature-film programme can provide insight into projects before their commercial release. Recent rules have allowed feature-film projects at any production stage, supported by materials such as teasers, scenes, scripts, treatments, storyboards and visual development material.

Directors, actors & guests

The festival has a strong tradition of inviting filmmakers and audiovisual professionals to Sax. Recent editions have featured directors, actors, writers, producers, journalists, animators and other creative professionals.

Recent guests and participants have included professionals such as Sonia Almarcha, Marc Azéma, Jandro, Antonio Sempere, Carlos Escolano, Olga Alamán and other filmmakers connected with the selected works and festival activities.

The festival’s broader history has also included professionals such as actor and director Aldo Sambrell, animator and director Raúl García, actor Carlos Santos, director and producer Gonzalo García Pelayo, composer Luis Ivars, writer and critic Carlos Aguilar and video-game designer Jordan Mechner.

The 2027 guest list remains unannounced.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2027 screening schedule has not yet been released. Visitors should use the official programme when it becomes available because individual screening times, locations and presentation arrangements can vary.

Based on recent editions, evening screenings have been an important part of the festival, particularly outdoor sessions in the Casa Alberto Sols patio. Official Selection screenings have also incorporated audience voting, giving attendees a direct role in the competition.

Special screenings can include premieres, invited films and presentations by directors or members of the creative team. A typical festival visit can therefore involve both scheduled screenings and accompanying discussions or presentations.

Ticket types & accreditation

The festival has traditionally placed considerable emphasis on public accessibility. Official festival material describes its cinema cycles as free and open to audiences, while recent special screenings and the closing gala have also been advertised as free admission.

For visitors attending the public programme, the expected ticket cost is therefore:

• General festival screenings: $0
• Outdoor/special public screenings: $0
• Closing programme: $0, based on recent editions

The festival also has separate submission procedures for filmmakers. These should not be confused with audience admission. Recent filmmaker submissions through Festhome carried a fee of approximately $16 USD for the standard submission, based on the published euro fee and exchange-rate conversion at the time of research.

The 2027 filmmaker submission fee and accreditation arrangements have not yet been announced.

Industry & professional access

The festival provides opportunities for filmmakers and audiovisual professionals to meet, present projects and discuss their work. Its programme has historically included professional meetings, conferences, presentations, workshops and project development activities.

Feature-film projects can be presented at different stages of production, making the event relevant not only to completed-film creators but also to producers and directors developing future projects.

The festival’s Goya-qualifying status also adds professional significance to selected short-film categories. Recent rules identify fiction, animation and documentary short-film awards as Goya qualifiers.

Red carpet & special events

The Festival Internacional de Cine de Sax has a more intimate cultural atmosphere than a large commercial red-carpet festival. Its special events focus on premieres, guest appearances, award presentations, tributes and filmmaker encounters.

Recent programming has included opening and closing ceremonies, special film premieres, invited productions, exhibitions, concerts and career awards.

A particularly strong feature is the combination of film and live presentation. Special screenings have included introductions from directors, producers, cinematographers and actors, allowing audiences to engage with the people behind the productions.

The 2027 special-event programme has not yet been confirmed.

Festival rules

Filmmakers should wait for the official 2027 regulations before submitting work. Recent rules provide a useful indication of the festival’s selection framework.

The latest published regulations allowed filmmakers of any nationality and residence to participate, subject to the festival’s eligibility requirements. Multiple works could be submitted, while genre and subject were generally open.

Recent rules required dialogue and/or subtitles in Spanish for competition works, with quality requirements and restrictions concerning content that violates human rights. Short films could have a maximum duration of 59 minutes, while feature-film projects could be submitted at different stages of production.

The festival also maintained a dedicated competition for films created primarily using artificial-intelligence models, with originality and copyright compliance required.

How to get there

Sax is located in the Alto Vinalopó area of Alicante province. The town is connected to Alicante by the A-31 motorway and also has road connections towards the interior through the CV-80 and wider A-7 network.

For international visitors, Alicante is the most practical major gateway. Alicante-Elche Airport has connections with numerous Spanish and European destinations, while Alicante also has long-distance rail and bus connections.

From Alicante, visitors can continue to Sax by train, bus or car. The festival venue is located in the historic centre, so travellers should allow additional time to walk from transport stops to Casa Alberto Sols.

Public transport & parking

Sax has a railway station with connections on the Alicante–Valencia corridor, and the municipal tourism information notes that the station is less than a kilometre from the town centre.

Local and regional bus services also connect Sax with Alicante and surrounding communities. The municipality publishes current train and bus information through its public-transport information page, making it the best place to verify schedules before travelling.

Visitors arriving by car can use the town’s surrounding streets and public parking options, although the exact availability around the festival venue may vary. Since Casa Alberto Sols is in the historic centre, walking from a nearby parking area may be more convenient than attempting to park directly beside the venue.

Accommodation areas

Sax itself is the most convenient choice for visitors who want to remain close to the festival atmosphere. Staying within the town makes it easier to walk between the historic centre, restaurants and festival activities.

Elda and Villena provide useful alternatives for visitors who prefer a larger selection of accommodation and services. Alicante is another option, particularly for international visitors combining the festival with a longer stay on the Costa Blanca.

For festival-focused trips, staying in Sax or nearby Alto Vinalopó towns can reduce daily travel and make evening screenings easier to attend.

Food & dining

Visitors can combine the festival with Sax’s local food culture and the wider gastronomy of Alicante province. The town’s central area provides opportunities for casual meals, cafés and traditional Spanish dining between screenings.

For a longer stay, the surrounding Alto Vinalopó area offers additional restaurants and regional food experiences. Alicante also provides a much wider choice of restaurants, from traditional Valencian cuisine to Mediterranean seafood and international dining.

Because programme activities can extend into the evening, visitors should consider eating before a late screening or checking restaurant opening arrangements in advance.

Accessibility

The Centro de Estudios y Archivo Histórico Municipal Alberto Sols has an accessibility plan for people with physical limitations, according to Sax municipal information. This is particularly relevant because the CEAHM is the festival’s principal venue.

The venue itself includes a projection room and cultural spaces within a historic building, so visitors with specific mobility or accessibility requirements should confirm arrangements with the organisers before attending a particular activity.

Recent festival programming has also demonstrated attention to accessible presentation, including a feature-film project shown with audio description and sign-language support.

Best screenings to attend

For first-time visitors, the Official Short Film Section is one of the strongest ways to experience the festival because it represents the competitive heart of the event and gives audiences an opportunity to discover emerging filmmakers.

Outdoor evening screenings in the Casa Alberto Sols patio are another excellent choice. They combine cinema with the distinctive atmosphere of Sax’s historic centre and have been an established part of recent festival programming.

Special premieres are particularly worthwhile when filmmakers or members of the creative team are present. These sessions provide more context than a conventional cinema screening and can be among the most memorable festival experiences.

The closing programme is also a strong option for visitors interested in awards and festival highlights, as recent editions have combined prize presentations with screenings of winning works.

Previous year’s highlights

The most recent completed edition marked a major milestone for the festival. Its programme featured an Official Selection of 33 finalist short films, a children’s and youth session, premieres, an exhibition, meetings, conferences, colloquiums, feature-film projects, book presentations, invited films, a concert, a commemorative programme and opening and closing galas.

The edition also highlighted the connection between cinema, science, technology and local heritage. One notable presentation revisited the historic film Moros y Cristianos en Sax, while the festival celebrated its long-running connection with the town.

The competition recognised works across fiction, animation, documentary, social cinema, Alicante filmmaking, Valencian-language cinema and artificial-intelligence filmmaking. The main feature-film project award went to Mutis, while the fiction short-film award went to Cara de cona.

The Audience Award went to Guía para circular por las aceras, while Sonia Almarcha received the festival’s career recognition.

The preceding edition also featured the premiere of Rupestres, presented by director Marc Azéma, alongside other public screenings and a closing ceremony featuring award presentations and performances.

Official tickets & accreditation

For official 2027 information, visitors should use the festival’s own website for programme announcements, public admission information, filmmaker regulations and accreditation instructions.

Festival Internacional de Cine de Sax – Official Website (https://www.festivalcinesax.com/)

The festival’s official programme page is also the appropriate place to check the latest screening information when the 2027 schedule is published.

Filmmakers can also monitor the festival’s official submission channels, including Festhome and FilmFreeway, for future calls and eligibility requirements. Recent competition submissions were handled through those platforms.