MaTiFF — Matera International Film Festival
The international film festival in the Sassi
About MaTiFF
World Cinema in the Sassi
The MaTiFF - Matera International Film Festival is the international film festival that transforms Matera into a capital of the big screen every autumn. Founded and chaired by Leonardo Fuina, with artistic direction by Valentina Castellani-Quinn, the festival brings works from every continent to the Sassi, with a strong Mediterranean and international focus.
Competition, Awards, and Guests
The program revolves around a competition divided into several categories — feature films, short films, documentaries, animation, as well as commercials and video clips — and a series of awards and recognitions given to personalities from world cinema. Screenings in the evocative Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, overlooking the Gravina canyon, offer a unique experience, where films dialogue with one of Italy's most famous urban landscapes.
MAMA: The Young Filmmakers' Market
Among the most recent innovations is MAMA, the international film market designed to support young directors and independent projects, open to directors, screenwriters, producers, distributors, and sales agents. Alongside the market, the festival offers writing and screenwriting workshops and panels on filmmaking, marketing, and international distribution, also presented at major industry events like the Cannes Film Festival.
A Bridge Over the Mediterranean
With the "A Drop of Hope" project, dedicated to intercultural dialogue through cinema, MaTiFF perfectly embodies the spirit of Matera European Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026. In collaboration with the Municipality of Matera, the festival makes the city a crossroads between different cinematographies, generations, and cultures.
MaTiFF — edition 2026
MaTiFF 2026, the seventh edition, is held in Matera from September 26 to October 4 (with the MaTiFF OFF section on October 4) around the theme "Mediterranean, mirror of the world". Feature films, short films, documentaries, and animation are in competition; among the new features is the international market MAMA, dedicated to young filmmakers and independent projects. The press conference was presented at the Italian Pavilion of the Cannes Film Festival.
Programme MaTiFF 2026
Festival Structure 2026
- September 26 - October 3 — Competition days and screenings (feature films, short films, documentaries, animation, commercials, and video clips) and award ceremonies, with screenings in Piazza San Pietro Caveoso.
- October 4 — MaTiFF OFF, concluding section.
- During the festival — MAMA international market for young filmmakers, writing and screenwriting workshops, panels on filmmaking, marketing, and distribution; "A Drop of Hope" project.
Among the awards announced for the 2026 edition: the MaTiFF Excellence in Film Artistry Award to Pan Nalin and the Luchino Visconti Lifetime Achievement Award to Alberto Barbera. The detailed screening schedule will be published on the official website.
Highlights MaTiFF 2026
Prices MaTiFF 2026
Practical information — MaTiFF
Where: Matera, with screenings in Piazza San Pietro Caveoso and other city venues.
When: from September 26 to October 3, 2026 (MaTiFF OFF on October 4).
Film Submission: via FilmFreeway. Info and program on matiff.it.
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Where does it take place — MaTiFF
Piazza San Pietro Caveoso
Piazza San Pietro Caveoso, 75100 Matera