Messina International Film Festival
The historic auteur cinema festival returns home to the shores of the Strait
About Messina Film Festival
A legend of Italian cinema returns to Messina
The Messina International Film Festival is one of the most fascinating chapters in Italian cinema history. Founded in 1955 on the waterfront of the former Irrera a Mare, overlooking the Strait, it brought international stars like Gina Lollobrigida, Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Bergman, and Rock Hudson to the city during its golden years, before moving to Taormina and giving birth to the current Taormina Film Festival. After decades of silence, the historic festival is reborn in the heart of the Sicilian capital, bringing great auteur cinema back to the place where it all started.
Less glitz, more cinema
The new edition, directed by Messina-born director and producer Francesco Cannavà (8Road Film) with the Arb cultural association, adopts a precise philosophy: no more glamour and red carpets, but a true window on the world dedicated to auteur cinema and emerging talent. Screenings are held in the scenic setting of the new urban park at the former Fiera di Messina, the same space that saw the event's birth in 1955.
Competitions and programming
- International feature film competition: five films in competition, one per evening, selected from debut and second works viewed by the artistic director at major European festivals, from Cannes to the Rome Independent Film Festival.
- Italian short film competition, judged by students from the DAMS of Messina.
- Local spotlight every evening, with a focus on the territory.
- Masterclasses with national industry professionals.
Themes and social commitment
The program addresses major social and current issues, from the tragedy in Palestine to the war in Iran, including a documentary tribute to Roberto Rossellini. A scientific committee chaired by film critic Franco Cicero awards the prizes, including the Regina del Peloro statuette, a work by Messina sculptor Fabio Pilato that evokes the city's genius loci.
Messina, city of cinema
Promoted with the support of the Municipality of Messina, the Messina Foundation for Culture, and the Port System Authority, the festival is much more than an event: it is the homecoming of a cultural heritage that belongs to the city and all of Sicily. Free admission to all evenings makes it an event open to everyone, designed to reconnect the Messina public with the big screen under the stars of the Strait.
Messina Film Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition — the homecoming
From July 26 to August 1, 2026, seven evenings bring the historic festival back to the urban park of the former Fiera di Messina, under the artistic direction of Francesco Cannavà. The common thread is the relationship between cinema and the sea, in dialogue with the city's maritime identity.
The competitions
- 5 international feature films in competition, one per evening, selected from debut and second works seen at major European festivals (Cannes, Rome Independent Film Festival, Nueva Ola).
- Italian short film competition, judged by students from the DAMS of Messina, who also award a special mention among the feature films.
Masterclasses and guests
Two masterclasses with national professionals: one with screenwriter and director Antonio Le Fosse on the world of TV series, and another with producer Vanessa Zerda Rueda, composer Silvia Leonetti, and Messina cartoonist Lelio Bonaccorso. A documentary tribute to Roberto Rossellini is also planned.
Jury and award
The scientific committee is chaired by critic Franco Cicero, with film historian Nino Genovese, UniMe professor Federico Vitella, composer Cettina Donato, and theater expert Dario Tomasello. The prize is the Regina del Peloro statuette by Messina sculptor Fabio Pilato.
Programme Messina Film Festival 2026
Structure of the seven evenings (July 26 – August 1, 2026)
One feature film in competition each evening, paired with Italian short films and a space dedicated to local realities. All evenings are free entry.
- Feature film competition: 5 international films (debut and second works), one per evening.
- Italian short film competition: jury of DAMS Messina students.
- Masterclass 1: Antonio Le Fosse (screenwriter and director) on TV series.
- Masterclass 2: producer Vanessa Zerda Rueda, composer Silvia Leonetti, and cartoonist Lelio Bonaccorso.
- Thematic focus: Palestine, war in Iran, tribute to Roberto Rossellini.
The titles of the individual films in competition and the daily schedule will be announced by the organization in the weeks preceding the event.
Highlights Messina Film Festival 2026
Prices Messina Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Messina Film Festival
Location
Urban park of the former Fiera di Messina, along the Strait, the area where the festival was born in 1955.
When
From July 26 to August 1, 2026, seven evenings.
Admission
Free entry to all evenings.
How to get there
Messina is accessible by train (Messina Centrale station) and by car via the A20 (Messina-Palermo) and A18 (Messina-Catania) motorways. From the port, ferries and hydrofoils connect the city with Reggio Calabria and the rest of Calabria.
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Where does it take place — Messina Film Festival
Parco urbano dell'ex Fiera di Messina