(By Mirza Mubashir Hassan Baig) The Alternativa Film Festival, supported by global mobility platform inDrive, has officially opened submissions for its 2026 edition, inviting filmmakers from Pakistan and across the Global South to participate. Set to take place in Colombia, the festival boasts an expanded prize fund of USD 120,000 — a USD 20,000 increase from its previous edition.Submissions are open from June 10 to October 10, 2025, and eligible entries include fiction, documentary, animation, and hybrid films completed after January 1, 2025. Films with a world premiere before August 1, 2025, must be submitted by September 1, while the final deadline for others is October 10. Full eligibility details are available on Alternativa’s official website.Arsen Tomsky, CEO and founder of inDrive, said, “Talent and powerful stories should never be limited by borders. Alternativa is a platform to celebrate filmmakers whose work challenges injustice and drives social impact.”Since its launch in Kazakhstan in 2023, Alternativa has grown rapidly, expanding to Indonesia in 2024. The 2026 edition marks its debut in Latin America, evolving into a full-fledged festival featuring public screenings, panel discussions, Industry Days, and an awards ceremony.Travel and accommodation will be covered for selected directors. The festival continues to shift focus regions each year, highlighting bold cinematic voices from the Global South and building cross-regional cultural bridges.The host city, festival dates, and jury panel will be announced soon.
The writer is a free lance film journalist and contributor for this website. He can be reached at mubasherbaig1994@gmail.com
