International Festival Signs of the Night - Lisbon

The award framework published for the 2026 edition covers the Short Film, Documentary and Cinema in Transgression competitions. Each includes a Main Award, a Signs Award and a Night Award. For short films and Cinema in Transgression, the Signs Award recognises an original and persuasive treatment of an important subject; the Night Award recognises ambiguity, complexity and enigmatic expression. In documentary, the Signs Award recognises an original and sensitive examination of disturbing aspects of reality, while the Night Award recognises an ambivalent approach that avoids stereotypes and easy conclusions. An optional Edward Snowden Award recognises work revealing important, little-known information. Each international jury may also give a Special Jury Award for a particular aspect or achievement of a film.

Published submission rules for the 2026 Lisbon edition: the festival accepts documentary, fiction, experimental and Cinema in Transgression work; pure animation is excluded. Short Film Competition entries must be no longer than 30 minutes. Documentary, Cinema in Transgression and focus programmes have no running-time limit. Competition films must be produced in 2024 or later; focus-programme films must be produced in 2021 or later. Submission is through the designated platform, with a downloadable film file. The festival does not offer fee waivers. Selected filmmakers are asked for a screening copy. Submission grants screening permission for the current Lisbon edition without additional conditions or screening-fee requests; if no higher-quality screening copy is supplied, the submission file may be screened. Permission is requested separately for possible selection at another festival in the network. Physical submission media are not returned.