DocuDonna – International Women's Documentary Film Festival

A festival to give voice to female directors

DocuDonna is the International Women's Documentary Film Festival held in Massa Marittima, in the province of Grosseto, nestled in the heart of the Colline Metallifere in the Tuscan Maremma. Founded in 2019 by director and artistic director Cristina Berlini, the festival set a clear mission from the start: to introduce a fresh perspective to Italy dedicated to promoting and showcasing documentaries made by women in a cultural industry still largely dominated by men.

Each edition gathers films from all over the world—Italy, the United States, Canada, Palestine, Iran, Lithuania, and many other countries—selected to tell real-life stories through female perspectives and languages. Screenings are accompanied by the presence of the authors, meetings, workshops, and round tables that make the festival a true laboratory for cultural exchange.

The Palazzo dell'Abbondanza, the heart of the festival

The festival takes place in the evocative Palazzo dell'Abbondanza, an ancient civic building in Massa Marittima, as well as in the Sala dell'Abbondanza and the Cinema Goldoni. A cozy and charming setting, just a stone's throw from the town's extraordinary Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, allowing the audience to experience the screenings in an intimate and engaging atmosphere, in direct dialogue with the guest directors.

An international competition

DocuDonna is structured as a competition, with a jury that awards the main prizes each year:

• Best Italian Documentary
• Best International Documentary
• Special Mention

Over the years, awards such as the Olympia de Gouges Wabi Sabi Award have been added, highlighting the festival's commitment to intertwining cinema, civic engagement, and women's rights. The juries bring together actresses, photographers, critics, and prominent figures from the world of culture.

Beyond the screenings: DocuDonna On Tour

DocuDonna's activities do not end when the festival closes. Through the DocuDonna On Tour project and international collaborations—such as the long-standing partnership with the IFA International Film Festival in Assen, the Netherlands, and the Italian Cultural Institute in Amsterdam—the selected documentaries continue to travel and be screened far beyond the Maremma, bringing the voices of female directors across Europe.

Organizers

The festival is promoted by the Gremigna Cultural Association, based in Massa Marittima, in collaboration with the Municipality of Massa Marittima and with the support of the Fondazione CR Firenze. The artistic direction is led by Cristina Berlini, supported by Letizia Papi and a network of collaborators from the world of cinema and culture.