Immaginaria - International Film Festival of Lesbians & Other Rebellious Women

A groundbreaking festival in the heart of Trastevere

Immaginaria is the International Film Festival of Lesbians & Other Rebellious Women, the first independent Italian festival entirely dedicated to lesbian, queer, and feminist cinema. Established in 1993, it takes place in Rome, Lazio, and is organized by the Visibilia APS Cultural Association. Its home is the Cinema Nuovo Sacher, the historic theater founded by Nanni Moretti in the Trastevere district: a space that has championed independent and auteur cinema for over thirty years.

The 21st edition: 'The Power of Love'

From May 8th to 10th, 2026, the festival returns with three days of screenings, meetings, and dialogues. The chosen theme is 'The Power of Love': love understood not as a private sentiment but as a political force, capable of questioning patriarchal structures and giving voice to narratives kept on the margins. This edition is dedicated to the memory of Edda Billi (1933-2026), a historic figure of Italian feminism and the lesbian movement, as well as an activist, theorist, and poet.

The 2026 program

The selection weaves together feature films, documentaries, and short films from around the world. Among the announced titles:

• The opening film When Night is Falling by Patricia Rozema, presented in a 4K restoration for its Italian premiere in this format;
• A Culinary Uprising: The Story of Bloodroot by Annie Laurie Medonis, in its Italian premiere;
• Hot Milk by Rebecca Lenkiewicz;
• Des preuves d'amour by Alice Douard;
• The Queen of My Dreams by Fawzia Mirza;
• the documentaries Sally and Bulletproof.

There is also space for debate with the panel 'Without Asking Permission: Female Gazes in Contemporary Italian Short Film', dedicated to the female perspective in today's short cinema. Expected guests include Julie Zimmermann and Victoria Torres Bolaños from the Bloodroot team, along with directors and actresses such as Giulia Cosentino, Perla Sardella, and Dharma Mangia Woods.

More than a festival: a community

Immaginaria is not just a film festival but a meeting point for the lesbian, feminist, and queer community in Rome and beyond. Screenings are accompanied by meetings, reflections, and moments of exchange that make the Nuovo Sacher a place for both viewing and political discussion. Participation is via the annual membership card of the Visibilia APS Cultural Association, which grants access to all screenings and events.

Why it's worth attending

For those seeking cinema outside the mainstream, capable of telling stories of desires, bodies, and lives often invisible on screen, Immaginaria is an unmissable event in the Roman spring. A festival that has combined artistic quality, civic engagement, and the memory of social movements for over thirty years in the city of Rome and the Lazio region.