Pettineo Short Movie Fest

A short film festival in the Nebrodi

The Pettineo Short Movie Fest is a fresh film festival dedicated to short cinema, held in Pettineo, a small hillside village in the province of Messina, deep within the Nebrodi Park in Sicily. The event is promoted by the Small Shaker cultural association in partnership with the Municipality of Pettineo and held its inaugural edition in June 2025, with support from the European Union.

The competition and categories

The festival features an international competition for short films, divided into three main categories:

• Narrative Short, dedicated to fiction works created using any technique;
• Documentary, reserved for films exploring cultural, social, and naturalistic themes;
• Sicily, a special section for short films and documentaries set in or inspired by the island.

Entries must not exceed 30 minutes in length, including credits. Participation is free, and foreign-language works must be subtitled in Italian. The jury awards cash prizes to the best works in each category, alongside special mentions from both the technical and popular juries.

Screenings in the village

Festival evenings are held outdoors in Contrada Porracina, a rural setting that transforms this small Nebrodi village into a hub for short cinema for a few days. Between screenings, the audience can meet directors and authors in the informal and convivial atmosphere typical of Sicilian villages. The festival thus blends a passion for short film with the promotion of the local area, offering visitors the chance to discover an authentic corner of inland Sicily.

A growing event

Despite its recent inception, the Pettineo Short Movie Fest has quickly established itself as a highly anticipated event for filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts, attracting works from numerous countries. Its focus on the Sicily section makes it an important showcase for emerging island cinema, helping to narrate the region's identity and landscapes through the eyes of young filmmakers.