ELIGIBILITY AND PROGRAMMING-RELATED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible to apply for a matching grant to organize a Spanish Film Club (SFC) festival?

We encourage high schools, universities, colleges, and cultural institutions affiliated with a school or educational institution with non-profit status to apply for the grant. See ELIGIBILITY.

Where is SFC available?

All SFC films are available for schools in the United States and most of them are available in Canada. If you are based outside North America, please make sure to sort the films by availability to make sure you are selecting from the right list of titles due to copyright restrictions in other countries.

Can I choose the films myself?

Yes, you get to choose the films you want from our roster! All 80 of them, representing over 25 countries, have been carefully selected by our curators and each one is of excellent quality. Our film library, which gets 10 new additions every year, is brimming with visionary films and rare cinematic treats. You’ll also find commercial favorites. If you would like to help in selecting films, please write to us with your suggestions. See THE FILMS / NEW RELEASES.

Can I preview the films before selecting them?

While you must select 5 films for the application, once you have been awarded the matching grant, you can request a virtual screening room to preview your film selection. You can then make sure your selected films are appropriate for your program. If a film doesn’t quite fit your needs, we’re always happy to make suggestions for a replacement. You can choose up to two more films to preview. 

Does the festival have to take place at a specific time?

The festival must take place within the same semester. Generally, universities screen one film per week or one film every two weeks. Also, the festival should take place at some point during the two semesters following the submission of the application. If you are interested in having a later festival, please wait for our following grant cycle deadline or contact us at daniela@pragda.com.

Can I decide the number of films that I screen? Is there a minimum number required?

Yes, you must include at least 5 films in your festival, but we encourage you to add more. There is no maximum number.

How many times can I screen the movies and for how long?

Each film may be screened twice within eight weeks. Contact us if you are interested in screening the film a third time. You can decide if you want to hold daily or weekly screenings, as long as the festival takes place within eight weeks.

Can I include the SFC program in a larger festival?

Yes, you can include it as part of a larger festival, as long as you include all 5 films and credit them to SFC.

I noticed that on the film page, it says “Filmmakers are available for a Q&A.” What does this mean?

This section provides an opportunity for filmmakers to participate in a virtual Q&A session following the screening of their film. If your school has the resources, you may also consider inviting filmmakers to campus for an introduction or a workshop. Please let us know if you are interested in either option.

At Pragda, we maintain close relationships with the filmmakers we collaborate with, and from experience, we’ve seen that including a filmmaker’s perspective can make the event more impactful for students. We strongly recommend scheduling at least one Q&A per festival if possible.

Starting January 1, 2025, here’s how the process works: We connect you with the filmmaker, confirm their availability, and provide our standard contract and invoice. A suggested speaker fee of $300 applies for virtual Q&A sessions, plus a $100 processing fee to cover Pragda’s coordination services and ensure smooth payment. Pragda collects both speaker and screening fees on behalf of our filmmakers, so payments are made directly to us rather than to individual speakers. This streamlined process is especially helpful for educational institutions that may face challenges with international payments.

When will more films be added?

We expand the library every calendar year! Check the website in March for new titles!

Are all films in Spanish? Do they have English subtitles?

We’re very proud of the diversity of our library because it reflects the multicultural and multilingual nature of Latin filmmaking. While many of the films are in Spanish, some are in Portuguese, Basque, Guarani, Aymara, Catalan, etc. All films are subtitled in English. Make sure to look up each film’s page for information on its original language.

Can I design my own promotional materials?

We recommend that you promote your festival with the materials that we have already prepared for that purpose. You can adapt the existing promotional materials or create your own, provided that you use the elements stipulated by the grant (credit line, logo, etc.). Please check our PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS page for details.

When will I receive the notification that my University got the SFC matching grant?

If your grant application is approved, you will receive confirmation about 4 weeks after the deadline.

FUNDING-RELATED QUESTIONS

How does the matching grant funding work?

Matching grants cover 30-50% of the cost of the screening fees for your festival. Your institution is responsible for the remaining amount and any additional programming expenses. We highly recommend that you collaborate with other departments and organizations to fully fund your festival. 

How much will it cost my institution to organize a festival?

Starting January 1, 2025, the total cost to organize a festival without a matching grant is $2,750, or $550 per film, with a minimum selection of five films. For instance, if your institution receives a matching grant that covers 50% of the total cost, the fee for five films will be $1,375. If the grant covers 40%, the cost will be $1,650 for five films. If you choose to screen more than five films, the matching grant discount will apply to each additional film as well. A $20 processing and digital handling fee will be added to all invoices.

What if I want to have only two of your films in my film program?

You are welcome to book any of our films through our system, but you won’t be eligible for the matching grant. Therefore, you will need to cover the full rental fee.

How do I pay for my festival?

SFC accepts checks, major credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa), and ACH payments. A 3.9% processing fee applies to credit card transactions. If your school has any challenges with these payment options, please contact us, at daniela@pragda.com and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

When should I pay the invoice? Is it possible to pay for it after the screening?

The screening fees must be paid upfront, any time before your SFC festival takes place.

Can we keep the films after the festival?

You are welcome to purchase the films included in your SFC festival at a discounted price of $150 each. This purchase includes DSL and PPR licenses for 3 years. Otherwise, DVDs MUST be returned immediately after the festival is over and all digital files must be destroyed.