Adriatic Film Festival
International independent cinema on the Adriatic coast in Francavilla al Mare
About Adriatic Film Festival
An independent film festival on the Abruzzo coast
The Adriatic Film Festival was founded in 2018 and has quickly established itself as one of the most vibrant independent cinema events in Central Italy. The festival takes place in Francavilla al Mare, an elegant seaside town in the province of Chieti, in the heart of the Adriatic Abruzzo region. Its headquarters is the Auditorium Sul Mare at Palazzo Sirena, a venue overlooking the beach. Organized by the Adriatic Movie Association under the artistic direction of Guido Casale, the festival offers a packed schedule of completely free screenings every year.
The competition and sections
The heart of the festival is its international competition, divided into several categories: Italian short films, international short films, documentaries, animated films, and school short films. Each year, over a thousand works are submitted from dozens of countries, from which a technical jury of professionals selects the films in competition and the numerous national and world premieres. Alongside the competition, the festival dedicates significant space to local authors with the Spazio Abruzzo section, designed to highlight regional productions and the work of the Abruzzo Film Commission.
Guests, meetings, and awards
What sets the Adriatic Film Festival apart is the proximity between the audience and the stars of the big screen: directors, actors, and screenwriters meet with viewers after the screenings in an informal and passionate atmosphere. Masterclasses, round tables, and special screenings round out the program. The event concludes with the Adriatic Awards ceremony, which distributes a total prize pool of 5,000 euros across the competition categories, alongside honors for best direction, best cinematography, and best poster.
An event for the region
With its Adriatic Co-Production Forum, dedicated to connecting producers with projects in development, the festival also looks to the future of the audiovisual industry. Thanks to free access to all screenings and the stunning setting on the Francavilla al Mare seafront, the Adriatic Film Festival combines high-quality cinema with the tourism and cultural appeal of the Trabocchi Coast, offering residents and visitors a unique opportunity to discover the best independent film in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Adriatic Film Festival — edition 2026
The 9th edition of the Adriatic Film Festival brought Francavilla al Mare to life from June 10 to 14, 2026, with five days of free screenings. From over 1,500 submitted works, 54 films were selected, including 19 national and world premieres. Regional premieres included Il Protagonista by Fabrizio Benvenuto, Afrodite by Stefano Lorenzi, and Vas by Gianmaria Fiorillo, in addition to a special screening of Il posto dell'anima by Riccardo Milani.
The technical jury brought together industry professionals such as Michele D'Attanasio, Marta Perego, Luca Verdone, and Lucrezia Guidone, chaired by Oscar-winning producer Mark Foligno. Guests included Eduardo Scarpetta, Andrea Arcangeli, Pierluigi Gigante, and Sara Serraiocco. The final evening on Sunday, June 14, hosted the Adriatic Awards ceremony, with a prize pool of 5,000 euros. The edition reaffirmed the Spazio Abruzzo section, dedicated to regional authors, and the Adriatic Co-Production Forum, now in its second year.
Programme Adriatic Film Festival 2026
Five days of free screenings at the Auditorium Sul Mare in Palazzo Sirena: 54 selected films (Italian and international short films, documentaries, animation, school shorts), 19 national and world premieres, masterclasses, and meetings with the authors.
- Regional premieres: Il Protagonista (Fabrizio Benvenuto), Afrodite (Stefano Lorenzi), Vas (Gianmaria Fiorillo)
- Special screening: Il posto dell'anima by Riccardo Milani
- Spazio Abruzzo section and Abruzzo Film Commission focus
- Adriatic Co-Production Forum (second edition)
- Sunday, June 14: Adriatic Awards ceremony
Highlights Adriatic Film Festival 2026
- 54 films selected from over 1,500 entries
- 19 national and world premieres
- Jury chaired by Oscar-winning producer Mark Foligno
- Guests: Eduardo Scarpetta, Andrea Arcangeli, Lucrezia Guidone, Sara Serraiocco
- Adriatic Awards with a 5,000 euro prize pool
Prices Adriatic Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Adriatic Film Festival
Location
Screenings and meetings are held at the Auditorium Sul Mare in Palazzo Sirena, on the seafront of Francavilla al Mare (CH).
How to reach us
By train: Francavilla al Mare station on the Adriatic line, a short distance from the town center. By car: Take the Pescara Sud-Francavilla exit on the A14 motorway. The Abruzzo Airport in Pescara is just a few kilometers away.
Admission
Access to all screenings is free. For the detailed program and schedule, please visit the official website adriaticfilmfestival.it.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Adriatic Film Festival
Auditorium Sul Mare - Palazzo Sirena
Viale Alcione, 66023 Francavilla al Mare