The Alicante Smartphone Film Festival will hold its fourth edition from 9 to 13 December, organisers have announced. More than 260 short films have been submitted to the international contest and a total of €2,500 in prizes will be distributed. The programme will use several city venues, including the Tossal Lab, the Impulsalicante entrepreneurship centre, the Provincial Archaeological Museum (MARQ) and the Hospital General Doctor Balmis.

Activities begin with the workshop “Initiation to cinema with smartphone” on Tuesday 9 at the Centro de Emprendedores and again on Wednesday 10 at the Tossal Lab, where participants will learn practical techniques and set operation. Selected short films will be screened on Wednesday 10 at MARQ and Puerta Ferrisa. On Thursday 11 the hospital aula will become a film set for the “Hospital de Cine” section, directed by Dr Javier González de Dios, featuring hospitalised children.

On Friday 12 the festival will host a public meeting with actor Luis Miguel Seguí, and the closing gala will take place on Saturday 13 at Teatro Arniches, where awards will be presented. Festival director David Seva Morera has highlighted the event’s growth and its role in showcasing local talent; the provincial section will include entries from towns such as Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Novelda, Xixona, Petrer, Elche, Torrevieja and Benidorm.