Marzamemi CineFest - International Festival of Mediterranean Identities

A film festival in the heart of the Mediterranean

The Marzamemi CineFest, titled International Festival of Mediterranean Identities, is the film festival that brings the seaside village of Marzamemi—a district of the Municipality of Pachino, in the province of Syracuse, at the southeastern tip of Sicily—to life every September. Created to tell the stories of the cultures and identities bordering the Mediterranean through the language of film, the festival has quickly carved out an important space in the cinematic landscape of Southern Italy.

The village as an open-air set

The strength of the Marzamemi CineFest lies in its setting: Piazza Regina Margherita and the small squares of the ancient tuna fishery (tonnara) become open-air theaters where screens light up at sunset, with the sea and old fishermen's houses serving as a natural backdrop. Screenings range from Italian cinema classics to contemporary works, and from short films selected at other festivals to documentaries dedicated to the theme of Mediterranean identity.

Guests, awards, and sections

Each edition attracts actors, directors, screenwriters, and musicians who meet the public during the village evenings. Awards presented over the years include the UNPLI "Italian Ambassador" Award and prizes dedicated to screenwriting and new cinematic talent. The festival complements its screenings with a rich program of side events.

• Cinema: Italian cinema classics, contemporary works, short films, and documentaries on the Mediterranean;
• Live Music: concerts by ensembles and groups exploring the sounds of the Mediterranean;
• Literary Meetings: book presentations and dialogues with authors;
• Gastronomy: showcooking and tastings of local products, from the Pachino PGI Tomato to the Syracuse PGI Lemon;
• Art: contemporary art exhibitions in the historic spaces of the tonnara.

Mediterranean identities and the territory

The festival was born and continues to grow thanks to the Pro Loco Marzamemi APS, with the support of regional institutions and the Sicily Film Commission. It makes its bond with the territory one of its hallmarks: the flavors, the landscape, and the traditions of the seaside village become an integral part of the cinematic narrative. Marzamemi, with its square, church, and ancient tonnara, is a protagonist in its own right, offering residents and visitors an experience that blends the charm of the big screen with the discovery of one of Sicily's most evocative villages.

A late-summer appointment

Held in September, the Marzamemi CineFest has established itself as one of the cultural events that close the summer season in the Syracuse area, attracting film enthusiasts, tourists, and curious visitors to the heart of the village. The evenings, free and open to the public, make the festival a moment of encounter between great cinema, the local community, and Mediterranean cultures.