FAQs

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. Youll 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 online screeners of the films to preview. You can then make sure your selected films are appropriate for your program. If a film doesnt quite fit your needs, were 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 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 an eight-week period. 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 line refers to the willingness of the filmmakers to participate in a virtual Q&A session following the screening of their film. If your school has resources, you could also bring filmmakers to campus to introduce the film or organize a workshop. Please let us know if you are interested in either one of these options and we will put you in direct contact with the filmmakers to organize this special event. However, please note that Pragda is not responsible for managing filmmakersschedules and cannot guarantee their availability on the date and time of your screening. Please note that a $300 speaker fee is the suggested rate for booking virtual Q&A sessions. This fee is to be negotiated with and paid to the filmmaker directly.

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?

Were 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 films 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 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?

The full cost of a festival, which you can choose to organize without the matching grant, is $2,500 or $500 per film for a minimum of 5 films. If, for example, your matching grant award is 50% of the total cost, your institution will have to pay $1,250 for 5 films. If you choose to screen more than 5 films, the matching grant is applied to all other films as well.

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 wont 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. All credit card transactions are subject to a 3.5% transaction fee. If your school has issues with any of these payment methods, please contact us. We will try to accommodate your needs. All invoices will include a processing and handling fee of $10.

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

The screening fee 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.