Magma – Short Film Exhibition

Magma, short film in the heart of Sicily

Magma – Short Film Exhibition is an international festival dedicated to short films, held every autumn between Acireale and Catania, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily. Established in 2002, it is now one of the most long-standing and deeply rooted short film festivals on the Italian scene, attracting works from all over the world: in its editions, it has received over 9,400 submissions from 92 countries.

An international competition open to all genres

The heart of the event is the International Competition, which welcomes short films with a maximum duration of 20 minutes, divided into four main categories: fiction, documentary, experimental, and animation. A jury of industry professionals evaluates the selected films and awards the Lorenzo Vecchio Prize, named after the festival's founder who passed away at just twenty-three years old. Alongside the jury award, the Audience Award is also presented, based on the votes of the spectators in the theater.

The festival sections

In addition to the main competition, Magma organizes its program into several sections that enrich its perspective:

• Insula – Impressions of Sicily: dedicated to short films shot on the island or made by Sicilian directors.
• Eksperimenta: a showcase for experimental and research cinema.
• Magma Debut: the summer spin-off dedicated to feature film debuts, hosted in June between Catania and Acireale.
• Screenings for schools and visual education activities aimed at younger audiences.

Venues between Acireale and Catania

Screenings are mainly held at the Margherita Multisala in Acireale, the city's historic cinema, with events also spread across various venues in Catania. This dual identity allows the festival to weave together the intimate atmosphere of the town of Acireale with the cultural vibrancy of the Etna capital.

A meeting point for audiences and authors

Organized by the Associazione Culturale Scarti ETS, Magma is much more than just a festival: it is a meeting place for authors, producers, and spectators, who are often present in the theater. Participation in the screenings is free, confirming the popular and educational vocation with which the festival promotes the language of short film in the Municipality of Acireale and throughout Eastern Sicily.