Karawan Fest
A festival of cinema, comedy, and culture in Tor Pignattara
About Karawan Fest
Cinema as a bridge between peoples
Karawan Fest is the festival of cinema, comedy, and culture that brings Tor Pignattara, the most multi-ethnic district in Rome, to life every July. Conceived and organized by the Bianco e Nero APS association, for over ten years the festival has been building bridges between cultures through the universal language of cinema, bringing voices and stories from all over the world to the heart of the Lazio capital.
An arena under the stars
Screenings and meetings are held in Parco Giordano Sangalli, at the foot of the evocative Alexandrian Aqueduct. Every evening, as darkness falls, the park turns into an open-air arena where the public gathers under the stars to share films, debates, and moments of conviviality. Admission is free, and the atmosphere is that of a grand neighborhood party, open to families, young people, and the foreign communities that live together in Tor Pignattara every day.
Two international competitions
The core of the program consists of two competitive sections: an international feature film competition and a national short film competition. Each evening, an Italian short is paired with a feature film from a different country, often presented as an Italian or Roman premiere in the presence of the directors. Bangladesh, the Philippines, Pakistan, Germany, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands are just some of the origins that make up a true cinematic journey around the world.
More than just cinema
Karawan Fest is much more than a film festival: surrounding the screens are stand-up comedy, author talks, book presentations, children's workshops, and Glocal Picnics—themed dinners that invite the public to discover world cuisines before the screenings. A large space is dedicated to children with the Karawan Kids workshops and to themes of inclusion, citizenship, and rights.
Cinema and citizenship
The jewel in the festival's crown is the Learning Italian through Cinema project, which supports students from the district's literacy centers throughout the year and culminates in the New Citizens Award. Cinema thus becomes a tool for learning the Italian language and fostering integration, in perfect harmony with the spirit of an event that has made coexistence and the meeting of cultures its very reason for being.
Karawan Fest — edition 2026
#StandTogether: standing together
The 14th edition of Karawan Fest chose the theme of standing together, summarized in the #StandTogether slogan that ran through the entire program. From July 10 to 16, 2026, Parco Giordano Sangalli was transformed into an open-air cinema arena, with screenings every evening at 8:00 PM and free admission.
Each evening, from July 10 to 15, paired an Italian short film in competition with an international feature film, while July 16 was reserved for the awards ceremony and the audiovisual education project. Thirteen films from Bangladesh, the Philippines, Pakistan, Germany, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands made up a rich journey around the world, enriched by talks, Karawan Kids workshops, and themed Glocal Picnics.
Programme Karawan Fest 2026
Friday, July 10 — Opening
- Short film in competition: Il mio amico Karl by Nikola Brunelli (Italy)
- Feature film in competition: Delupi by Mohammad Touqir Islam (Bangladesh) — Italian premiere with the director
Saturday, July 11
- Oriental-themed Glocal Picnic (by reservation)
- #StandUp! Comedy: Daniele Fabbri
- Short film in competition: Tamago (Italy/Japan)
- Feature film in competition: Flower Girl by Fatrick Tabada (Philippines) — Italian premiere
Sunday, July 12
- Karawan Kids workshop and Chinese Glocal Picnic (by reservation)
- Short film in competition: Odio i cavalli by Chiara Zilioli (Italy)
- Feature film in competition: The Snowball on a Sunny Day by Philip Yung (Hong Kong) — Roman premiere
Monday, July 13
- Karawan Kids workshop at Parco Sangalli
- #StandUp! Comedy: Gioia Salvatori
- Short film in competition: Fick Mich! by Fabiana Russo (Italy)
- Feature film in competition: Extrawurst by Marcus H. Rosenmüller (Germany) — Italian premiere
Tuesday, July 14
- Karawan Kids workshop and talk "Marjane Satrapi: Storytelling Across Worlds" with Gianluca Costantini
- Short film in competition: Esagerata by Giuseppe Cacace and Daniele Stocchi (Italy)
- Feature film in competition: Porte Bagage by Abdelkarim El-Fassi (Netherlands/Morocco) — Roman premiere with the director
Wednesday, July 15
- Karawan Kids workshop and talk "Ghost School: no one remains invisible"
- Short film in competition: Giallo limone by Olga Sargenti (Italy)
- Feature film in competition: Ghost School by Seemab Gul (Pakistan/Germany) — Roman premiere with the director
Thursday, July 16 — Awards and Closing
- Awards ceremony: international feature film competition, national short film competition, audience awards, and New Citizens Award
- Screening of the student short film "La Scuola è..." and the video of the European project YOREC
- Special screening: Quo vado? by Gennaro Nunziante with Checco Zalone, subtitled in Bangla for the first time
Highlights Karawan Fest 2026
- 13 films from around the world (Bangladesh, Philippines, Pakistan, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands)
- Double competition: international features and national shorts
- Numerous Italian and Roman premieres with directors in attendance
- Stand-up comedy evenings with Daniele Fabbri and Gioia Salvatori
- Author talks, including the meeting on Marjane Satrapi with Gianluca Costantini
- Karawan Kids workshops for children and Glocal Picnics from around the world
- New Citizens Award and "Learning Italian through Cinema" project
- Closing with Quo vado? subtitled in Bangla
Prices Karawan Fest 2026
Practical information — Karawan Fest
Getting there
Parco Giordano Sangalli is located at Via di Tor Pignattara 185, in the Tor Pignattara district of Rome. Entrance to the arena is from Via di Tor Pignattara. The area is served by bus line 409, which connects the area with Arco di Travertino and Tiburtina station; the Roma-Giardinetti railway stations and Metro line A are also nearby.
Admission and times
Admission is free subject to availability (approx. 200 seats). Screenings and meetings start every evening at 8:00 PM. It is recommended to arrive early to secure a seat.
Tips
As this is an evening outdoor event, comfortable clothing is recommended. Sustainable mobility is encouraged, with bicycle parking available. Reservations are required for Glocal Picnics and some activities.
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Where does it take place — Karawan Fest
Parco Giordano Sangalli
Via di Tor Pignattara 185, 00177 Roma