Festival del Cinema di Cefalù

Festival del Cinema di Cefalù

Also known as: Cefalù Film Festival
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The festival was founded in 2015 by Mario Macaluso in Cefalù, Sicily, and was called the Cefalù Film Festival until it took its present name in 2021. Its main award, the Film and Book of Peace Award, goes to the best film in competition, and the winning director is the subject of a dedicated book. Other prizes include a Sicily Award for films about Sicilian identity, awards for Italian schools and student work, an Earth Day award for environmental documentaries, and prizes on bullying, women, religion and disability.

The competition is open to Italian films and to foreign films subtitled in Italian. The 2026 edition runs from 4 October to 31 December 2026 and is based at the Hotel Sea Palace in Cefalù.

Country

Italy

Categories

Animation, Documentary, Feature, Short, Student, Television

Awards and prizes

Film and Book of Peace Award for the best film in competition, with a book on the winning director. Sicily Award, Comedy Film Award, Best Foreign Film, Foreign Short Film Award, Best Docufilm (Italian documentary), Earth Day Award for environmental documentaries, Women Award, Hope Award (religious themes), Solidarity Award against bullying, Cefalù Film Festival Award for a young director, Best Academy Film and Best Academy Docufilm for film-school work. Student Award and School Award (certificates for 20 students and 20 Italian schools), School and Cinema Award (three school projects), City of Pollina Award (EUR 500, Sicilian actor), Pippo Fatta Award (EUR 500, disability), Gianfilippo D'Anna Award (EUR 500, school project), Peace Journalist Award and Mediterranean Environment Award. The competition also lists awards for best director, actress, actor, Italian film, animated film, screenplay and original score.

Festival rules

Submissions for the 2026 edition are accepted from 15 April to 15 June 2026 through the Festhome platform. Italian films produced after 31 December 2023 and foreign films produced after 31 March 2023 and subtitled in Italian may compete. A director may enter only one film, and must give the production date, a biography, the film synopsis, a phone number and a valid e-mail address, and must choose the awards the film competes for. At submission the director confirms that the film is not taking part in other events or festivals held in Cefalù in 2026, and says whether they will join a collective project on peace, the online showcase on the MyMovie platform and the behind-the-scenes section. The festival pays no travel or accommodation costs, awards prizes in person and does not send prizes or trophies; diplomas and certificates are sent by e-mail on request between 1 and 15 December 2026. Selection and awards are decided by the festival jury.

Contacts

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