Castiglioni Film Festival
Cinema under the stars in the heart of the Valdichiana Aretina
About Castiglioni Film Festival
Four days of cinema in the heart of the Valdichiana
The Castiglioni Film Festival is the premier cinematic event in Castiglion Fiorentino, a medieval village in the Valdichiana Aretina, in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. Every summer, the festival brings the historic center to life with screenings under the stars, meetings with authors and actors, masterclasses, and an international short film competition, cementing its status as one of the region's most anticipated cultural events. Admission is free, a choice that has always defined the festival and turned it into a true community gathering.
The two souls of the festival: Teatro Mario Spina and Arena del Cassero
The festival takes place in two iconic locations of the village. The Teatro Cinema Mario Spina hosts the afternoon blocks of competing short films, masterclasses, and the awards ceremony. The Arena del Cassero, overlooking the valley, is the heart of the festival's evenings: here, Cinema under the stars takes place, featuring open-air screenings of contemporary Italian films, accompanied by directors and cast members for Q&A sessions with the audience. Under the Logge Vasariane in the town square, pre-dinner talks with film professionals are also held.
An international short film competition
The competitive core of the festival is the international short film competition, which receives hundreds of entries from dozens of countries each year, many of which have traveled through major international festivals like Cannes, Venice, Locarno, Rotterdam, and Toronto. Sections include national and international shorts, and starting this year, a new section dedicated to documentaries, in addition to a non-competitive showcase of Tuscan shorts. The films are judged by a jury of industry professionals, supported by a Youth Jury composed of local high school and university students, which awards a dedicated prize.
Masterclasses and meetings with the protagonists
One of the hallmarks of the Castiglioni Film Festival is its program of masterclasses dedicated to the various crafts of cinema: from costume design to screenwriting, from editing to directing. Over the years, the festival has brought award-winning professionals and well-known faces of Italian cinema to Castiglion Fiorentino, offering the public a rare opportunity to engage closely with those who create the films.
An event promoted by Collettivo Farrago
The event is organized by Collettivo Farrago APS, in collaboration with the Municipality of Castiglion Fiorentino. Beyond the main days, the festival also offers "Aspettando il CFF" (Waiting for CFF), a series of lead-up screenings in the preceding weeks, and evening social moments with DJ sets and a final party that complete the experience, blending great cinema, education, and social life in one of the most beautiful villages in the province of Arezzo.
Castiglioni Film Festival — edition 2026
The twelfth edition of the Castiglioni Film Festival returns to Castiglion Fiorentino from July 23 to 26, 2026, confirming the formula that combines auteur cinema, a short film competition, and meetings with guests. The days are divided between the Teatro Cinema Mario Spina, which hosts the afternoon competition blocks and masterclasses, the Logge Vasariane with pre-dinner talks dedicated to film crafts, and the Arena del Cassero, where cinema under the stars takes place every evening with contemporary Italian films.
The international short film competition is enriched by the new documentary section, alongside the national and international categories and the Tuscan short film showcase, with a total prize pool of 1,500 euros and a Youth Jury formed by regional high school and university students. Admission is free.
The detailed program with guests and selected films will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event. The "Waiting for CFF" evenings are also planned for 2026.
Programme Castiglioni Film Festival 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition, including guests and films, will be announced by the organization in the weeks preceding the festival. The confirmed structure for the four days is as follows:
- Afternoon (Teatro Cinema Mario Spina): Screening of competition short film blocks (national, international, and documentary sections) and masterclasses dedicated to film crafts.
- Pre-dinner (Logge Vasariane, Town Square): Talks and meetings with industry professionals — directors, screenwriters, producers, editors.
- Evening (Arena del Cassero): Cinema under the stars, with open-air screenings of contemporary Italian films and the presence of cast members for debates with the public.
- Sunday, July 26: Awards ceremony at the Arena del Cassero, with the presentation of competition prizes and the Youth Jury Award, followed by a final party with a DJ set.
Registration for the competition is via the FilmFreeway platform. The "Waiting for CFF" evenings precede the festival in the weeks before.
Highlights Castiglioni Film Festival 2026
- International short film competition with a new documentary section
- Cinema under the stars at the Arena del Cassero with Italian cinema guests
- Masterclasses on film crafts at the Teatro Mario Spina
- Youth Jury with regional high school and university students
- Completely free admission
Prices Castiglioni Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Castiglioni Film Festival
Location
The festival is held in Castiglion Fiorentino (AR), in the Valdichiana Aretina. The main venues are the Teatro Cinema Mario Spina (in the historic center) and the Arena del Cassero, both within walking distance of the center.
How to get there
By train: The Castiglion Fiorentino station is on the Florence-Rome line (regional line), just a few minutes' walk from the center. By car: Take the Monte San Savino exit on the A1 motorway, then follow the SS73 towards Castiglion Fiorentino. By plane: The nearest airports are Florence and Perugia.
Admission and tickets
Admission to all screenings and meetings is free. Reservations may be recommended for masterclasses and certain events.
Contacts
Information: [email protected] — Short film competition: [email protected] — Official website: castiglionifilmfestival.it
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Where does it take place — Castiglioni Film Festival
Teatro Cinema Mario Spina e Arena del Cassero
Via Cesare Battisti, 52043 Castiglion Fiorentino