Matera Film Festival

Cinema in the City of Stones

The Matera Film Festival (MFF) was founded in 2020 to bring international cinema to the ancient stones of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the natural setting for dozens of famous films. In just a few years, the event has established itself as one of the most recognizable film festivals in Southern Italy, capable of combining quality competitions, masterclasses, retrospectives, and direct interaction between the audience and screen protagonists.

Three Competitions and a Week of Screenings

The heart of the festival is its competitive structure, divided into three sections: MFF Feature (feature films), MFF Doc (documentaries), and MFF Short (short films). Each edition presents around a hundred works, both in and out of competition, selected by a jury of experts and a popular jury composed of spectators. Screenings take place in the city's main venues, from the Cineteatro Comunale Gerardo Guerrieri to the evocative locations within the Sassi.

Major Guests and International Dialogue

Over the years, the festival has hosted prominent figures from world cinema, including Terry Gilliam, Gabriele Mainetti, Yoshitaka Amano, Claudio Bisio, Riccardo Milani, and singer-songwriter Arisa. The event is organized by the Associazione Making Of in collaboration with the Associazione culturale Plongée, and enjoys the support of the Comune di Matera, the Provincia di Matera, and the Regione Basilicata.

Matera 2026 and the Mediterranean

The 2026 edition is part of the year Matera is the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue: the festival pays particular attention to the Mediterranean as a space for encounter, storytelling, and a crossroads of cultures and languages, in full harmony with the city's intercultural vocation.