The Venice Film Festival is the most important film festival in Italy, but several other international film festivals are also held in Italy. Here are the main international film festivals in Italy. Even if you don’t go to the film festival, it’s a great chance to see celebrities.
La Biennale di Venezia – Venice International Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival, La Biennale di Venezia , starts in early September at the Lido of Venice. The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in Italy and 2018 turned 75 years old. Every year, the best filmmakers compete for the coveted Golden Lion award . Screenings are restricted to over 18s and discount passes are available for under 26s or over 60s. Get information on individual passes and tickets on the festival website.
Vaporetti or water buses take passengers between Venice and the Lido. To get to the Lido from Piazza San Marco, you can take vaporetto number 1.
Salento International Film Festival
The Salento Film Festival, held at the beginning of September, is one of the main film festivals in southern Italy and addresses current issues such as peace and multicultural issues. Categories include world cinema, independent Italian cinema and special sections. The Salento Film Festival takes place in Tricase, in Puglia’s Lecce province, the tip of the boot. In June, they celebrate the Salento Fear Fest for those who enjoy horror movies.
Milan Film Fest
Milano Film Fest, after the Venice festival, takes place for 10 days in September. Competitions include short films and feature films and there are special film categories each year. A valid pass for all festival events can be purchased on the website.
International Film Festival of Rome – Festival Internacional de Cine de Roma
Next in line is the Rome Film Fest, a relatively new festival that starts in mid-October. The festival includes international film premieres, the best independent cinema and films for and for young people.
Turin Film Festival
The Turin or Turin Film Festival takes place at the end of November. The Turin Film Festival serves as a meeting point for contemporary international cinema and provides the opportunity to discuss the latest artistic trends. It consists of 4 competitions and several non-competitive sections and pays special attention to emerging cinema and young filmmakers.
Bolzano Short Film Festival
Bolzano, near the Alps in northern Italy, hosts an international short film festival in November. It also includes a No Words Fest featuring movies communicating without the use of any words.
River to River – Florence Indian Film Festival
River to River is the world’s first film festival dedicated to films from and about India. It takes place in Florence in December.
