Ciminna Corto Fest

A festival in the village of The Leopard

Ciminna Corto Fest is the cinematic event that transforms Ciminna, a hillside village in the Province of Palermo, into the Sicilian capital of short films every year. 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 festival, weaving the memory of great cinema with the exploration of new short film languages.

The competition

At 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 school section designed to showcase student productions and introduce new generations to audiovisual storytelling. A jury of industry professionals selects the winning works, while numerous special awards celebrate excellence in screenwriting, cinematography, and social themes.

The Gattopardo-Luchino Visconti Award

One of 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 masters of our cinema. The festival also serves as an opportunity for meetings, debates, and masterclasses with prominent guests, making Ciminna a temporary hub for enthusiasts, scholars, and filmmakers.

A showcase for independent cinema

Created to promote the artistic expression of short films by independent authors and production houses, Ciminna Corto Fest has quickly established itself as a high-quality event on the Sicilian festival circuit. Screenings take place throughout the historic center of Ciminna, in 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 connection to the 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.