La Città che ci Abita

La Città che ci Abita: Rome through the lens of cinema

La Città che ci Abita is a festival of cinema, short films, and discussions held in Rome, specifically in the Municipio XV district along the Via Cassia axis. Promoted by Isola Produzioni and supported by Roma Capitale as part of the “Roma Creativa 365 – Cultura tutto l'anno” initiative, the event brings the urban and social shifts of the Capital to the screen, viewed through the perspectives of directors, actors, and writers who have masterfully captured the city's complexity.

A mosaic of Roman stories

The heart of the festival lies in a simple yet profound question: what does Roman identity look like today? The selected films, diverse in style, tone, and generation, create an emotional, social, and cultural mosaic that spans the city from Torpignattara to Parioli, from those living on the margins to those inhabiting the city center without truly knowing how to live it anymore. Cinema thus becomes a tool for interpreting Rome’s present, bridging suburbs and historic neighborhoods, memory and change.

The competition for young filmmakers

A key feature of the festival is its short film competition, aimed at emerging directors, film schools, creative collectives, and independent entities. The competing shorts—with a maximum duration of fifteen minutes—must depict Rome in an original, non-stereotypical way, exploring its social, cultural, relational, and urban transformations. The best works are honored with the Gaetano Di Vaio Award and the Sguardo Vivo Award, accolades dedicated to an authentic vision of reality.

Screenings, guests, and talks

Alongside the competition, the festival offers screenings of feature films and Italian cinema classics, followed by Q&A sessions with directors, actors, screenwriters, and authors. The program alternates between auteur cinema, previews, and debates, fostering a continuous dialogue between the audience and the protagonists of the seventh art. Admission is free, in line with the project's commitment to providing cultural service to the Municipio XV area and the entire city of Rome.

A festival rooted in the territory

La Città che ci Abita is part of the vibrant season of open-air cinema and cultural initiatives that animate Rome and the Lazio region. The choice of Municipio XV, a northern area of the Capital crossed by the historic Via Cassia, is no coincidence: these peripheral and evolving neighborhoods are the focus of the festival’s reflection, restoring narrative dignity to urban spaces often far from the spotlight.