Castel San Pietro Romano Film and Theatre Festival

A festival of film and theatre in the heart of the Monti Prenestini

The Castel San Pietro Romano Film and Theatre Festival is the cultural event that every summer turns this small village in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in Lazio, into a true open-air stage. Perched on the Monti Prenestini, above nearby Palestrina, the town overlooks the Roman countryside from the heights of the famous Rocca dei Colonna, offering spectators a suggestive setting and a view that, on summer evenings, stretches all the way to the capital.

Now in its 4th edition in 2026, the festival combines two complementary spirits: film screenings and meetings with the stars of Italian cinema on one hand, and the theatre festival on the other. A journey that has brought theatre and the big screen to the heart of the town's summer for four consecutive years, with evenings featuring free or symbolic-price admission designed for audiences of all ages.

Parco di via Vittorio Veneto, an arena under the stars

The heart of the cinematic evenings is the Parco di via Vittorio Veneto, which lights up after sunset to host screenings and meetings. Here, the festival hosts some of the most beloved faces of Italian cinema for public dialogues on the craft of acting and a passion for the seventh art, alternating light comedy with auteur cinema and civil theatre. A free shuttle connects the village centre to the performance area, facilitating access to a town known for its narrow, scenic streets.

Classically Contemporary: theatre that reinterprets the classics

The Classically Contemporary (Classicamente Contemporaneo) theatre section is hosted in the setting of the Teatro Belvedere di Ponente and offers original reinterpretations of the great classics. Over the years, the festival has staged adaptations inspired by Plautus, Gianni Rodari, and Shakespeare, with the aim of bringing audiences closer to fundamental theatrical texts through a contemporary lens. The productions are born from collaborations with companies from the Roman territory, a testament to a festival that values both big names and local artistic talent.

A village to discover

Attending a festival show is also the perfect opportunity to visit Castel San Pietro Romano, one of the most characteristic villages in the Prenestini area. The ruins of the Rocca dei Colonna, the small Civic Museum, and the alleys overlooking the valley tell an ancient story, linked to the great families that once dominated Lazio. The combination of historical heritage, breathtaking views, and cultural programming makes this festival a must-see event that attracts spectators from Rome and the entire province.

A summer of shared culture

With its formula that weaves together open-air cinema, theatre, and meetings with artists, the Film and Theatre Festival has become one of the reference summer events for Castel San Pietro Romano and the entire Monti Prenestini area. A project that, edition after edition, confirms the village's vocation to be not only a panoramic balcony over the Roman countryside but also a small cultural capital of the Lazio summer.