Bellaria Film Festival
The festival of independent Italian cinema on the Romagna Riviera
About Bellaria Film Festival
A cult festival for independent Italian cinema
Born in 1983, the Bellaria Film Festival is one of the longest-running and most distinctive film events in Emilia-Romagna. In Bellaria-Igea Marina, a seaside town in the province of Rimini, the festival transforms the Riviera into a laboratory for young, free, and independent Italian cinema every spring. Far from the spotlight of major markets, it's here that debut and second films by directors who will shape the cinema of the coming years are discovered, with no rigid distinctions between documentary and fiction.
Competitions and sections
The heart of the festival is the Casa Rossa competition, dedicated to new Italian and international cinema, with a particular focus on debut and second films that have already made their mark on the festival circuit. Alongside it, the Gabbiano competition awards films and short films for their innovative cinematic language, while the Tre minuti a tema fisso (Three minutes on a fixed theme) section challenges young filmmakers to work with the short format. There are also author retrospectives, out-of-competition previews, round tables, and masterclasses with masters of contemporary cinema.
Guests and awards
Over the years, the Bellaria Film Festival has hosted prominent national and international directors and artists, showcasing emerging Italian cinema alongside established figures in the auteur scene. The Casa Rossa and Gabbiano awards, also presented by juries of young film students, represent significant recognition for directors at the beginning of their careers and help launch new talents.
The festival venues
Screenings and meetings take place in the historic locations of Bellaria-Igea Marina: the Palazzo del Turismo, the Cinema Teatro Astra, and the historic Cinema Apollo on the seafront, recently brought back to life as the festival's venue. The intimate size of the town and the atmosphere of the Romagna Riviera create a convivial and familiar environment where directors, critics, and the public can meet and engage freely.
Why it's worth it
- One of the historic festivals of independent Italian cinema, active since 1983
- Competitions dedicated to debut and second films and experimental cinema
- Masterclasses and meetings with directors and masters of contemporary cinema
- Picturesque setting on the Romagna Riviera, in the province of Rimini
- Intimate and cinephile atmosphere, far from major commercial markets
Bellaria Film Festival — edition 2026
The 44th edition of the Bellaria Film Festival was held from May 6th to 10th, 2026 in Bellaria-Igea Marina, under the theme "Do you feel this beat?", an invitation to reflect on human resilience and creative force as an empathetic impulse towards others. Directed by Daniela Persico (artistic director) and Sergio Canneto (organizational director), the edition featured over 60 films, including competitions, previews, and special events, also marking the official reopening of the Cinema Apollo on the seafront, closed for over twenty years.
Programme Bellaria Film Festival 2026
Competitions and sections
- Casa Rossa — competition dedicated to new Italian and international cinema (debut and second films), with five Italian and five international films competing. A prize of €5,000 awarded by a jury of young film students. Among the titles: Le città di pianura by Francesco Sossai, Un anno di scuola by Laura Samani, Orfeo by Virgilio Villoresi.
- Gabbiano — competition dedicated to the innovation of cinematic language, with films and short films competing. Prizes: €3,000 for the best film, €2,000 for cinematic innovation, €2,000 for the best short film.
- Tre minuti a tema fisso (Three minutes on a fixed theme) — short film competition on the theme "A step away from the present", with a jury composed of Yuri Ancarani, Ilaria Gomarasca, and Anita Rivaroli.
- Anni Zero (Years Zero) — retrospective and round table dedicated to the excellent debuts of the early 2000s, with Saverio Costanzo (Private), Emanuele Crialese (Respiro), and Francesco Munzi (Saimir).
Films and previews
- Opening with The Loneliest Man in Town by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel.
- Rose by Markus Schleinzer (starring Sandra Hüller).
- My Wife Cries by Angela Schanelec.
Guests and masterclasses
- Gaspar Noé, in conversation with visiting director Romeo Castellucci (with screenings of Climax and Vortex).
- Angela Schanelec, for the preview of My Wife Cries.
- Romana Maggiora Vergano, Casa Rossa Award for best female performance.
Venues
Cinema Apollo (reopened for the occasion), Cinema Teatro Astra, and Palazzo del Turismo.
Highlights Bellaria Film Festival 2026
Prices Bellaria Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Bellaria Film Festival
How to get there
Bellaria-Igea Marina is located on the Adriatic coast, in the province of Rimini. By train, Bellaria station is on the Bologna-Ancona line; by car, it can be reached from the Rimini Nord exit of the A14 motorway. The nearest airport is Federico Fellini Airport in Rimini-Miramare.
Venues
Screenings are mainly held at the Palazzo del Turismo, Cinema Teatro Astra, and Cinema Apollo on the seafront. It is advisable to check the official website for the venue of each event.
Tickets and accreditation
The festival offers tickets for individual screenings and accreditation packages for access to the entire event. Updated prices and procedures can be found on the official website bellariafilmfestival.org.
Period
The festival traditionally takes place in the first days of May.
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Where does it take place — Bellaria Film Festival
Palazzo del Turismo / Cinema Teatro Astra
Via Paolo Guidi 108, 47814 Bellaria-Igea Marina