International Pathological Film Festival
The only festival in the world with a jury composed of people with physical and mental disabilities
About Pathological Film Festival
A festival that flips the perspective
The International Pathological Film Festival is one of the most unique cultural events in the landscape of Rome, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio. Its distinctiveness lies not only in the film selection but in who judges them: the jury is formed by people with physical and mental disabilities, actors from the Teatro Patologico resident company, who evaluate the competing works with the artistic sensitivity honed through years of theatrical workshops. To date, it is the only film festival in the world built on this principle.
Dario D'Ambrosi and the Teatro Patologico
The festival is conceived and directed by Dario D'Ambrosi, an actor, director, and playwright who, since the 1970s, has turned so-called "pathological theater" into an internationally recognized language. From his experience, the Teatro Patologico was born—a Roman institution that works daily with people with mental disabilities and has created, together with the University of Rome Tor Vergata, academic programs in drama therapy designed for students with disabilities. The festival serves as the public showcase for this work: not an act of charity, but a cultural device where those who are usually the subjects of the story become the ones judging the narrative.
The Competition
Each edition gathers over two thousand films from all over the world—Italy, Argentina, Germany, France, Turkey, Iran, Hungary, Poland, Indonesia, Brazil, China, the United Kingdom—from which an official selection of finalists is drawn, including short films, medium-length films, and feature films. The themes revolve around mental suffering, marginalization, illness, diversity, and inclusion, without ever slipping into pity. Alongside the jury awards, there is a People's Choice Award, which can be voted on online via QR code: anyone can watch the finalist works from their own device and participate in the voting, without geographical limits.
The Awards
- Best Short Film and Best Feature or Medium-Length Film
- Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress
- Jury Prize, awarded by actors with mental disabilities
- Research and Experimentation Award
- Antonio Messia Award, dedicated to youth and social themes
- Tor Vergata Award, for works with a medical-scientific theme
- Pathological Award, for integration and disability
- Palazzo Ripetta Award, for emerging artists, and Griffith Award
- People's Choice Awards for feature and short films
The Final Evening at Palazzo Ripetta
The awards ceremony takes place in the Sala Bernini of Palazzo Ripetta, on Via di Ripetta, just a few steps from Piazza del Popolo: an 18th-century hall, formerly the church of the Conservatorio della Divina Provvidenza, featuring marble floors and a restored fresco. The evening is not merely a plaque-handing ceremony: the actors of the Teatro Patologico perform a show, accompanied by live music featuring famous international soundtracks, and guests from Italian cinema and television take the stage. In recent years, attendees have included Claudia Gerini—the festival's patron—Andrea Roncato, and Edoardo Leo, among others.
Why it's worth attending
Those arriving in Rome in late spring will find something in this festival that resembles no other event in the capital. There is no red carpet, no competition between stars: there is an audience watching challenging films and a jury commenting on them with disarming frankness. It is an experience that changes the way one looks at both cinema and disability, and restores to the Roman historic center a function it has held for centuries—that of a place where uncomfortable ideas find a stage.
Pathological Film Festival — edition 2026
17th edition: cinema for peace
The 2026 edition of the International Pathological Film Festival, directed by Dario D'Ambrosi, took place in Rome from May 28 to June 4 with the theme "The power of cinema for peace inside and outside the soul." From the over two thousand works received from all over the world, an official selection of 21 finalist short films—with a maximum duration of fifteen minutes—was drawn, coming from Italy, Argentina, Germany, France, Turkey, Iran, Hungary, Poland, and Indonesia, as well as a Polish-French-Portuguese co-production.
The jury and the public vote
As per tradition, the decision was made by the actors with physical and mental disabilities from the Teatro Patologico resident company, joined by a People's Choice Award votable online via QR code: anyone could watch the finalists from their own device and participate in the vote without geographical limits.
The awards ceremony
The ceremony was held on June 4 at 7:30 PM in the Sala Bernini of Palazzo Ripetta, at Via di Ripetta 231. The actors of the Teatro Patologico performed "One Flew Over the Pathological Nest," an original theatrical adaptation inspired by the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, with a message of freedom and inclusion. Live music was provided by Luigi Zauli and Teresa Maiello, featuring famous international soundtracks. The festival's patron was Claudia Gerini, with the announced participation of Andrea Roncato and Edoardo Leo.
Programme Pathological Film Festival 2026
Calendar
- May 28 - June 3, 2026 — Screenings of the official selection: 21 finalist short films (max duration 15 minutes) from Italy, Argentina, Germany, France, Turkey, Iran, Hungary, Poland, Indonesia, and a Polish-French-Portuguese co-production. Among the Italian authors in competition: Valerio Armati, Mauro Paolucci, and Simone Scarcelli.
- Throughout the festival — Online voting for the People's Choice Award via QR code, open to everyone without geographical limits.
- Thursday, June 4, 2026, 7:30 PM — Palazzo Ripetta, Sala Bernini: awards ceremony hosted by Dario D'Ambrosi, performance of "One Flew Over the Pathological Nest" with the actors of the Teatro Patologico, live music by Luigi Zauli and Teresa Maiello, guests from Italian cinema and television.
Highlights Pathological Film Festival 2026
Winners of the 17th edition
- Best Short Film: "Per un padre" by Simone Scarcelli (Italy)
- Best Feature/Medium-Length Film: "Il monaco che vinse l'apocalisse" by Jordan River (Italy)
- Best Director: Maurizio Forcella for "Fortuna" (Italy)
- Jury Prize (actors with mental disabilities): "Puppet" by Milad Fathiany (Iran)
- Best Actor: Francesco Salvi for "Heaven or Not" (Italy)
- Best Actress: Laura Sinceri for "Torna da te" (Italy)
- Research and Experimentation Award (ex aequo): "Kamera" by Daniele Zanardi and "Era questo quello che volevo?" by Erica Muraca
- Antonio Messia Award (ex aequo): "Arrow and Bullseye" by Muhammad Yusril (Indonesia) and "Lucrezia Svelata" by Andrea Luis Bertucci
- Tor Vergata Award (medical-scientific theme): "Torna da te" by Laura Sinceri
- Pathological Award (integration and disability): "La Rugiada" by Kevin Pizzi
- Palazzo Ripetta Award (emerging artists): "The Lovers" by Thiago Tomas Landriscina (Argentina)
- Griffith Award: "La caffetteria di mia madre" by Gioele Perretta
- People's Choice Award (Feature): "Anime in pena" by Alessandro Corazzi
- People's Choice Award (Short): "La Rugiada" by Kevin Pizzi
Prices Pathological Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Pathological Film Festival
Location
Palazzo Ripetta, Sala Bernini — Via di Ripetta 231, 00186 Rome (Historic Center, Campo Marzio district).
How to get there
- Metro: Line A, Flaminio or Spagna stop, then a 5-10 minute walk.
- Train: From Roma Termini, take Metro A towards Battistini to Flaminio.
- Car: Not recommended; the area is in the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) historic center. Recommended parking: Villa Borghese or Terminal Gianicolo.
- Plane: Rome Fiumicino, then Leonardo Express to Termini.
Admission and Reservations
Participation in screenings and the awards ceremony is by invitation or reservation: procedures may vary from year to year due to organizational needs. It is advisable to check updated information on the official Teatro Patologico channels before attending.
Audience Voting
The People's Choice Award is voted on online: the QR code distributed on festival materials provides access to the platform with the finalist works, which can be viewed and voted on from any device, even remotely.
Contacts
Teatro Patologico Onlus — teatropatologico.com; Instagram @teatro_patologico_official; Facebook teatro.patologico.
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Where does it take place — Pathological Film Festival
Palazzo Ripetta - Sala Bernini
Via di Ripetta 231, 00186 Roma