Prato Film Festival

The Prato Film Festival

The Prato Film Festival is one of the most established cinematic events in Tuscany, hosted in the heart of Prato, in the Province of Prato. Conceived and directed by Romeo Conte together with Jacopo Bucciantini and organized by the Casa del Cinema di Prato, the festival has built a distinct identity over the years: providing a platform for international short films and celebrating the great tradition of Italian comedy, of which Prato has been a fertile ground.

A tribute to the screenwriters of comedy

The festival was born as a tribute to two masters of screenwriting: Prato native Piero De Bernardi and Leo Benvenuti, authors of some of the most celebrated pages in Italian comedy cinema. From this foundation, the Prato Film Festival has developed a program that balances lightheartedness with social commitment, with constant attention to current issues such as human rights, the environment, legality, and road safety.

Competition sections

The heart of the festival is the short films in competition, selected by an international jury and divided into thematic sections. Among those featured in recent editions:

• Human Rights — shorts dedicated to social and civil issues
• Corti Italia — the best of Italian short production, spanning drama and comedy
• Mondo Corto / Young World — an international perspective from young authors
• Environment — documentaries and shorts on protecting the planet

Alongside the shorts, the program offers feature film screenings, often out of competition, and in-depth discussions with the audience.

Guests, masterclasses, and awards

A hallmark of the Prato Film Festival is the presence of guests from Italian cinema and television: past editions have seen encounters with figures such as Alessandro Benvenuti, Neri Parenti, Giorgio Colangeli, Vauro Senesi, Ugo Chiti, Barbara Enrichi, and cast members from highly successful television series. The evenings, hosted at the Teatro del Convitto Cicognini, the Teatro Francesco Nuti at Manifatture Digitali Cinema, and the Garibaldi/Milleventi space, combine screenings, award ceremonies, and meetings.

A widespread and free festival

All screenings and evening events are free to attend: a choice that makes the Prato Film Festival a popular event open to everyone, capable of bringing great cinema into schools, theaters, and cultural spaces across the city. For those who love short films, comedy, and meeting filmmakers, it is one of the most vibrant stops on the Tuscan cultural calendar.