L'Aquila Film Festival
The international film festival of the Abruzzo capital, active throughout the year
About LAQFF
L'Aquila Film Festival: Auteur cinema in the heart of Abruzzo
L'Aquila Film Festival (LAQFF) is the most significant international film event in the city of L'Aquila and the entire Abruzzo region. Founded in 2007 and organized by the Associazione Culturale L'Idea di Cléves, the festival has evolved into an international showcase, bringing debut works, documentaries, and short films from around the globe to the Abruzzo capital.
A year-round diffused festival
The most unique feature of the LAQFF is its "diffused festival" format: rather than being concentrated into a few days, the program is distributed throughout the calendar year, organized into several thematic sections. This approach allows the public in L'Aquila and visitors to experience cinema as a constant companion, moving between historic city-center venues and evocative outdoor locations in the province.
- 10 DOQ: The competitive section dedicated to documentaries, held in spring at the Palazzetto dei Nobili.
- Gran Sasso Summer Festival: The summer series of open-air screenings among the villages of the Gran Sasso National Park.
- European Debut Works and International Short Films: The main competitions that animate the autumn and culminate in the final awards ceremonies.
A bond with the territory
The festival is not just a cinematic showcase but also a tool for promoting the province of L'Aquila. The summer screenings of the Gran Sasso Festival bring the big screen to places of extraordinary beauty such as Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Castel del Monte, and Madonna Fore, pairing films with botanical walks, mountain hikes, tastings of local products, and meetings with the authors. Cinema thus becomes an opportunity to rediscover the hinterland villages of Abruzzo, the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, and local traditions.
An international event in the Abruzzo capital
With its competitions dedicated to European debut works and international short films, the LAQFF has carved out a recognized space in the Italian festival landscape, attracting prominent directors, critics, and juries. Key venues like the Palazzetto dei Nobili and the Auditorium del Parco restore a leading role to the Municipality of L'Aquila in spreading film culture in Abruzzo, in a city that has made cultural rebirth one of the symbols of its recovery.
LAQFF — edition 2026
The 2026 Edition
The 2026 edition of the L'Aquila Film Festival unfolds throughout the year according to the diffused festival model. The tenth edition of the 10 DOQ section, dedicated to documentaries, opened on Tuesday, May 5th, at the Palazzetto dei Nobili with the screening of The Madmen Coach by Carlo Liberatore, in the presence of the director.
The Competitions
Among the documentaries in competition are The Madmen Coach, I sogni del vicolo by Lorenzo Giroffi, Waking Hours by Federico Cammarata and Filippo Foscarini, and Il castello indistruttibile. In the autumn months of October and November, the festival continues with the European Debut Works and International Short Film competitions, culminating in official awards ceremonies.
The Gran Sasso Summer Festival
From June 13th to July 26th, 2026, the summer series brought open-air screenings to Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Castel del Monte, Madonna Fore, and the MAXXI Museum in L'Aquila, featuring titles such as DJ Ahmet, Alcarrà s, and The Wild Robot, accompanied by mountain hikes, botanical walks, and tastings of local products.
Programme LAQFF 2026
Highlights LAQFF 2026
Prices LAQFF 2026
Practical information — LAQFF
Getting there
L'Aquila can be reached by car via the A24 Rome-Teramo motorway (L'Aquila Ovest or Est exit). By train, the L'Aquila station is connected to Terni and Sulmona; numerous buses connect the capital with Rome and Pescara. The nearest airport is Pescara.
Venues
The main screenings are held at the Palazzetto dei Nobili and the Auditorium del Parco, in the center of L'Aquila. The summer festivals take place among the villages of the province (Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Castel del Monte, Madonna Fore).
Tickets
Many events require advance booking via the channels indicated on the official website. Some screenings offer free admission. It is recommended to check www.laquilafilmfestival.it for the updated program.
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Where does it take place — LAQFF
Palazzetto dei Nobili
Via Vascarella 11, Preturo, 67100 L'Aquila