Festival de Málaga and the Malaga City Council Department of Social Rights, Equality, Accessibility and Inclusive Policies have today opened the period for registering films interested in taking part in the Asserting Women’s Rights section of the 29th edition of the festival, to be held from 6 to 15 March 2026. Full participation rules can be consulted on the Festival's website and films must register on the Festhome platform.
 
Asserting Women's Rights is a project created by Festival de Málaga, Mabel Lozano (documentary filmmaker and Festival collaborator) and the Malaga City Council Department of Social Rights, Equality, Accessibility and Inclusive Policies as a protest tool. This space was created in 2008 to explore and address each year issues that contribute to the social awareness of women's rights. In 2026 it celebrates its 19th edition with a dual purpose: to inform about the injustices that women still suffer in this century for the mere fact of being women and to promote and support cinematographic work created by women.
 
The deadline to submit works for this section is 8 November by registering on Festhome (www.festhome.com). Short films, medium-length films and feature films produced in Spain and throughout Latin America after 1 January 2025, which have not been commercially screened in cinemas, video, television, audiovisual events in Spain or VOD (video on demand) platforms, may participate.
 
In terms of content, the works must reflect the reality of women in situations where there are still obstacles to their development in conditions of equality with men, with a plurality of voices of indigenous women, migrants, trans women, older women, women with functional diversity, women of African descent; or situations of discrimination and vulnerability of human rights towards women and/or girls; innovative experiences of empowerment and the fight against social exclusion of women and girls, as well as works that promote and/or reflect progress in equal opportunities between men and women, that bring visibility to the work and achievements of women in different areas that are not socially recognised or that showcase how Ecofeminism is contributing to environmental care; also works that reflect the contribution of men to achieving gender equality, joint responsibility and work-life balance, etc.
 
Due to their under-representation in the film industry, special consideration will be given to works director, written and/or produced by women.
 
The following prizes will be awarded in the different categories:
 

• Asserting Women’s Rights Biznaga de Plata
• Asserting Women’s Rights Biznaga de Plata Special Jury Award
• Asserting Women’s Rights Biznaga de Plata Audience Award

The Awards Ceremony for the Women on Stage Film Festival, organised by Festival de Málaga in collaboration with the Department of Social Rights, Equality, Accessibility and Inclusive Policies, will be held during the Asserting Women’s Rights Gala:
 

• Women on Stage Biznaga de Plata Award for Best Fiction.
• Women on Stage Biznaga de Plata Award for Best Documentary.
• Women on Stage Biznaga de Plata Málaga Audience Award.
• Women on Stage Biznaga de Plata Málaga.