RED LINE International Film Festival

World cinema arrives in Montalcino

The RED LINE International Film Festival is a young yet already authoritative auteur film festival held every June in Montalcino, in the heart of the province of Siena and the renowned Brunello territory. Established in 2023, the festival has quickly cemented its status as an international event, bringing works selected from hundreds of submissions across five continents to a small Tuscan village.

The 2026 edition, the third, took place from June 10th to 14th, featuring five days packed with screenings, meetings, workshops, and masterclasses. The festival prides itself on being an inclusive and accessible event, designed as a platform for dialogue, education, and intercultural discovery: there are no entry or screening fees for selected works.

Competition sections

The program is divided into several competitive sections ranging from feature films to youth cinema:

• International Features Competition — feature films over 60 minutes;
• International Short Competition — short films up to 30 minutes;
• Red Line KIDS — animated shorts dedicated to children aged 6 to 14.

An international jury awards the main prizes, including recognition for best feature, best documentary, best short film, best director, and best cinematography. A distinctive feature deeply rooted in the festival's commitment to social causes is the special award presented by the inmates of the Mario Gozzini correctional facility.

Festival venues

The festival takes place in two exceptional settings. Feature films are screened in the evening, under the stars, inside the Medicean Fortress, the imposing 14th-century walls that overlook the village. Short films and animated works are hosted at the Teatro degli Astrusi, Montalcino's historic Italian-style theater, often featuring the filmmakers for post-screening discussions.

A festival that weaves stories

The "red line" that gives the event its name is the common thread linking works capable of exploring borders, fragility, and rebirth. Alongside the screenings, the program offers free masterclasses with simultaneous translation, meetings with directors and producers, and live performances. Over the years, the jury has brought together prominent figures from international film criticism and cinema, confirming the ambition of a festival that, while rooted in a small Tuscan town, looks to the entire world.

Montalcino, between cinema and Brunello

Visiting the RED LINE Film Festival also means discovering Montalcino, a jewel of the UNESCO-listed Val d'Orcia, home to Brunello wine and some of Italy's most beloved rolling landscapes. The festival is supported by the Municipality of Montalcino and local entities such as the Col d'Orcia and Camigliano estates, in a blend of cinematic culture, rural identity, and hospitality that makes the experience unique in the Italian festival landscape.