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The Dream Makers

A new generation of young filmmakers

A unique opportunity

1
4 years of paid studies and a salary to support you while you study for your degree.
2
The winning projects will be produced by CUPRA and ESCAC, with mentorship from Bayona.
[ Contest 1 ]

The Film Studies Contest

The Film Studies Contest is aimed at aspiring filmmakers aged 17 to 21. Participants will have to submit their projects within dates yet to be determined, basing their short films on three keywords chosen by CUPRA, J.A. Bayona and ESCAC

[ WORD 1 ] [ WORD 2 ] [ WORD 3 ]

CUPRA x ESCAC Scholarship

The winner will receive a full 4-year scholarship to develop their filmmaking talent at ESCAC, together with a monthly allowance covering basic living expenses for the duration of their studies.

The jury, the same as for the “Short Film Contest”, will shortlist 5 projects and then select the winner, who will be announced by ESCAC in January 2027. The winner of the “Film Studies Contest” will receive a full 4-year scholarship to develop their talent at ESCAC, together with a monthly scholarship covering basic living expenses for the duration of their studies.

To enter, filmmakers must create a short film based on three words.

Submission requirements include:

  • A short film (maximum 8 minutes)
  • A video pitch (maximum 3 minutes)
  • Personal documentation as stipulated in the legal terms.

Apply to The Film Studies Contest

Fill in the form with your talent submission and you will receive a second form for your financial information

Form

The Dream Makers initiative presents two competitions to discover and develop young creative talent in film, offering significant funding to produce a short film and a full scholarship for film studies at ESCAC.

Short Film Contest

Wayne Griffiths, CUPRA CEO, and the brand’s ambassadors Daniel Brühl and J.A. Bayona were part of the jury that selected the winner of the Short Film Contest, who was announced at the 2024 Sitges Film Festival.

The winning projects will be produced by CUPRA and ESCAC, with mentorship from Bayona.

Film Studies Contest

The second competition, Film Studies, is aimed at young filmmakers aged 17 to 21. The winner will receive a full scholarship to develop their filmmaking talent at ESCAC.

[ Contest 2 ]

The Short Film Contest – What is The Dream Makers?

The Dream Makers is an initiative led by the SEAT CUPRA Foundation that brings together the Sitges Film Festival, the Berlinale, ESCAC and Studio Babelsberg, along with CUPRA ambassadors, filmmaker J.A. Bayona and actor Daniel Brühl, to promote emerging talent in the world of cinema.

The Dream Makers supports emerging filmmakers at two key moments in their careers: helping them take their first steps through a full scholarship for film studies, the Film Studies Contest, and accelerating their professional development through the production of a short film, the Short Film Contest.

Why does it exist?

The initiative stems from a shared conviction among CUPRA, J.A. Bayona and ESCAC: young talent exists, but the resources to develop it are not always accessible. Cinema needs new voices, new perspectives and new stories. The Dream Makers is the response to that need.

“This contest is a tribute to the power of cinema. It is an honour for me to mentor the next generation and guide them from the script to the big screen.” — J.A. Bayona, film director and CUPRA ambassador.

“We will continue looking for ways to offer a platform to emerging talent in cinema.” — Ignasi Prieto, president of CUPRA.

“The best performances come from the best stories, and the best stories are those that move and challenge us.” — Daniel Brühl, actor and CUPRA ambassador.

“The best performances come from the best stories, and the best stories are those that move and challenge us.” — Daniel Brühl, Actor and CUPRA Ambassador

The Short Film Contest – Challenge #3 2026

The launch of the third edition of The Dream Makers was announced during ESCAC’s 2026 graduation ceremony, and the 3 finalist projects were announced at the 2026 Sitges Festival.

For the first time, The Dream Makers, the CUPRA initiative supported by the SEAT CUPRA Foundation, brings together its entire international network—the Sitges Festival, the Berlinale, ESCAC and Studio Babelsberg—alongside CUPRA ambassadors, filmmaker J.A. Bayona and actor Daniel Brühl, within a unified global framework.

“For emerging directors, seeing their vision become a real film can be a turning point. Cinema needs new voices and new ways of looking at the world, but those voices also need opportunities, support and trust. The Dream Makers acts as a bridge between a first idea and a real opportunity within the industry, and I am delighted that we have reached the third edition and are continuing to help open new paths for the next generation together with CUPRA.”

J. A. Bayona, film director and CUPRA ambassador

See the rules here.
And the responsible declaration regarding copyright, here.

Would you like to find out about previous calls?

THE SHORT FILM CONTEST

Challenge#1

The Challenge#1 call was launched in December 2023, remained open during the first few months of 2024 and received an extraordinary response: more than 400 applications from 15 countries, exceeding the organisation’s initial expectations.

Selection process

The ESCAC team carried out an initial preselection of ten projects. The jury then selected the finalist projects. It comprised Ángel Sala, director of the Sitges Festival; Aintza Serra, ESCAC’s content director; Ignasi Prieto, CUPRA’s CBO; JA Bayona, director and CUPRA ambassador; and Daniel Brühl, actor and CUPRA ambassador. The proposals were of such high quality that the jury made the exceptional decision to award the prize to two winning projects.

Announcement of the winners

The winners were publicly announced during the opening of the 2024 Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, held on 3 October 2024.

Winning projects

  • SEÑUELO, Director: Martha García Ayerbe
    • The story of a boy’s introduction to the world of hunting and the complex relationship between a father and his son. An original story that explores masculinity and violence through elements of fantasy cinema.
  • HOMING, Directors: Hansel Rodrigues and Lizzie Atherton
    • When an anonymous visitor arrives at a house in the south of England, the members of an apparently ordinary family are forced to confront questions that will change their preconceptions. An original and contemporary exploration of attitudes towards immigration and the limits of political correctness.

Other finalists

  • 400 Gramos — John Esteban Araque
  • El Ritual — Manuel Antonio Escalante
  • Solon 2079 — Alejandro Moreno
  • Volver y empezar — Daniel Omaña

Requirements

  • Project genre
    Contestants’ projects must be works of fiction, excluding documentaries and animation, and must be submitted in Catalan, Spanish or English. However, the final project may be in any language.
  • Proposals
    Each participant may submit a maximum of one proposal per call.
  • Project duration
    Proposals must be designed so that the resulting short film is no longer than twenty-five (25) minutes. Filming the short film may not take more than 8 days.
  • Originality
    Proposals and scripts submitted must be original and unpublished.
  • Exclusivity
    Participating projects may not be submitted, either individually or jointly, for any type of public or private grant or subsidy by the authors or third parties.
  • Copyright and Submission
    Participating projects may not be submitted, either individually or jointly, for any type of public or private grant or subsidy by the authors or third parties.
  • Registration
    Scripts for participating projects must be registered with the Intellectual Property Registry before entering THE DREAM MAKERS CONTEST – CHALLENGE #1.

Contest jury

The jury will preselect ten projects and then choose one winner from among the five finalists.

2025 Wayne Griffiths
Wayne Griffiths
CUPRA CEO
2026 J.A. Bayona
J.A. Bayona
Oscar-nominated film director
2027 Daniel Brühl
Daniel Brühl
Oscar-nominated Hollywood actor
Sergi Casamitjana
Sergi Casamitjana
Director of ESCAC

Apply to The Film Studies Contest

Fill in the form with your talent submission and you will receive a second form for your financial information

Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Concurso de estudios de cine Concurso de cortometraje
  • Who can take part in the CUPRA Bayona Challenge?

    • Anyone born between 1990 and 2004 who meets the requirements can enter the competition.

  • Can I enter if I work for CUPRA, ESCAC or one of the collaborating organisations?

    • No. Employees of the organising entities, as well as members of their governing bodies involved in organising the competition or its sponsors, cannot enter the competition.

  • Can I submit more than one project?

    • Each participant may submit a maximum of one project.

  • Are there any restrictions on the content of the projects?

    • Projects must be original and unpublished, and participants must be the sole holders of the intellectual property rights.

  • Can I submit my project to other competitions, scholarships or festivals while it is being evaluated here?

    • No. While the project is entered in THE DREAM MAKERS CONTEST, it may not be submitted to any other scholarship or public or private grant, or to other competitions, awards or festivals, until the winner of this competition has been announced. Projects already awaiting a decision in a similar screenplay or short film competition may not be submitted either.

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