Ariano International Film Festival (AIFF)
A week of independent international cinema in Ariano Irpino, with free admission
About AIFF
An international film festival in the heart of Irpinia
The Ariano International Film Festival, known by the acronym AIFF, was founded in 2013 by the Rai.Co. APS association and, in just over a decade, has become one of the most popular cinematic events in inland Campania. Every summer, the town of Ariano Irpino, in the province of Avellino, welcomes directors, producers, actors, and film enthusiasts for a week entirely dedicated to independent cinema from all over the world.
The formula has remained faithful to its original spirit: selecting works that rarely find space in commercial circuits and offering them for free to a wide audience, in a hilltop town located halfway between Naples and Puglia, along the ancient route that connected Campania to the Tavoliere plain.
Competition sections
The competition is divided into several sections that run concurrently:
- AIFF World: the international section, open to feature films, short films, documentaries, animated works, and short films made by schools;
- AIFF Green: documentaries dedicated to the environment, sustainability, and the relationship between humanity and the land;
- Made in Campania: a showcase reserved for regional productions and young filmmakers from Campania;
- A.I. Section: the new addition introduced in 2026, reserved for short films created using artificial intelligence tools.
Alongside the screenings, the festival features masterclasses, book presentations, seminars, and a photography competition: the AIFF is therefore a multidisciplinary event rather than just a film festival.
The Hirpus d'Oro, the iconic award
The recognition that concludes every edition is the Hirpus d'Oro, which references the 'hirpus'—the wolf from which the name of the Irpini, the ancient Samnite people who inhabited these mountains, is derived. It is awarded to the winners of the various categories and, during the gala evening, also as a lifetime achievement award to prominent figures in Italian cinema and entertainment: in 2026, it goes to Lino Banfi.
Festival venues
Screenings take place at the Lina Wertmüller Municipal Auditorium and the Palazzo Uffici Hall, while the Municipal Villa hosts the red carpet and the closing ceremony outdoors. In past editions, the Civic and Ceramics Museum and other locations in the historic center have also been involved, allowing the festival to serve as an opportunity to discover the city's heritage.
Ariano Irpino, a city of great events
The AIFF is part of the Ariano City of Great Events network, the program through which the municipality brings together the region's main cultural events. Ariano Irpino is known for its ancient ceramics tradition and a panoramic position overlooking the surrounding valleys: the festival is therefore also a great excuse for a weekend in Irpinia, exploring villages, wineries, and local products.
Why it is worth visiting
The event is supported by the Directorate General for Cinema of the Ministry of Culture, the Campania Region Film Commission, and the Municipality of Ariano Irpino. Admission to all screenings and events is free: you can enter and leave the halls freely, watch just one film, or build your own viewing itinerary over several days. The complete program, including the list of finalist films, is published on the official website in the weeks leading up to the event.
AIFF — edition 2026
The fourteenth edition of the AIFF brings seven days of continuous screenings to Ariano Irpino, from the afternoon until late at night. The 65 finalist works are distributed among the World section (7 feature films, 14 short films, 7 documentaries, 9 school short films, and 10 animated works), the Green section with 6 environmental documentaries, Made in Campania with 6 regional short films, and the new A.I. section with 6 short films created using artificial intelligence tools.
Nineteen countries are represented, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Spain, France, India, Brazil, the Netherlands, Austria, Iran, the United States, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom, Estonia, South Korea, Belgium, Portugal, and Italy. Screenings are held at the Municipal Auditorium and the Palazzo Uffici Hall, while the closing evening moves outdoors to the Municipal Villa.
The program alternates the competition with meetings and non-competitive events: a masterclass, the preview of a western feature film, a scientific outreach meeting, and a book presentation. All with free admission, as per the festival's tradition.
Programme AIFF 2026
Monday, July 27
Opening of the 14th edition and start of the screenings of the films in competition.
Every day, from July 27 to August 2
Screenings starting at 5:00 PM at the Municipal Auditorium and the Palazzo Uffici Hall: the 65 finalist works from the World, Green, Made in Campania, and A.I. sections.
Wednesday, July 29
8:00 PM: Award ceremony for the Made in Campania section.
Thursday, July 30
9:00 PM: Award ceremony for the AIFF Green and Documentary sections.
Friday, July 31
12:00 PM: Award ceremony for the School Short Films.
5:00 PM: Masterclass with Raffaello De Gruttola.
8:30 PM: Preview of the western Tex McKenzie, presented by actors Stefano Sala and Daniel Nilsson together with producer Tiziano Cavaliere.
Saturday, August 1
11:00 AM: Presentation of the book Tic Toc.
5:30 PM: Magic show.
8:30 PM: Meeting with Vincenzo Schettini, 'The Physics of Films', a journey through the scientific phenomena hidden in the most famous cinema scenes.
10:00 PM: Off-Festival event.
Sunday, August 2
10:30 AM: 'Scala Reale' seminar.
8:30 PM: Red carpet and final ceremony at the Municipal Villa, with the presentation of the Hirpus d'Oro awards, the lifetime achievement Hirpus d'Oro to Lino Banfi, and the presence of 'Mare Fuori' actresses Cartisia Somma, Carlotta Pinto, and Greta De Rosa.
Details of the finalist films and the schedule for each screening are published on the festival's official website.
Highlights AIFF 2026
- 65 finalist works from 19 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas
- The new A.I. section, with 6 short films created with artificial intelligence
- Lifetime achievement Hirpus d'Oro to Lino Banfi, Sunday, August 2
- Preview of the western Tex McKenzie, Friday, July 31
- Vincenzo Schettini with the meeting 'The Physics of Films', Saturday, August 1
- Final red carpet at the Municipal Villa with the actresses of 'Mare Fuori'
- Free admission to all screenings and events
Prices AIFF 2026
Practical information — AIFF
How to get there
By car: A16 Naples-Canosa motorway, exit at Grottaminarda, then follow the state road towards Ariano Irpino. By train: Ariano Irpino station on the Benevento-Foggia line, connected to the town center by local bus service. The nearest airport is Naples Capodichino.
Venues
Lina Wertmüller Municipal Auditorium, Palazzo Uffici Hall, and Municipal Villa, all in the center of Ariano Irpino (AV).
Admission
Free and open to all screenings and events, subject to availability. No advance booking is required.
Contacts
Associazione Rai.Co. APS, Corso Europa 43, Ariano Irpino (AV). Phone +39 0825 1724310. Official website: www.arianofilmfestival.it
Tips
Afternoon screenings start around 5:00 PM: this is the best time to see short films with smaller crowds. For the final evening at the Municipal Villa, it is advisable to arrive early, as it is the most popular event of the week.
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Where does it take place — AIFF
Auditorium Comunale Lina Wertmüller