Pragda’s Spanish Film Club is a program that offers matching grants to educational institutions to organize Ibero-American film festivals—either on campus or virtually—with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Education. Pragda underwrites between 30%-50% of the film’s screening fee.

Promoting Latin American and Spanish cinema is crucial for understanding one of the United States’ most important allies and business partners. It exposes students to the richness of the Spanish language and diverse cultural traditions,  historical connections, social issues, and economic opportunities that shape global relations.

Two grant opportunities annually in April and October help universities and any educational institution bring the best in contemporary cinema from these regions to their communities. The deadline is for festivals taking place within the next two semesters.

Selecting a minimum of 5 films, schools create a film festival with guidance and support from Pragda’s staff from start to finish.

Film selection and festival additions at a glance:

• An eclectic and diverse selection of films made by a committee of experts
• Representation of more than 30 countries; first-time filmmakers and established masters alike
• English subtitles
• New films are added every year
• Virtual Q&As with filmmakers can be arranged
• Help with Festival promotional materials

The program’s ultimate goals are to introduce students and broader audiences to the cultures of Ibero-American countries and create a stable exhibition platform for the latest Spanish and Portuguese cinema. Film Festivals provide excellent support to educators as they introduce students to linguistic, cultural, and cinematic diversity.

“It is always my aim to introduce thought-provoking texts that challenge student assumptions about cultural otherness in the courses that I teach. The SFC festival offered a superb repertoire for discussions of this nature.” – Dr. Jennifer M. Formwalt, North Georgia College

CLICK HERE to read more comments about the program. More than 260 schools have participated so far!