Corti al Castello Film Festival
The Italian short film festival in the medieval village of Moresco
About Corti al Castello
An Open-Air Cinema in the Heart of the Marche
Every summer, at the end of July, the small village of Moresco (province of Fermo, Marche) transforms into an open-air cinema hall. Corti al Castello Film Festival brings the best of Italian short films to Piazza Castello, the medieval heart of the town, enclosed between the famous heptagonal tower and the walls overlooking the Aso Valley. Moresco is part of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy" circuit, and this setting, suspended between history and landscape, is an integral part of the festival experience.
Since 2020, a Marche Story
Born in 2020 as a showcase for short films, the event has grown to become a true festival dedicated to Italian short films. It is organized by the Château De Lumière Cultural Association, with artistic direction by Clelia Di Briggido, and takes place under the patronage of the Municipality of Moresco, the Pro Loco, the Marche Film Commission, and the Fondazione Marche Cultura. The event aims not only to screen films but also to educate and engage the audience, who actively participate in voting for the competing shorts.
Three Competition Sections
The festival selects short films from all over the country and divides them into three main sections:
- Donna Protagonista (Woman Protagonist) — fiction short films with a female figure at the center of the story;
- Corti Marchigiani (Marche Shorts) — films made in the Marche region, to promote local cinema;
- Animazione (Animation) — animated shorts with a free theme.
These are complemented by awards such as the Young Jury Prize, the Château De Lumière Award for best leading actress, Audience Awards, and several special mentions. Screenings are free and take place every evening starting at 9:00 PM, with the audience invited to cast their votes via special ballots.
More Than a Film Festival
In addition to the screening evenings, the program offers opportunities to discover the local area: guided tours of local oil mills and wineries, tastings of typical products, and on the final evening, the awards ceremony accompanied by live music. It's a way to connect short films with the culture, food and wine, and identity of this corner of the province of Fermo.
Corti al Castello — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Corti al Castello Film Festival will be held in Moresco (FM) from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26, 2026, again in the evocative setting of Piazza Castello. This year too, the festival offers three competition sections for Italian short films — Woman Protagonist, Marche Shorts, and Animation — with free evening screenings and direct audience involvement in voting for the works.
The selection of competing shorts is made via an open call (FilmFreeway platform), and the detailed program for the evenings, including the selected titles and guests, is usually announced in the weeks preceding the event. Artistic direction remains entrusted to Clelia Di Briggido for the Château De Lumière Cultural Association.
Programme Corti al Castello 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition, including the list of selected short films, the jury composition, and the guests for the three evenings, will be announced by the organization in the weeks leading up to the festival.
The usual structure of the event includes:
- Three evenings of screenings in Piazza Castello, starting at 9:00 PM, with free admission.
- Woman Protagonist Section — fiction short films with a female figure at the center of the story.
- Marche Shorts Section — films made in the Marche region.
- Animation Section — animated shorts with a free theme.
- Audience vote via ballots and a final evening with an awards ceremony and live music.
- Side activities for discovering the territory (visits to oil mills and wineries, tastings of typical products) by reservation.
Highlights Corti al Castello 2026
Seventh edition of the festival, three evenings dedicated to Italian short films in the medieval village of Moresco, free admission and audience voting, final awards ceremony with live music.
Prices Corti al Castello 2026
Practical information — Corti al Castello
Where
Screenings take place in Piazza Castello, in the historic center of Moresco (FM), Marche.
How to get there
By car: take the A14 motorway exit at Pedaso, then follow signs for Valle dell'Aso and Moresco (approx. 15 minutes). The nearest train station is Pedaso, on the Adriatic line.
Admission and times
Free admission. Screenings generally start at 9:00 PM. Some side activities (visits to oil mills and wineries) require booking via email to the organization.
Contacts
Associazione Culturale Château De Lumière — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Corti al Castello
Piazza Castello
Piazza Castello, 63826 Moresco