Cactus Film Festival - International Film Festival for Young People
Cinema under the stars for children, teenagers and young people in Piazza Chanoux
About Cactus Film Festival
Cinema for the Youngest Returns to Aosta
The Cactus Film Festival is the international film festival dedicated to children, adolescents, and young people that enlivens the centre of Aosta every summer. For two weeks, the central Piazza Chanoux transforms into a large open-air cinema, with evening screenings under the stars, while the programme extends to various spaces in the Aosta Valley's capital. The event, with free admission, is organised by the association Long Neck Doc ETS.
International Competition, Workshops, and Music
The heart of the festival is the international competition of short films and feature films designed for the younger audience: on weekends, the evenings feature the selected short films in competition and feature films. Around the screenings, there is a packed programme of workshops, meetings, concerts, dawn screenings with breakfast, and silent films accompanied by live music, thanks to collaboration with the Cineteca di Bologna. The festival thus combines entertainment with the development of young viewers' perspectives.
A Community Celebration in the Aosta Valley
Designed for families and schools, the Cactus Film Festival has become an anticipated event of the Aosta Valley summer, capable of combining quality cinema, free access, and festive moments. The collaboration with local entities such as MAV - Museum of Aosta Valley Crafts and Maison J.B. Festaz roots the event in Aosta's cultural fabric, while the closing concerts attract a broad, intergenerational audience.
Cactus Film Festival — edition 2026
The sixth edition of the Cactus Film Festival offers two weeks of cinema for children, teenagers, and young people, from June 22 to July 5, 2026, with a widespread and free programme. The opening on June 22 is at SpaziØrso, in collaboration with MAV - Museum of Aosta Valley Crafts; on June 23, a special screening at Maison J.B. Festaz; from June 24, the festival moves to Piazza Chanoux, the heart of the event. On weekends, the international competition with short films at 8:00 PM and feature films at 9:00 PM. New this year is the focus on Italian comedy on Thursdays. The closing, on Sunday, July 5, combines the awards ceremony with a concert by Cristoni D'Avena, who reinterpret cartoon theme songs in a rock style.
Programme Cactus Film Festival 2026
Monday, June 22 - Opening
- Opening event for children at SpaziØrso, in collaboration with MAV - Museum of Aosta Valley Crafts
Tuesday, June 23
- Special screening at Maison J.B. Festaz
From Wednesday, June 24 - Piazza Chanoux
- Cinema under the stars in Piazza Chanoux
- Silent films accompanied by live music (in collaboration with Cineteca di Bologna)
- Dawn screenings with breakfast
- Classic cinema and preview films
Focus on Italian Comedy (Thursdays)
- Thursday, June 25 - "Bianco, rosso e Verdone" by Carlo Verdone
- Thursday, July 2 - "Chiedimi se sono felice" by Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo
International Competition (Fridays and Saturdays)
- 8:00 PM - Short films in competition
- 9:00 PM - Selected feature films
Sunday, July 5 - Closing
- Awards ceremony for the international competition
- Closing concert by Cristoni D'Avena (cartoon theme songs in rock version), Piazza Chanoux
Full programme with guests, times, and booking procedures to be presented at a press conference in early June. Pre-festival events on June 3, 4, and 13 in the Aosta Valley (Aosta, Pont-Saint-Martin, Emarèse).
Highlights Cactus Film Festival 2026
Prices Cactus Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Cactus Film Festival
How to Get Here
Piazza Chanoux is in the pedestrian centre of Aosta, a few minutes' walk from the train station. By car: A5 Turin-Aosta motorway, exit Aosta, and parking around the historic centre.
Admission
Widespread and free programme. Free admission to screenings, workshops, and concerts. Some workshops may require booking due to limited spaces.
Info
Full programme, guests, and times on the official website cactusfilmfestival.com.
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Where does it take place — Cactus Film Festival
Piazza Chanoux
Piazza Émile Chanoux, 11100 Aosta