With a program that brings together filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences passionate about cinema, the 16th edition of the José Ignacio International Film Festival will take place from January 24th to February 1st, 2026, in José Ignacio, Uruguay.
The festival has established itself as a key event on the region’s cultural calendar, combining screenings, training, and networking in a unique setting. José Ignacio, the home of JIIFF, combines open coastlines with the rustic charm of the Uruguayan countryside. The festival experience reflects the rhythm of this seaside village and explains much of its identity, its programming, and why it takes place here.
Over the course of a week, JIIFF hosts a film agenda as rich as it is varied, catering to different audiences of film lovers. Each year, the lineup includes a special selection of feature films both in and out of competition; a competition for Uruguayan short films; the ¡Corte! film workshop for under-18s; and Working JIIFF, the industry and training program involving more than 50 producers, screenwriters, and filmmakers from different countries. In the months leading up to the 16th edition, calls for submissions are open for the various JIIFF activities. It’s the perfect time to subscribe to the newsletter and stay up to date with all the news.
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As part of JIIFF’s activities in Cannes, Working JIIFF is pleased to announce the application guidelines for JIIFF Lab 2026, aimed at director-producer duos from Ibero-America with a fiction feature-film project in development. Representatives of the selected projects will travel to José Ignacio, Uruguay, from 27 to 31 January 2026 to take part in consulting, mentoring, and networking activities. At the end of the lab, one duo will receive the Pfeffer del Sur Fund, which awards US$ 50,000 for the project’s further development.
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In its upcoming edition, JIIFF Lab 2026 is proud to continue supporting the development of outstanding film projects from across Ibero-America through the Pfeffer del Sur Fund. Thanks to the generous support of the Pfeffer Family, a grant of US$ 50,000 (fifty thousand US dollars) will be awarded to one fiction feature film project participating in JIIFF Lab. At the conclusion of the lab, a final pitching session will be held, during which a jury of industry experts will select one project to receive the award.
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For the first year at Working JIIFF, the technical services and film equipment solutions company Musitelli awards a prize of $50,000 in filming equipment in Uruguay to one of the selected projects for JIIFF Lab 2026. This action reaffirms Musitelli's commitment to the development of the national and regional audiovisual sector, promoting new productions, co-productions, and especially supporting emerging talents.
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JIIFF returns to the Cannes Film Festival from May 13 to 19 aboard the Alhambra boat, establishing itself as a platform to promote Uruguayan cinema and culture, as well as to strengthen alliances among Latin American countries. With over fifteen events focused on boosting Uruguay’s film industry, the initiative aims to position the country on the international stage with the support of institutions such as ACAU, Uruguay XXI, the Ministry of Tourism, and Uruguay Audiovisual. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, the Pfeffer del Sur Fund will award a $50,000 prize to support an Ibero-American feature film project in development, fostering co-production and the growth of the audiovisual sector in the region.
In the N15 edition of JIIFF we programmed feature films in competition and also out of competition that were premieres for Uruguay. Like every year, the winning film was chosen by the audience, who chose The Kingdom by director Julien Colonna. JIIFF films were screened at three different locations in José Ignacio: Bajada de los Pescadores, Bodega Oceánica José Ignacio and Pavilion VIK.
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Do you want to join our allies?. Our Sponsors and Benefactors support us in continuing to generate impactful actions. Today, Uruguay is a regional and international attraction in the audiovisual ecosystem, and JIIFF is a driving force of this change. Contact: info@joseignaciofilmfestival.com
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