International Festival of New Cinema – Pesaro Film Festival
The historic festival of auteur and research cinema, in the heart of Pesaro
About Pesaro Film Festival
A historic festival in the heart of the Marche
The International Festival of New Cinema, also known as the Pesaro Film Festival, is one of Italy's oldest and most recognized film events. Founded in 1965, for over sixty years it has animated the municipality of Pesaro, the capital of the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, in the Marche region, transforming the Adriatic city into an international hub for auteur, experimental, and research cinema.
Unlike major generalist festivals, the Pesaro Festival has chosen a precise direction from its origins: to give space to "new cinema," to experimental languages, to works that escape commercial logic. Over the years, directors destined to become masters have passed through here, and it is still here today that audiences can discover films from around the world in preview.
The sections and venues of the Festival
The competitive heart of the event is the Pesaro New Cinema Competition, a selection of works without restrictions on format, duration, or age of the directors, hosted at the Teatro Sperimentale on Via Rossini. Alongside the competition, the Festival annually offers monographic retrospectives, special events dedicated to Italian cinema, sections for children, and outdoor evening screenings.
Among the spaces hosting the festival are the Teatro Sperimentale, the Arena in Piazza del Popolo with "Cinema in Piazza," and the evocative film screening "La Vela Incantata" on the beach. Part of the program is also available via streaming on the MYmovies ONE platform, extending the reach of the event beyond the city limits.
Awards and recognitions
- Pesaro New Cinema Competition — the main award given to the competing works.
- Pesaro New Cinema Award — a career award presented to a major figure in cinema.
- Lino Miccichè Award — a film criticism competition for young people.
- Marche New Cinema Award — dedicated to young directors from the Marche region.
An experience accessible to all
One of the distinctive features of the Festival is the free admission to screenings: the festival was born as an open and popular space, where anyone can approach research cinema without economic barriers. This spirit, combined with the summer charm of Pesaro and its cultural tradition — the city is also the birthplace of Gioachino Rossini and the Italian Capital of Culture 2024 — makes the event an unmissable appointment for cinephiles and the curious.
Pesaro Film Festival — edition 2026
The 62nd International Festival of New Cinema returns to Pesaro from June 13 to 20, 2026, confirming itself as one of the most anticipated auteur film festivals of the Italian summer. The artistic direction is entrusted, as is tradition, to Pedro Armocida.
The program combines an international competition, retrospectives, special events, and outdoor screenings, distributed between the Teatro Sperimentale, the Arena in Piazza del Popolo, and the beach. The heart of the event is the tribute to director Maurizio Nichetti, with a retrospective, a monograph, and a round table. All screenings are free admission.
Programme Pesaro Film Festival 2026
Saturday, June 13 — Opening
- Opening evening dedicated to "The Name of the Rose" by Jean-Jacques Annaud, presented on the 40th anniversary of its release. The actress Antonia Fotaras is the godmother of the opening.
Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19 — Pesaro New Cinema Competition
- 14 films selected from around the world, without restrictions on format, duration, or age of the directors, screened at the Teatro Sperimentale.
- Selection jury: Pedro Armocida, Paola Cassano, Cecilia Ermini, Raffaele Meale, Stefano Miraglia, Federico Rossin.
Sections and retrospectives
- Cinema in Piazza — evening screenings and talks at the Arena in Piazza del Popolo.
- La Vela Incantata — 35mm film screening on the beach, curated by Steve Della Casa.
- Pesaro Film Circus — section dedicated to children, focusing on Pinocchio.
- (Ri)Montaggi. Cinema through images — video essay competition for film students, with finalists' works screened.
- Roads to Nowhere — retrospective dedicated to Italian music videos of the 80s.
Saturday, June 20 — Closing
- Special Event on Italian cinema dedicated to Maurizio Nichetti, who will be present to receive the Pesaro New Cinema Award, followed by a screening of his directorial debut "Ratataplan".
Awards and competitions
- Marche New Cinema Award — reserved for three young directors from the Marche region.
- Lino Miccichè Award — film criticism competition for young people.
Part of the competition program and other sections is also available via streaming on MYmovies ONE. Full program on the official website pesarofilmfest.it.
Highlights Pesaro Film Festival 2026
Prices Pesaro Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Pesaro Film Festival
How to get there
Pesaro is served by the train station on the Bologna–Lecce Adriatic line, a few minutes from the historic center. By car, it can be reached from the A14 motorway, Pesaro-Urbino exit. The nearest airport is Rimini, followed by Ancona-Falconara and Bologna.
Festival venues
The main venues are the Teatro Sperimentale (Via Rossini 16), the Arena in Piazza del Popolo, and, for beach screenings, the lungomare area. All are within walking distance in the city center.
Admission and tickets
All screenings are free admission. For indoor events, it is advisable to arrive early to secure a seat. Part of the program is also available for streaming on MYmovies ONE.
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Where does it take place — Pesaro Film Festival
Teatro Sperimentale
Via Rossini 16, 61121 Pesaro