Giardini Naxos Children's Film Festival

A festival that puts children at the center

The Giardini Naxos Children's Film Festival is one of the most established film events for young audiences in the Sicilian landscape. Founded in the mid-nineties, the event takes place every summer in Giardini-Naxos, a renowned seaside resort in the Metropolitan City of Messina, at the foot of Taormina and overlooking the Ionian Sea. The venue has always been the historic courtyard of the Don Bosco Oratory at the San Pancrazio Vescovo Parish, which transforms into a large open-air cinema for a week in July.

«Adults are admitted only if accompanied by children»

The motto that has accompanied the event for years encapsulates the festival's spirit: to flip the perspective and entrust the role of protagonists to the youngest. Children are not passive spectators but become the jury, called upon to vote and award the best film in competition. The stated goal is to educate new generations in the conscious consumption of cinema, choosing works capable of entertaining while also conveying values of peace, friendship, and coexistence.

The Program

Each edition offers a selection of animated films and features suitable for family audiences, both Italian and international, with titles ranging from the great classics of Japanese animation to the most recent productions. The evenings, which are free to attend, alternate screenings with presentations and side activities organized in collaboration with the Pro Loco and local associations.

The Awards

• Best Film in Competition Award, assigned by the youth jury;
• Mons. Salvatore Cingari Memorial Award, for the film that best represents the values of peace and coexistence;
• Naxos Cavalluccio Marino Awards, recognitions for personalities who have distinguished themselves in culture and social work.

A Community Network

The event is promoted by the San Pancrazio Vescovo Parish, led by Father Gianluca Monte, with artistic direction by Ignazio Vasta. Numerous local entities collaborate on its realization, including the Municipality of Giardini-Naxos, the Pro Loco, the Film Study Center, and the Coordination of Film Festivals in Sicily. It is an example of how cinema can become an educational tool and an opportunity for gathering for an entire community.