Tenerife’s Ciudad de Tacoronte Festival Launches 7-Day Film Challenge

Literature and film are once again taking center stage in Tenerife. The 6th Ciudad de Tacoronte Historical Novel Festival has announced its fourth audiovisual creation contest, challenging filmmakers to produce a complete project in just seven days.

Led by artist Elisa Cano, the competition aims to go beyond technical skill by exploring collective memory. The event kicks off this Thursday at the local House of Culture with a performance by DJ Flüa. The program focuses on uncovering forgotten stories and personal identity, supported by three free workshops on vocal performance, costume design, and screenwriting, led by experts María Salazar, Juliana Serrano, and Lucila Juliá.

The competition features two categories. The "Cine Express" section requires participants to film a project of up to three minutes during the festival week. The "Peripheries and Outermost Regions" category is open to creators worldwide, who can submit 30-second digital shorts exploring marginalized themes.

Registration is now open online. Once the event’s central theme is revealed at the launch, teams will have one week to complete their work, with a submission deadline of November 13.

A panel of experts from the Canary Islands’ film industry—including representatives from Digital 104, the Canary Islands Film Institute, and the Northeast Festival—will judge the entries. Eight awards will be announced on November 15 at the Capitol Auditorium. Most categories carry a 250-euro prize, while the Best Short Film award offers 500 euros. The Audience Award will be honorary.

By focusing on creative speed, the festival aims to strengthen local culture and highlight how historical storytelling can help us understand the present. The event concludes on the afternoon of November 15 with a final screening, celebrating the connection between literary tradition and modern visual storytelling.