Baarìa Film Festival (BAAFF)
The first Italian festival dedicated to island cinema, in Bagheria
About Baarìa Film Festival
A festival dedicated to island cinema
The Baarìa Film Festival (BAAFF) is the first Italian festival entirely dedicated to island cinema: a genre that finds its narrative horizon in islands, capturing the stories, landscapes, and communities living surrounded by the sea. The event is held in Bagheria, in the province of Palermo, and focuses on the profound connection between Sicily, other Mediterranean islands, and archipelagos worldwide.
Bagheria, a city of cinema and villas
It is no coincidence that the festival was born here. Bagheria, known in dialect as "Baarìa" (the title of the famous film by Giuseppe Tornatore), is the hometown of the Oscar-winning director, the painter Renato Guttuso, the photographer Ferdinando Scianna, and the poet Ignazio Buttitta. Nicknamed the "City of Villas" for its splendid 18th-century noble residences, Bagheria provides the festival with a unique backdrop—a natural crossroads of cinema, visual arts, and Sicilian folk tradition.
Festival venues
The BAAFF is spread across several historic locations in the city:
- Villa Cattolica, home to the Renato Guttuso Museum, hosts the open-air evening screenings;
- Cinema Capitol hosts afternoon indoor screenings and competition films;
- Palazzo Butera is the venue for masterclasses and morning meet-the-author sessions;
- Villa Ramacca serves as the setting for the opening gala.
Two international competitions
The heart of the event lies in its two international competitive sections: "Maree" (Tides), dedicated to feature films, and "Approdi" (Landings), reserved for short films. Alongside the competition, the program offers special screenings, masterclasses, panels on the audiovisual industry, and meetings with directors and actors from the Italian and international film scene.
A cultural project for Sicily
Produced by the Kinema Cultural Association under the artistic direction of Vanessa Tonnini and Andrea Di Quarto, and supported by the Municipality of Bagheria, the Baarìa Film Festival has established itself since its first edition as an internationally recognized event, attracting hundreds of works from every corner of the globe. For the Sicilian public and visitors alike, it is an opportunity to discover cinema often excluded from major commercial circuits, set in one of the most historically and artistically rich cities in the province of Palermo.
Baarìa Film Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition: June 22 to 27
The second edition of the Baarìa Film Festival returns to Bagheria from June 22 to 27, 2026, with six days dedicated to island cinema. The program alternates competition films at the Cinema Capitol in the afternoon, masterclasses and morning meetings at Palazzo Butera, and open-air evening screenings at Villa Cattolica.
Competitions and films
The "Maree" competition (feature films) presents titles from all over the world, including Blue Heron (Canada), Kidnapping Inc. (Haiti), Islands (Germany), Esta Isla (Puerto Rico), Girl (Taiwan), and Sukkwan Islands (France/Norway). The "Approdi" section gathers international short films in competition.
Guests and juries
The feature film jury is chaired by Claudia Gerini, joined by Mimmo Calopresti, Dino Abbrescia, and Maria Vera Ratti; the short film jury is led by Susy Laude with Francesco Lo Piparo, Orio Scaduto, and Francesca La Mantia. Guests and protagonists of the meetings include Massimo Ghini, Edoardo De Angelis, Fortunato Cerlino, Lorenza Indovina, and Vladimir de Fontenay.
Special events
Highlights include the opening night on June 22 with the film Avemmaria by Fortunato Cerlino, evening talks at Villa Cattolica, and the "Night of the Monsters" on June 27, featuring the awards ceremony and the screening of the winning films.
Programme Baarìa Film Festival 2026
2026 Program
- Monday 22/06 — Welcome Night (Cinema Capitol): photocall, presentation of the festival and juries, screening of Avemmaria by Fortunato Cerlino.
- Tuesday 23/06: "The Beginning of the Journey" event at Palazzo Butera; Approdi and Maree competition at Cinema Capitol (Blue Heron, Kidnapping Inc.); mini-talk at Villa Cattolica with Massimo Ghini and Nel tepore del ballo by Pupi Avati.
- Wednesday 24/06: "Art for Rebirth" with Fortunato Cerlino; in competition Nyumba and Islands; evening with Edoardo De Angelis and Indivisibili.
- Thursday 25/06: "A Life on Stage" with Massimo Ghini; in competition Faisaien Irla and Esta Isla; evening with Lorenza Indovina.
- Friday 26/06: Masterclass by Mimmo Calopresti; in competition Girl and Tristan Forever; evening with Claudia Gerini and Mancino naturale.
- Saturday 27/06: Industry panel "Seriality, Territory, and Community"; in competition Sukkwan Islands; at Villa Cattolica, the "Night of the Monsters" with awards and screening of the winning films.
Highlights Baarìa Film Festival 2026
- Opening night with Avemmaria by Fortunato Cerlino
- International competitions "Maree" (feature films) and "Approdi" (short films)
- Feature film jury chaired by Claudia Gerini
- Evening talks at Villa Cattolica with Massimo Ghini, Edoardo De Angelis, Lorenza Indovina, and Claudia Gerini
- Final "Night of the Monsters" with the awards ceremony on June 27
Prices Baarìa Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Baarìa Film Festival
How to get there
Bagheria is located about 15 km from Palermo. By train, it is accessible from the Bagheria station on the Palermo-Messina line, with frequent connections from the regional capital. By car, take the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway and exit at Bagheria. The nearest airport is Falcone-Borsellino in Palermo (Punta Raisi).
Venues
Screenings and events take place at Villa Cattolica (Renato Guttuso Museum), Cinema Capitol, Palazzo Butera, and Villa Ramacca, all located in the center of Bagheria.
Tickets and information
For the updated program, schedules, and seat reservations, please consult the official festival website.
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Where does it take place — Baarìa Film Festival
Villa Cattolica