Imagen
Torrerífico breaks participation record with 173 short films received
The ninth edition of the horror short film festival expands its reach with works from up to 44 geographical locations
28.09.2026
The exhibition and public voting will take place on Saturday, October 24, from 4:30 p.m., at the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Center, with free admission.
Torrerífico , the Torrevieja horror short film festival, has achieved a record participation in its ninth edition with a total of 173 works received, from up to 44 different geographical points, consolidating the growth and reach of this event.
From the publication of the competition rules in the Official Bulletin of the University of Alicante last March until the closing of the reception period, on Friday, September 25, Torrerífico and the University of Alicante Headquarters in Torrevieja have managed the reception of these 173 audiovisual productions.
Among the main places of origin are Madrid, with 22.3% of the works; Barcelona, with 13.4%; and Alicante, with 5%, in addition to proposals from filmmakers of different nationalities residing in Spain, which reflects the growing projection of the festival.
Of the submitted works, 143 short films are currently undergoing pre-selection by the jury, while another 30 have had to be discarded for failing to meet one or more of the requirements outlined in the competition rules. The University of Alicante will soon publish the provisional list of accepted short films.
MORE THAN 50 SUBGENRES OF HORROR
The variety of proposals received is once again one of the outstanding features of Torrerífico 2026. More than 50 subcategories have been identified within the horror genre, with a special presence of supernatural and psychological horror, along with slasher productions, body horror, zombies, horror noir or social horror, among other modalities.
Regarding the authorship of the submitted works, male participation represents 80%, while 29 proposals are led by women and six have mixed authorship.
The short films that pass the selection process will be eligible for a total of 1,700 euros in prizes, thanks to the collaboration between the University of Alicante and the Torrevieja City Council.
EXHIBITION AND PUBLIC VOTING ON OCTOBER 24
The grand day of exhibition and public voting will take place on Saturday, October 24, starting at 4:30 p.m., in the auditorium of the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Center in Torrevieja.
This year's program will also include several new features, such as contests, cosplay guests, and raffles, which will complement the screenings and contribute to creating a day dedicated to film and the horror genre. Admission is free.
Torrerífico , the horror short film festival organized by the University of Alicante's Torrevieja campus, the Torrevieja City Council's Youth Department, and the alternative leisure association La Comarca, also encourages everyone attending the event to dress up in horror-themed costumes, thus contributing to the special atmosphere of this ninth edition.