The Power of
Visual Cinema & Sign Language.
Launched in Palma de Mallorca with the sponsorship of the Mallorca Film Commission and in partnership with the Federación de Personas Sordas de las Islas Baleares (FSIB), Film Sign Mallorca creates an inclusive international stage for Deaf filmmakers, sign language narratives, and visually compelling silent cinema.
Celebrating 9 Years of Deaf Cinema
Connecting Spanish and worldwide audiovisual creators with audiences whose native and primary expression is sign language.
Silent Cinema & Sound Explorations
While priority is forever dedicated to accessibility, Deaf identity, and sign language culture, Film Sign Mallorca welcomes films across both Silent and Sound categories.
The Golden Horse Awards (Silent Track)
The festival’s highest honor. Built for films that champion purely visual storytelling, Sign Language (LSE, ASL, IS, Catalan Sign), and accessibility where dialogue is visual and barrier-free.
- Best Narrative Short Film ($2,000 + Golden Horse)
- Best Documentary Short Film ($2,000 + Golden Horse)
- Best Animated Short Film ($2,000 + Golden Horse)
- Best Experimental Short Film ($2,000 + Golden Horse)
- Jury Prize for Best Silent Film ($1,000 + Diploma)
General Film Competition (Sound Track)
To broaden participation and foster creative solidarity, this competitive sidebar honors outstanding short films that utilize sound design and spoken dialogue, presented with complete Spanish/English subtitling.
- Best Narrative Short Film (Sound) ($1,500 + Diploma)
- Best Documentary Film (Sound) ($1,500 + Diploma)
- Best Animated Film (Sound) ($1,500 + Diploma)
- Best Experimental Film (Sound) ($1,500 + Diploma)
- Audience Award ($750 + Official Diploma)
Submission Deadlines, Rules & Guidelines
Submissions are officially processed through FilmFreeway. Review all criteria, runtimes, format requirements, and category structures below before submitting.
Rules & Terms
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Subtitles & Language: All films must be submitted in English or with English/Spanish subtitles if original language or sign dialect differs.
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Production Year: All submitted entries must have been completed on or after 2024.
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Runtime Limit: Short films must strictly not exceed 30 minutes in length (including all credits).
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Premiere & Online Policy: Films must not have been released for free public viewing on open web platforms. No prior festival premiere restriction is enforced.
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Copyright Clearance: Filmmakers must ensure complete rights clearance for music, image, and text.
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Screening Consent: By submitting, you grant Film Sign Mallorca the authorization to screen your work before a live audience in Palma de Mallorca and promote stills/teasers.
Submission Categories
Silent Short Film (Golden Horse Track)
PremierOpen to short narratives, documentaries, animations, and experimental works where sign language or purely visual language drives the entire story without reliance on sound.
General Short Film (With Sound)
ParallelFiction, documentary, or experimental shorts utilizing sound and spoken dialogue. Must provide synchronized English or Spanish subtitles to maintain festival accessibility.
Deaf Filmmaker / Sign Culture Showcase
Special MentionWorks directed, written by, or starring Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or CODA creators. Includes local Balearic and Spanish Sign Language (LSE) projects.
Ready to submit your film for review by our international jury?
Proceed to FilmFreeway ListingFestival Winners & Official Selections
Explore the distinguished short films, directors, performers, and productions honored across our festival editions in Palma de Mallorca.
The Golden Horse Awards & Cash Grants
Film Sign Mallorca distributes over $15,000 in cash prizes, artisanal ceramic trophies, and official diplomas honoring artistic fearlessness and visual brilliance.
Silent Film Awards — Premier Competition
The Golden Horse Awards celebrate films that embody the spirit of visual storytelling and accessibility, remaining true to our foundational philosophy.
Best Narrative Short
Golden Horse Trophy + cash prize to director/producer for extraordinary visual narrative construction.
Best Documentary Short
Golden Horse Trophy + cash prize celebrating real-world Deaf culture and visual human experiences.
Best Animated Short
Golden Horse Trophy + cash prize for animation that conveys complete depth without spoken dialogue.
Best Experimental Short
Golden Horse Trophy + cash prize for radical visual poetry and kinetic gesture innovations.
Jury Prize for Best Silent Film
Handpicked by the festival’s distinguished jury panel. Awarded to the single most resonant silent film embodying universal human connection.
General Film Awards — Parallel Showcase (With Sound)
To encourage diversity and broaden participation, the festival includes a dedicated competition for films with sound.
Best Narrative (Sound)
Official Diploma certificate + cash prize.
Best Documentary (Sound)
Official Diploma certificate + cash prize.
Best Animated (Sound)
Official Diploma certificate + cash prize.
Best Experimental (Sound)
Official Diploma certificate + cash prize.
Audience Choice Award
Chosen directly by festival attendees through tactile and digital voting at physical screenings in Palma. Diploma certificate + cash prize.
Finalist Diploma Certificates
All finalists across both competitions receive an official framed diploma certificate recognizing their competitive achievement.
Palma Moments & Community Voices
Authentic moments from our screenings, stage Q&As, audience discussions, and red carpet photocalls across festival editions in Palma de Mallorca.
Bridging Worlds Through Accessible Cinema
Founded with the belief that moving images possess an innate universality that transcends vocal cords and auditory limits.
The Genesis of Film Sign Mallorca
The first edition of Film Sign Mallorca took place in 2017 with the official sponsorship of the Mallorca Film Commission, answering an urgent cultural need: creating an open space for the dissemination of Spanish and international audiovisual productions especially calibrated for audiences whose natural means of communication is Sign Language.
In its formative years, the festival screened more than 50 groundbreaking films, providing visionary directors an opportunity to reach new audiences while expanding the recognition of Spanish Deaf cinema. Even in an era of abundant global streaming, specialized short films remain under-represented on mainstream platforms. Film Sign Mallorca provides a dedicated platform for their celebration.
Backed by the Federación de Personas Sordas de las Islas Baleares (FSIB) and local cultural institutes, the festival serves as a cultural beacon uniting Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, CODA (Children of Deaf Adults), and hearing audiences under one roof in Palma de Mallorca.
Our Core Commitments
Radical Visual Storytelling
Prioritizing works that communicate emotion, suspense, comedy, and drama through body language, cinematography, and spatial editing.
Sign Language as Cinematic Art
Elevating Spanish Sign Language (LSE), Catalan Sign (LSC), International Sign (IS), and Deaf culture as distinct aesthetic film styles.
Inclusive Parallel Programs
Bridging hearing and deaf creators with parallel sound competitions, live LSE interpretation, and universal subtitling.
Venues & Cultural Heart of Palma
Centre de Cultura Sa Nostra
Historical courtyards, exhibition galleries, and screening auditorium hosting our competitive official screenings.
Teatre Municipal Xesc Forteza
Palma’s cultural theatre providing complete visual accessibility, hearing loop infrastructure, and stage sign performance.
Cine Ciutat Palma
Mallorca's iconic community-run cinema dedicated to independent, accessible, and original-version international cinema.