What Is The Dream Makers?
The Dream Makers is an initiative by the Foundation SEAT CUPRA that brings together the Sitges Film Festival, Berlinale, ESCAC, and Studio Babelsberg, alongside CUPRA ambassadors filmmaker J.A. Bayona and actor Daniel Brühl, to champion emerging talent in the world of cinema.
The Dream Makers supports aspiring filmmakers at two key stages of their journey. Through the Film Studies Contest, it helps them take their first steps by offering a fully funded scholarship to study filmmaking. Through the Short Film Contest, it accelerates their professional growth by supporting the production of a short film.
Why Does It Exist?
The initiative was born from a shared belief held by CUPRA, J.A. Bayona, and ESCAC: young talent is abundant, but opportunities and resources are not always within reach. Cinema needs new voices, fresh perspectives, and original stories. The Dream Makers was created to help bring them to life.
“This competition is a tribute to the power of cinema. It is an honour for me to mentor the next generation and guide them from script to screen.”
— J.A. Bayona, filmmaker and CUPRA ambassador
“We will continue to explore new ways of providing a platform for emerging filmmaking talent.”
— Ignasi Prieto, President of CUPRA
“The best performances are born from the best stories, and the best stories are the ones that move us and challenge us.”
— Daniel Brühl, actor and CUPRA ambassador
OPEN CALL - Short Film Contest
Challenge #3 2026: Apply!
During the ESCAC 2026 Graduation Ceremony, the launch of the third edition of The Dream Makers was officially announced.
For the first time, The Dream Makers—CUPRA’s initiative led by the Foundation SEAT CUPRA—brings together its entire international network under one unified global framework: the Sitges Film Festival, Berlinale, ESCAC, and Studio Babelsberg, alongside CUPRA ambassadors filmmaker J.A. Bayona and actor Daniel Brühl.
Projects may be submitted through the application form, which will be available on the ESCAC website, from 24 August 2026 until 11:59 PM (CEST) on 31 August 2026.
“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
Read the Terms and Conditions here.
Download the Copyright Declaration and Statement of Responsibility here.
We look forward to receiving your submission!
Want to Explore Previous Editions?
The Short Film Contest
Challenge #1
The first edition of the Challenge launched in December 2023 and remained open throughout the first months of 2024. It received an extraordinary response, attracting more than 400 applications from 15 countries and surpassing all initial expectations.
Selection Process
The ESCAC team carried out an initial pre-selection of ten projects. A jury composed of Ángel Sala, Director of the Sitges Film Festival; Aintza Serra, Head of Content at ESCAC; Ignasi Prieto, CUPRA Chief Brand Officer; J.A. Bayona, filmmaker and CUPRA ambassador; and Daniel Brühl, actor and CUPRA ambassador, then selected the finalist projects.
The overall quality of the submissions was so high that the jury made the exceptional decision to award the prize to two winning projects.
Winners Announcement
The winners were officially announced during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, held on 3 October 2024.
Winning Projects
SEÑUELO
Director: Martha García Ayerbe
A coming-of-age story about a young boy’s introduction to the world of hunting and the complex relationship between a father and his son. An original narrative that explores masculinity and violence through the lens of fantasy cinema.
HOMING
Directors: Hansel Rodrigues and Lizzie Atherton
When an anonymous visitor arrives at a house in southern England, the members of an apparently ordinary family are forced to confront questions that challenge their deepest assumptions. 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
The Film Studies Contest
The Film Studies Contest offers a fully funded four-year scholarship to study at ESCAC, one of the world’s top 15 film schools.
In addition to full tuition coverage, scholarship recipients receive a monthly allowance to help cover their living expenses throughout the duration of their studies, enabling them to focus entirely on their technical and artistic development.
Scholarship Recipients
Challenge #2
- 2025: Ignacio Ramallo
- 2026: Clara Martínez Borja
