OFF – Ortona Film Festival
Auteur cinema in the heart of Abruzzo
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Ortona Film Festival
An auteur film festival in Ortona
The OFF – Ortona Film Festival is a vibrant new film event that brings summer to life in Ortona, a seaside city in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo. Conceived by the association Unaltroteatro with Arturo Scognamiglio and Lorenza Sorino, the festival serves as a hub for independent, emerging, and auteur cinema, with a special focus on short films and debut works by Italian directors.
The venue: Cinema Auditorium Zambra
Screenings are held in the outdoor space of the Cinema Auditorium Zambra, located on Via Don Bosco in the heart of Ortona. The open-air evenings, under the summer sky of the Adriatic coast, provide a stunning backdrop: the big screen lights up every night, guiding the audience through competitive short films, feature films, and meetings with the creators. The format combines film viewing with the direct presence of directors, actors, and industry professionals who engage in dialogue with the audience.
Competition and awards
The heart of the festival is the short film competition, open to fiction, animation, and school-produced works. Selected entries are screened during the evenings and evaluated by a jury. The main awards include:
- Best Short Film Award, worth 1,000 euros
- School Short Film Award, worth 500 euros
- Special mentions for directing, cinematography, actor, actress, and poster
Alongside the competition, the festival hosts special screenings of feature films and debut works from contemporary Italian cinema, as well as opportunities for discussion and in-depth meetings with guests.
A project for the region
Supported by the Municipality of Ortona and the Abruzzo Region Film Commission, in collaboration with partners like the Adriatic Film Festival, the OFF aims to establish a cinematic tradition in Ortona capable of attracting audiences and young filmmakers. The festival celebrates the bond between cinema and the Abruzzo region, bringing national film figures and new emerging voices to the historic center of Ortona. For the public, it is a chance to experience summer in a unique way, amidst culture, debate, and the magic of the open-air big screen, just steps from the sea and the picturesque Trabocchi Coast.
Ortona Film Festival — edition 2026
Second edition of the Ortona Film Festival
In 2026, the OFF – Ortona Film Festival celebrates its second edition, confirming its place among the cultural summer events of Ortona, in the province of Chieti. Entries for the competition — short films, debut features, animation, and school shorts — closed in the spring, with jury deliberations and awards for the best shorts to follow.
The exact dates and detailed program for the 2026 edition have not yet been released at the time of publication. The festival is included in the 2026 Ortona Summer calendar and will be held, as is tradition, in the outdoor space of the Cinema Auditorium Zambra. For information on screenings, guests, and the list of competitive shorts, please refer to the official website and the festival's social media channels, which will publish the program in the weeks leading up to the event.
Practical information — Ortona Film Festival
Location
Cinema Auditorium Zambra, Via Don Bosco 2, 66026 Ortona (CH), Abruzzo. Screenings take place in the outdoor area of the cinema, in the center of Ortona.
Getting there
By car: Take the Ortona/Val di Sangro exit on the A14 Adriatica motorway. By train: Ortona station is on the Adriatic line, a short distance from the center. The nearest airport is Pescara (Abruzzo Airport), approximately 30 km away.
Tickets and information
Tickets for screenings can be purchased at the Cinema Auditorium Zambra box office. The preview evening is traditionally free of charge. For the program, schedule, and competition entries, visit the official website ortonafilmfestival.com, email [email protected], or call +39 375 5678433.
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Where does it take place — Ortona Film Festival
Cinema Auditorium Zambra
Via Don Bosco 2, 66026 Ortona