Buffalo Roots Film Festival

An independent film festival in the heart of Rome

The Buffalo Roots Film Festival is one of the most vibrant and youthful additions to the capital's cinematic landscape. Promoted by WREP - EU Web Reporter & Creators Registry and the Web Press Media Reporter APS association, under the direction of Igor Wolfango Schiar Wolfango Schiaroli, the festival is aimed at those working outside industrial circuits: independent filmmakers, documentarians, film students, web authors, and creators experimenting with new technologies.

The event takes place in Rome, in the Lazio region, and since 2025 has found a prestigious home in the Campidoglio, under the patronage of Roma Capitale. Screenings are held in the monumental halls of the Capitoline Hill—the Sala Laudato Si' in 2025 and the Sala della Protomoteca in 2026—a setting that lends the festival a solemnity rarely seen in independent film events.

Competition categories

The competition is divided into numerous sections designed to accommodate a diverse range of creative languages. Award categories include:

• Best Documentary and Best Feature Film
• Best Short Film and Best Historical Film
• Best A.I. Videostory, dedicated to works created with the support of artificial intelligence
• Best Music Video and Best Commercial Film
• Sections for animation, student short films, web and new media, stage play, and experimental cinema
• A Non-Competitive section reserved for works of particular significance

This broad structure is a deliberate choice: Buffalo Roots does not aim to be a niche festival for industry insiders, but a space where an investigative documentary, a music video, and an A.I.-generated short film can coexist on the same day.

More than just screenings

Alongside the screenings, the program includes masterclasses and workshops for filmmakers, Q&A sessions with authors, and institutional meetings. Recent editions have addressed themes such as the use of NFTs in cinema and tourism, low-budget production, and independent distribution.

The festival also hosts contemporary art installations and photography exhibitions: the 2026 edition featured a photo set dedicated to original stage costumes by designer Adriana Mancini and surprise performances by guest artists. It is this cross-pollination between cinema, visual art, and fashion that gives Buffalo Roots its unique identity.

An international showcase

The festival collects submissions through international platforms and has established partnerships with festivals in France and Germany, as well as receiving support from industry bodies like ANICA. For selected authors, participation offers a concrete opportunity for visibility and networking with producers, journalists, and distributors.

Why you should attend

Admission is free, and the one-day format makes Buffalo Roots easily accessible even for those just passing through Rome. You get to enter the Campidoglio, watch films rarely seen in commercial cinemas, hear authors discuss their work, and leave with a fresh perspective on what Italian and European cinema is producing away from the spotlight. For fans of documentaries and auteur cinema, it is one of the most interesting Roman events of early summer.