BIF&ST – Bari International Film&TV Festival
Bari's premier film festival, hosted between the Teatro Petruzzelli and the city's cinemas
About BIF&ST
The film festival that lights up Bari
The BIF&ST – Bari International Film&TV Festival is the most important cinematic event in Puglia and one of the most popular in Southern Italy. Every year at the end of March, the regional capital transforms into a true city of cinema: for eight days, the center of Bari buzzes with screenings, national and international premieres, meetings with authors and actors, masterclasses, and award ceremonies. Promoted by the Puglia Region through the Apulia Film Commission and directed by journalist and film critic Oscar Iarussi, the BIF&ST bridges the gap between the major film industry and popular passion, with most screenings offered free of charge.
Venues in the heart of the city
The festival's symbolic and social hub is the monumental Teatro Petruzzelli, one of Italy's largest theaters, which hosts gala evenings, the opening film, and star-studded encounters. Alongside the Petruzzelli, screenings are held at the Teatro Kursaal Santalucia, home to the international competition, as well as the Multicinema Galleria and the AncheCinema multipurpose theater, bringing the festival back into the city's historic cinemas.
Competitions, sections, and retrospectives
The program revolves around two main competitions. The Meridiana international competition showcases films from Euro-Mediterranean countries, judged by a professional jury; the For Italian Cinema section, featuring a popular jury, awards feature films, documentaries, and national short films. The lineup is completed by thematic sections such as A Sud (dedicated to cinema from the South and the Global South), Horror Nights, and Rosso di sera, in addition to major monographic retrospectives that pay homage to masters of Italian and international cinema each year.
A popular and free festival
What sets the BIF&ST apart is its accessible, popular nature: most screenings and meetings are free, with the Bari audience playing a central role. Popular juries, composed of local citizens, award some of the most significant prizes. With approximately 125 films and 140 events per edition, and tens of thousands of attendees, the festival has become a fixed appointment on the cultural calendar of the Province of Bari and the entire Puglia region, drawing authors, actors, and producers from across the Mediterranean.
BIF&ST — edition 2026
The 17th edition of the BIF&ST – Bari International Film&TV Festival took place from March 21 to 28, 2026, confirming Bari as the capital of cinema for eight days. The program offered approximately 125 films and over 140 events, mostly free of charge, distributed between the Teatro Petruzzelli, the Kursaal Santalucia, the Multicinema Galleria, and the AncheCinema.
The Meridiana international competition, featuring twelve films from the Euro-Mediterranean area, was chaired by director and writer Roberto Andò. Alongside it, the For Italian Cinema section with a popular jury, the Horror Nights, and major retrospectives dedicated to Oscar winners Giuseppe Tornatore and Abdellatif Kechiche. Guests of the edition included Wes Studi, Alessandro Baricco, Elena Sofia Ricci, and Luisa Ranieri.
Programme BIF&ST 2026
Venues and structure
- Teatro Petruzzelli — gala evenings, opening film, and special events
- Kursaal Santalucia — home of the Meridiana international competition
- Multicinema Galleria and AncheCinema — section screenings
Meridiana Competition — winners
- Best Film: «Sorda – Il silenzio degli altri» by Eva Libertad
- Best Director: Hafsia Herzi for «La petite dernière»
- Best Actress: Doha Ramadan in «Happy Birthday» by Sarah Goher
- Best Actor: Álvaro Cervantes in «Sorda – Il silenzio degli altri»
- Best Artistic Contribution: «God will not help» by Hana Jušić
For Italian Cinema Section — winners
- Best Film: «Su Maistu» by Gianfranco Cabiddu, a documentary on Luigi Lai, master of the launeddas
- Best Actress: Barbara Bouchet in «Finale: Allegro» by Emanuela Piovano
- Best Actor: Malich Cissè and Giulio Beranek in «Cattiva Strada» by Davide Angiuli
- Best Short Film: «Comando iodi» by Pierdomenico Minafra
Retrospectives
- Homage to Giuseppe Tornatore
- Homage to Abdellatif Kechiche (including «Mektoub, My Love – Canto Due»)
Highlights BIF&ST 2026
Prices BIF&ST 2026
Practical information — BIF&ST
Getting there
The Teatro Petruzzelli is located on Corso Cavour in the center of Bari, just a few minutes' walk from the central station. The city is served by Bari-Palese Airport (Karol Wojtyła), which is connected to the city center by trains and shuttle buses.
Tickets
Most screenings and meetings are free to attend, often on a first-come, first-served basis. For certain special events and gala evenings at the Petruzzelli, accreditation or a ticket may be required: please check the official website at bifest.it for details.
When
The festival traditionally takes place during the last ten days of March and lasts for eight days.
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Where does it take place — BIF&ST
Teatro Petruzzelli
Corso Cavour 12, 70121 Bari