Resistenze Festival

A festival of cinema and civic engagement in Dronero

Resistenze Festival is a cultural event held every spring in Dronero, in the heart of the Maira Valley, in the province of Cuneo (Piedmont). Organized by the association O.P.S. Officina Per la Scena APS under the artistic direction of film critic Alessandro Amato, the festival has found its home in the historic Cineteatro Iris, where cinema, theatre, music, and the spoken word converge around themes of memory, freedom, and social justice.

CORTISTENZE: the short film competition

The beating heart of the event is CORTISTENZE, a competition dedicated to Italian short films that examine contemporary reality: discrimination, conflict, and the daily struggle for rights. The competing shorts are evaluated by an official jury of critics and directors, alongside a critics' jury and a popular jury formed by the audience, who can apply to participate. The awards ceremony recognizes the best short film, the critics' choice, and the popular mention.

Beyond cinema: music, books, and non-violence

The programme extends beyond film screenings. Each edition features concerts and musical performances linked to the Resistance and liberation, book presentations focused on conflict resolution and civic engagement, and workshops on non-violence. Alongside the competition shorts, there are special screenings of restored films and auteur works, creating a constant dialogue between past and present.

The backdrop of the Maira Valley

Being held in Dronero, the gateway to the Maira Valley, gives the festival a unique symbolic value: these Cuneo valleys were the theatre of the partisan Resistance, and the memory of those places resonates with the themes addressed on screen. The festival is sponsored by the City of Dronero and supported by the Fondazione CRC, confirming the initiative's deep roots in the local cultural fabric.

An unmissable event

With affordable ticket prices and an intimate, participatory atmosphere, Resistenze Festival is aimed at those who love auteur cinema, the culture of memory, and civic engagement. Three intense days, usually around April 25th, where the Maira Valley becomes a small crossroads of ideas, images, and voices from the contemporary world.