Pitigliani Kolno'a Festival

Jewish and Israeli cinema in the heart of Rome

The Pitigliani Kolno'a Festival is one of Italy's most refined showcases dedicated to Jewish and Israeli cinema. It takes place in Rome, the capital of the Lazio region, in the Trastevere district, at the Centro Ebraico Italiano Il Pitigliani on Via dell'Arco de' Tolomei. The Hebrew term "Kolno'a" means "cinema," giving the festival its name, which bridges the historic Casa Famiglia Pitigliani with the seventh art.

Seventeenth edition, March 2026

After a hiatus of over two years, the festival returned from March 14 to 17, 2026 for its seventeenth edition, produced by the Centro Ebraico Italiano Il Pitigliani and directed by Ariela Piattelli and Lirit Mash. The festival featured four films, three of which were Italian premieres, presented in their original language with Italian subtitles.

Featured films

• Soda by Erez Tadmor, a 1954-set drama starring Lior Raz and Rotem Sela;
• A Letter to David by Tom Shoval, a documentary awarded the PKF17 Prize;
• Giado – Holocaust in the Desert by Golan Rise and Sharon Ada Yaish, a documentary on the memory of the Shoah;
• Real Estate by Anat Malz, a story about the search for a home in Tel Aviv.

Memory, identity, and Israeli society

The festival's core theme is the exploration of memory, identity, history, relationships, and conflicts that shape contemporary Israeli society. Through feature films and documentaries, the Pitigliani Kolno'a Festival offers Roman audiences an authentic and multifaceted look at Jewish culture and current events in Israel, far removed from stereotypes.

A historic venue in Trastevere

The Centro Ebraico Italiano Il Pitigliani, originally founded as the "G. and V. Pitigliani" Family Home, has been a cultural and social landmark for Rome's Jewish community for decades. Hosting the festival here gives the event an intimate, engaging atmosphere that has captivated a loyal and growing audience. Admission to screenings is free until capacity is reached.

A staple in the Lazio cultural calendar

Within the vibrant landscape of film festivals in Lazio, the Pitigliani Kolno'a Festival stands out for its thematic focus and the quality of its selection. It is a precious opportunity for art-house cinema enthusiasts and anyone wishing to delve into the many voices of contemporary Israeli and Jewish film on the big screen.