Procida Film Festival

Cinema lands on Procida

The Procida Film Festival is the film event of the island of Procida, in the municipality of the same name in the province of Naples, Campania. Founded in 2013, the event has carved out a recognizable space among Southern Italy's festivals over the years, thanks to a formula that intertwines international short film competitions, meetings with authors, and a constant focus on the relationship between cinema and its host territory. With the 2026 edition, the festival reaches its 14th year, still held in September, when the island sheds the summer crowds and its squares return to a human scale for spectators.

Competition sections

The heart of the festival is the competition, open to works from all over the world and divided into several sections:

• Short Films, the festival's historic section;
• Documentaries, with a particular focus on storytelling about reality and territories;
• Animated Films;
• University and Academy Section, reserved for works by film school students;
• PFF for Social Issues, dedicated to works addressing civic themes and social commitment;
• PFF for the Environment, focusing on environmental and landscape protection.

Works are submitted through the official website and the FilmFreeway platform. Alongside the awards assigned by the jury, the audience in the hall votes to bestow the historic Audience Award, one of the most defining features of the event.

Film tourism and local promotion

The theme chosen for 2026 is "Film tourism and local promotion": a common thread that responds to the festival's declared vocation, namely to promote audiovisual culture as a tool to tell the stories of local communities' identities and values. The artistic direction is entrusted to Francesco Della Calce, who announced that one of the evenings will be dedicated to the island, which continues to offer its locations to major Italian and international productions. The festival enjoys recognition from the Campania Region and the Ministry, as well as the patronage of the Municipality of Procida.

Masterclasses, exhibitions, and satellite events

The festival is not just about screenings. Mornings are traditionally dedicated to masterclasses, open to students and enthusiasts, featuring industry professionals: directors, actresses and actors, soundtrack composers, makeup artists, and technicians who share the craft behind the camera. These are accompanied by satellite events, which over the years have brought photographic exhibitions on the faces of Italian cinema, stage costume displays, book presentations, screenings for children with the Procida Kids Corner, open-air meetings, and closing parties with DJ sets to the island's historic spaces.

Festival venues and locations

The main hall is the Procida Hall, where afternoon and evening screenings are concentrated; the awards ceremony is held outdoors in Piazza Marina Grande, facing the port. Collateral events often take place in the most evocative spots on the island: Palazzo d'Avalos and the former Terra Murata prison, the church of Santa Margherita, the fishermen's village of Corricella, the Marina di Chiaiolella, the Chiaia beach, and the Postino beach, named after the famous film shot on the island.

Procida, a natural set

For decades, Procida has been one of the most photographed destinations in the Gulf of Naples: the colorful houses of Corricella, the narrow streets climbing toward Terra Murata, and the small landings have appeared in numerous Italian and foreign films, from Lo sciupafemmine onwards. The festival leverages this vocation and attempts to transform it into an opportunity for cultural and tourist promotion: those who arrive for the screenings discover the island in a milder season, when the colors are more intense and the pace is slower.

When and how to participate

The event is traditionally set in the second half of September and spans five or six days. Evenings are free and open to the public, subject to availability, a choice that has made the festival a highly anticipated event for residents as well. For the 2026 edition, the exact dates had not yet been announced at the time of the last official press release: it is advisable to check the official website and the festival's social media channels.