What Alcine does

Alcine (legal name: Alcine - Festival de Cine de Alcalá de Henares / Comunidad de Madrid) is a municipally organized, non-profit short film festival founded in 1971 in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain, and now in its 54th edition. It is operated by the Concejalia de Cultura (Culture Department) of the Alcalá de Henares city government in coordination with the Alcalá Film Office, and is the longest-running film festival in the Community of Madrid. Its core product portfolio centers on two Oscar®- and Goya-qualifying competitions (Certamen Nacional and Certamen Europeo), complemented by genre and audience sections — ALCINE Kids, (J)ALCINE comedy, AL(U)CINE fantasy/horror, ALCINE Equality, Short Music, and Open Screen for debut features — plus the CANTERA Short Film Lab for emerging filmmakers and the Alcalá Film Jam 72-hour filmmaking marathon.

The festival's revenue mechanics combine modest ticket sales (€3 per screening, €6+ for concerts, many events free), corporate sponsorship (CAMPARI as official aperitif, plus in-kind contributions from DAMA, SIA Media, Potenza Producciones, Feelsales, Anomalía Films, Prodigioso Volcán, Ilusión Iluminación, and Subtitula'm), publication and merchandise sales (Libros Alcine, catalogs, lottery/raffles), and institutional funding from the Community of Madrid, the University of Alcalá foundations, and Alcalá Film Office. Distribution spans physical venues (Teatro Salón Cervantes, Corral de Comedias, Capilla del Oidor, La Fábrica del Humor, La Casita del O'Donnell, Santa María La Rica), outdoor winter-solstice screenings (El Día Más Corto), prison screenings (Corto Prisión), school programs (ALCINE Junior, La Clase), and year-round digital streaming via the Filmin platform. The 54th edition in November 2025 drew more than 35,000 viewers with an 8% increase in theater attendance year-over-year.

Name

Alcine

Legal name

Alcine - Festival de Cine de Alcalá de Henares

Website

https://alcine.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alcine is a municipally organized, non-profit international short film festival in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, now in its 54th edition, operating Oscar®- and Goya-qualifying competitions alongside the CANTERA Short Film Lab, genre and children's sections, and year-round screening, education, and prison outreach programming for filmmakers and regional audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival / Cultural Events

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Short film festival
• Film competitions
• Screenings and galas
• Filmmaker professional development
• Audiovisual education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alcalá De Henares

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The festival sells tickets for screenings, galas, concerts, and special events. Ticket prices range from free admission (Opening Gala, Alcalá Film Jam screenings) to €3 per screening (Teatro Salón Cervantes) and €6+ for concerts (Hidrogenesse opening concert).
2. Film Submission Fees: The festival operates free and open submission periods for both National and European competitions, with specific deadlines (e.g., ALCINE 55 submissions open until July 20 at 2 p.m.).
3. Sponsorship and Patronage: Corporate sponsorship from entities like DAMA, SIA Media, Potenza Producciones, CAMPARI (official aperitif), and Alcalá Film Office provides in-kind contributions and prize funding for programs like CANTERA (€20,000+ prize package).
4. Publications and Merchandise: The festival publishes books (Libros Alcine), catalogs, and videos. They offer reedition of out-of-print books like 'La vanguardia frente al espejo' (free digital edition) and run lottery/raffles for festival-related items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alcine is an annual international short film festival held in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, that organizes competitive screenings (National and European short film competitions qualifying for Goya and Oscar® awards), professional development programs such as the CANTERA Short Film Lab, the 72-hour Alcalá Film Jam, and ALCINE Pro industry events. It complements these with educational outreach (La Clase, ALCINE Junior), specialized sections for kids, comedy, fantasy/horror, and equality themes, plus concerts, exhibitions, and a curated online short film database.

Product overview

Alcine is an annual international short film festival held in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, offering a comprehensive portfolio of competitive sections, professional development programs, and audience-focused events. The core offering includes the Certamen Nacional and Certamen Europeo competitions qualifying for Oscar and Goya awards, alongside specialized sections like (J)ALCINE (comedy), AL(U)CINE (fantasy/horror), ALCINE Kids (children's programming), and ALCINE Equality (gender perspective). Professional programs encompass CANTERA Short Film Lab (mentorship laboratory), Alcalá Film Jam (72-hour filmmaking competition), ALCINE Pro (industry networking), and La Clase (educational outreach). Additional offerings include Open Screen (debut features), Short Music performances, Archive exhibitions, and Off ALCINE alternative screenings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CANTERA Alcalá Short Film Lab: Professional laboratory for first-time professional short films and emerging talent, launched by Alcalá Film Office and ALCINE.
• Alcalá Film Jam
• ALCINE Kids
• Short Music
• Open Screen (Pantalla Abierta)
• (J)ALCINE
• AL(U)CINE
• ALCINE Equality

Products and services

• Certamen Nacional de Cortometrajes (National Short Film Competition) Competitive national short film section selecting approximately 24 films from ~700 submissions, with the winning film pre-qualifying for both Goya and Oscar® awards. Targeted at Spanish short film directors.
• Certamen Europeo de Cortometrajes (European Short Film Competition) European short film competitive section featuring 24 films from across Europe, with the winning film pre-qualifying for the Oscar® short film category. Targeted at European short film directors.
• CANTERA Alcalá Short Film Lab Professional development laboratory for first-time professional short filmmakers, offering mentorship, tutorials, equipment access, and a prize exceeding €20,000 in kind to develop projects into finished films. Targeted at emerging filmmakers.
• Alcalá Film Jam (72-Hour Short Film Marathon) 72-hour short film marathon where participants write, shoot, and edit short films in horizontal or vertical format through the streets of Alcalá de Henares, with €900 total prize money across categories. Targeted at amateur and emerging filmmakers.
• Pantalla Abierta (Open Screen) Competitive section dedicated to debut feature films by filmmakers who previously presented their shorts at the festival, providing a premier platform for new feature directors. Targeted at debut feature filmmakers.
• (J)ALCINE Comedy Section

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ viewers at ALCINE 54 with 8% increase in theater attendance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Instituto Quevedo de las Artes del Humor (IQH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Institute of Humor Arts under the General Foundation of the University of Alcalá (UAH). Collaborates on exhibitions ('The Other Side of Cinema') and the (J)ALCINE comedy section. Co-sponsors €600 audience award with General Foundation of UAH.
• Alcalá Film OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilming office under the Department of Tourism of the City of Alcalá de Henares. Primary co-organizer of Alcalá Film Jam (72-hour short film marathon) and CANTERA Short Film Lab (first professional short film development laboratory). Has converted Alcalá into a film production location and supports ALCINE talent development initiatives.
• DAMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopyright management entity specializing in audiovisual content, benchmark in sector for 20 years. Provides two professional tutorials for script development at CANTERA lab (valued at €1,500).
• SIA MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew audiovisual group producing, distributing, and selling works internationally. Provides image/sound post-production consulting and services at CANTERA lab (valued at €5,000).
• Potenza ProduccionesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production company with over 20 years experience and several Goya nominations. Provides pre-production and grant application support with professional mentoring at CANTERA lab (valued at €1,500-4,500).
• FeelsalesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory firm specializing in festival distribution strategy. Provides festival distribution advice at CANTERA lab (valued at €1,000).
• Ilusión IluminaciónminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero-wire lighting rental company for filming and events. Provides 'Gaffer-Van Package' including lighting consultancy, equipment rental, gaffer technician, and travel to filming location for up to three days (valued at €1,000).
• Subtitula'mminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTranslation, subtitling, and film copy management company for major Spanish film festivals since 1997. Provides DCP 2K master, English subtitles, and adapted Spanish subtitles for winning short at CANTERA.
• AMAEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of editing professionals in Spain. Provides two professional tutorials for short film editing during pre-production and before final editing at CANTERA lab.
• Anomalía FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudiovisual production company with over 10 years experience in advertising, music videos, and new formats. Provides camera equipment consulting and equipment loan for up to three days at CANTERA lab (valued at €6,000).
• Prodigioso VolcánminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunication consultancy developing and inventing projects since 2010. Provides short film poster design and promotional materials package for CANTERA winner (valued at €4,500).
• Collective of Professional CaricaturistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association of cartoonists. Collaborates with ALCINE and IQH on 'The Other Side of Cinema' exhibition featuring works by ten prominent cartoonists.
• ECAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadrid Film and Audiovisual School. Collaborates on ALCINE Pro professional programming and TRAVESÍA national program connecting educational centers with film professionals. Part of CANTERA jury and programming.
• ESFAA (European Short Film Audience Award)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Short Film Audience Award network. Partners with ALCINE and PLANEA on La Clase educational programming, bringing European perspective on young audiences initiatives. Co-organizes panel discussions with European festival programmers.
• PLANEA (Red de Arte y Escuela)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt and school network. Co-organizes La Clase (IV International Meeting on Mediation, Cinema, Education and Young Audiences) with ALCINE and ESFAA for audiovisual literacy development.
• Platino EducaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational initiative. Collaborates on La Clase programming and ALCINE Idiomas short film guide for language learning and intercultural dialogue.
• FilmincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish streaming platform. Hosts ALCINE channel for on-demand access to festival content and winner films. Platform for viewing directors' previous short films mentioned alongside feature debuts.
• CAMPARIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial aperitif sponsor of ALCINE 54. Provides pre-show entertainment with music and cocktails at Opening Gala, Closing Gala, and Hidrogenesse concert.
• CulturalcaláminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal cultural ticketing platform for ALCINE events including Hidrogenesse opening concert and other festival programming.
• GIGLONminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketing platform for ALCINE events. Provides online ticket sales for screenings, galas, concerts, and special events.
• Madrid Film RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional film initiative supporting Madrid audiovisual sector. General Coordinator Xiomara García participates in ALCINE 54 presentation. Supports Alcalá Film Office initiatives.
• Cátedra de Investigación y Cultura del Cómic (University of Alcalá)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research chair on comics and culture. Co-organizes symposium on comics and film culminating in Alberto Vázquez's 'Decorado' screening at ALCINE.
• Filmoteca EspañolaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Film Archive. Will receive materials from ALCINE archive related to Iván Zulueta for preservation. Related to 'El último arrebato' documentary premiere.
• Alberto Corazón School of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt school in Alcalá de Henares. Students select Best Short Film Poster Award winner and create poster versions. Also presents Videomapping Exhibition.
• RTVE HazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced digital training platform of Instituto RTVE under Spain Audiovisual Hub. Offers online courses for audiovisual professionals and students at CANTERA lab.
• Colectivo AlternominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuratorial collective programming Short Music section. Selects artists Sofia, Rrucculla, and Rosin de Palo for experimental music performances.
• Banquete StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign studio creating stage design inspired by David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks' for Short Music performances.
• Community of Madrid Short Film WeekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional short film event collaborating on MadFant Marathon at AL(U)CINE with curator Mike Hostench.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tampere Film Festival: One of Europe's major short film festivals held in Finland. Directly comparable to ALCINE as an Oscar-qualifying European short film festival competing for international filmmakers in the same category.
• Huesca International Short Film Festival: Spain's other major dedicated short film festival and the other Iberian short film qualifier for the Oscars. Directly comparable as a Spain-based short film festival with Oscar pre-qualification, sharing the same filmmaker pool as ALCINE's National and European competitions.
• Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival: The world's largest dedicated short film festival, held annually in France. It is the most direct global peer to ALCINE — both compete for European short film submissions, qualify winners for the Oscars, and operate parallel competitive programming for national and international filmmakers.
• Aspen Shortsfest: One of North America's premier international short film festivals, Oscar-qualifying. Directly comparable to ALCINE in scope and prestige tier — competing with ALCINE's European competition segment for top international shorts.
• BFI London Short Film Festival: UK's leading short film festival, comparable to ALCINE in audience profile, industry programming (talks, networking), and Oscar-qualifying credential. Targets the same UK and European short filmmaker pool as ALCINE's European Competition.

Broad incumbents

• Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci): One of Spain's most prestigious film festivals, featuring both short and feature film competitions. Comparable as a Spanish festival with international reach, awards history, and overlapping filmmaker pipeline — though operating at significantly larger scale than ALCINE.
• Sitges Film Festival: Spain's leading fantasy and horror film festival, with which ALCINE collaborates through the AL(U)CINE micro-festival section. It is a broader incumbent that has overlapping genre programming but on a much larger commercial scale.
• San Sebastián International Film Festival: Spain's flagship A-list film festival, featuring Zabaltegi-Tabakalera and other short film strands. Comparable as a Spanish festival competing for the same filmmaker and sponsor pools, though at a substantially larger scale and with broader feature-film focus.
• Málaga Film Festival: Major Spanish film festival with strong Spanish cinema focus. Comparable as a Spanish festival with regional sponsorship base and overlapping filmmaker audience, though primarily oriented toward feature films.

Others

• Filmin: Spanish streaming platform and ALCINE's channel partner that hosts the festival's on-demand content. Adjacent ecosystem participant that enables ALCINE's year-round digital reach but does not directly compete as a festival.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alcine-film-festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alcine