Ciminna Corto Fest

A festival in the village of The Leopard

The Ciminna Short Film Festival is the cinematic event that transforms Ciminna, a hilltop village in the Province of Palermo, into the Sicilian capital of short films. The choice of location is no coincidence: Ciminna was one of the sets chosen by Luchino Visconti for The Leopard, and this cinematic legacy is the common thread running through the entire event, weaving together the memory of great cinema with the exploration of new short film languages.

The competition

The heart of the festival is the international competition open to short films, divided into fiction and animation categories. Alongside the competing shorts, there is a schools section, designed to showcase productions from educational institutions and introduce new generations to audiovisual language. A jury of industry professionals selects the winning works, while numerous special awards highlight screenwriting, cinematography, and social themes. The artistic direction of the short film section is entrusted to director Alfio D'Agata.

From late autumn to the summer of the Gattopardo Cinefestival

The first three editions of the Ciminna Short Film Festival were held in late autumn: the third, in November 2025, saw the victory of Eroi by young director Caterina Baglio, with the Gattopardo-Luchino Visconti Award presented to director Gianni Amelio. Since 2026, the event has become a permanent section of the Gattopardo Cinefestival, which takes place in Ciminna in the second half of July, featuring one day dedicated to the screening of finalist shorts and one to the awards ceremony.

The Gattopardo-Luchino Visconti Award

Among the most anticipated moments is the Gattopardo-Luchino Visconti Award, a lifetime achievement recognition for living Italian directors, presented as a tribute to the great authors of our cinema. The festival is also an opportunity for meetings, debates, and masterclasses with prominent guests, making Ciminna a reference point for enthusiasts, scholars, and filmmakers for a few days.

A showcase for independent cinema

Created to promote the expressive and artistic form of short films by independent authors and production companies, the Ciminna Short Film Festival has established itself in just a few years as a high-quality event in the landscape of Sicilian festivals. Screenings take place in the historic center of the Municipality of Ciminna, including auditoriums, halls, and traditional venues, with free admission.

Between cinema and territory

The festival is much more than a series of screenings: it is an opportunity to rediscover a village in inland Sicily, its architectural heritage, and its deep bond with the great history of Italian cinema. Walking through the streets of Ciminna during the festival means rediscovering the atmosphere of The Leopard and breathing in the enthusiasm of a community that uses cinema as a tool for cultural growth and openness to the world.