Corto di Sera – International Independent Short Film Festival

Short cinema under the stars of Itala

Corto di Sera is the International Independent Short Film Festival that transforms the Croce district of Itala—a small town in the province of Messina overlooking the Ionian coast of Sicily—into an open-air cinema every summer. Screenings are held in Piazza Badia, in front of the evocative Arab-Norman Church of SS. Pietro e Paolo, one of the most fascinating monuments in the Peloritani area, which serves as a natural backdrop for the festival screens.

A grassroots festival

Founded in 2011 and organized by the Corto di Sera Cultural Association under the artistic direction of Sebiano Chillemi, the festival has become a benchmark for independent short cinema in Southern Italy over the years. The event is supported by the Municipality of Itala, the Sicily Film Commission, and the Pro Loco Giovannello da Itala, and enjoys the backing of the local Archpriest's office. Every year, the festival receives thousands of submissions from dozens of countries: for the 2025 edition, over 2,000 short films arrived from approximately 150 nations.

Competition categories

The competition is divided into three sections that offer different perspectives on the world:

• Visioni Isolane – dedicated to works by Sicilian authors;
• From Italy to Itala – reserved for short films from the rest of Italy;
• Internazionali – for films by international directors.

Alongside the competition, the Corto Espanso spin-off hosts out-of-competition works, documentaries, and projects created with local schools, often accompanied by live soundtracks and performances.

Awards

Among the most prestigious awards are the Giovannello da Itala Special Prize and the Pietro Panarello Special Prize, the latter awarded to the short film that addresses the theme of Human Rights with originality and particular sensitivity. A distinctive feature of Corto di Sera is public involvement: spectators receive evaluation forms and participate, together with the jury of experts, in choosing the winning works, which are announced on the final evening.

A free event rooted in the territory

Admission to all screenings is completely free. One of the festival's goals is to promote local tourism, with a special focus on works filmed or set in Itala and the Ionian-Peloritani area. Between screenings, there are plenty of refreshment points, creating a festive atmosphere that blends cinephilia, local community, and the beauty of the Sicilian landscape.