Inventa un Film is a film festival in Lenola, a small town in southern Lazio, created and directed by Ermete Labbadia and organised by the local cultural association Cinema e Società. Its signature is a themed short film section with a subject set for each edition; in 2026 the theme is the environment. Around it run competitions for Italian short films, international shorts (Lenolafilmfestival), international animation, music videos, short documentaries, school films, works by authors from southern Lazio, medium-length films and Italian and international features, along with the social section La Finestra Sociale and a section of short films for a world without war judged by representatives of EMERGENCY.
The festival dates back to 1998, when it showed six local films; for 2026 it receives more than 5,000 submissions from 160 countries. The 28th edition takes place from 29 July to 2 August 2026 at the Marino De Filippis amphitheatre and the Pietro Ingrao cinema in Lenola.
Awards and prizes
Short and feature film competitions, for Italian and international authors: best film, best director, best screenplay (Dario Gorini Award for features), best actor, best actress, best editing, best original score, best cinematography, best production design and best costumes, plus the Important Message Award (Premio Messaggio Importante) and the audience award.
Animation, medium-length, school, music video and themed sections and both La Finestra Sociale sections: first, second and third place, chosen by the technical jury. The Disability - Beyond stereotypes section also has an award from the staff and young people of AIPD Sud Pontino.
Minidoc, Voci dal territorio and Preview sections: first place.
Short Films for a World Without War: best film, chosen by a jury of representatives of EMERGENCY.
Italian authors section: the Migrantes SAI Comune di Lenola Award and the Cinemigrare Award, given by the organisers of the Cinemigrare festival.
Awards are plaques in Italy and plaques or certificates abroad.
Festival rules
Sections of the 2026 edition: Italian short films (Italian authors, up to 20 min, free theme); International Shorts Competition - Lenolafilmfestival (non-Italian authors, up to 30 min, fiction, documentary or music video); International Animation Section (Italian and non-Italian authors, up to 20 min, free theme); School section (Italian primary and secondary schools, up to 20 min); Music videos (Italian authors, up to 6 min); Minidoc (Italian short documentaries, up to 20 min); Voci dal territorio (authors living in southern Lazio, up to 15 min); Themed section (Italian authors, up to 20 min, 2026 theme: Environment); La Finestra Sociale (Italian authors, up to 20 min, free theme, and a second section on the theme Disability - Beyond stereotypes, organised with AIPD Sud Pontino); Preview section (Italian short films having their first Italian festival screening at Lenola, up to 20 min); Short Films for a World Without War (up to 20 min); Venti Sessanta medium-length competition (Italian authors, 20 to 60 min, fiction, documentary or animation); Oro Invisibile feature competition (Italian authors, over 60 min); International Feature Films (non-Italian authors, over 30 min, fiction or documentary).
Distribution companies submitting at least five works enter free of charge: they send the sections and links or files to the festival by email, or submit on FilmFreeway with a code from the organisers. Individual authors submit on FilmFreeway, free or with a fee towards organisational costs depending on the section and period, or by email with the completed entry form and links or files. Films not in Italian must have Italian or English subtitles. Submission implies acceptance of the regulations and the entry form. The submission deadline for the 2026 edition was 29 April 2026.
