Rieti and Sabina Film Festival

Cinema as a catalyst for renewal

The Rieti and Sabina Film Festival (RSFF) was founded in 2018 in the town of Rieti, the capital of its namesake province in Lazio, with a clear mission: to use cinema as a driver for cultural revival and social cohesion following the earthquake that deeply impacted the Rieti territory and the villages of the central Apennines. Since then, the event has grown into a staple of the autumn calendar, attracting a community of filmmakers and directors who submit works from dozens of countries each year.

A competition open to the world

The festival is structured as an international competition divided into several sections, all open to recent productions. Foreign-language films must include subtitles in either Italian or English. The competitive categories are:

• Feature films (works ranging from 60 to 130 minutes);
• Short films, historically the most popular section, with dozens of titles selected annually;
• Documentaries, often focusing on social and civic themes;
• Animated films.

Juries present awards to both films and individuals, including Best Film, Best Short, Best Documentary, Best Animated Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. The awards ceremony takes place during the final evening, the most anticipated moment of the festival.

The Ulivo d'Oro, a symbol of the land

The festival's main award is the Ulivo d'Oro: a tribute to the most precious and characteristic product of the Sabina region, a land of PDO extra virgin olive oil and ancient olive groves. This choice is far from decorative; the olive tree is a symbol of peace, resilience, and quality—three values that perfectly capture the spirit behind the festival's founding. For visitors from outside the region, it is also the key to understanding the deep bond between this festival and the agricultural landscape surrounding Rieti.

What to expect

The RSFF is not a red-carpet event filled with A-list stars, but rather a showcase dedicated to discovery: emerging talent, independent productions, and documentary cinema that rarely finds space in commercial theaters. Recent winning entries have come from as far as Canada, Rwanda, and Palestine, confirming a truly international selection with a keen eye for social issues. For the local audience, it is a chance to enjoy a global overview of short cinema in a single day; for filmmakers, it is a unique networking opportunity with industry professionals.

Rieti and the Sabina region

Rieti is perfect for a one or two-day visit. The historic center preserves medieval porticoes, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Bishop's Palace with its vaulted ceilings, and 13th-century walls. The Velino River flows through the city, and just a few kilometers away lie the Lakes of Lungo and Ripasottile Nature Reserve and the Franciscan sanctuaries of the Holy Valley. Further south, the Rieti Sabina area—including Fara in Sabina, Casperia, and Poggio Mirteto—offers stone-built villages and olive mills where you can taste the oil that gives the award its name. November, marking the end of the olive harvest, is the ideal time to combine the festival with a food and wine tour.