Rieti International Film Festival

An international festival in the heart of Lazio

The Rieti International Film Festival (RIFF) is a cinematic event that debuted in February 2026 at the Multisala Moderno in Rieti, the capital of the province of the same name in Lazio. Conceived and produced by the local audiovisual production company REA Film, under the direction of Nicolas Morganti Patrignani and Gerardo Lamberti, the festival brings a selection of short films from across the globe to the geographical center of Italy, with a special focus on independent cinema and emerging filmmakers.

The town of Rieti is strategically located between Rome, Umbria, and Abruzzo, and has long claimed the title of Umbilicus Italiae, the navel of Italy. RIFF has made this geographical centrality its hallmark: a meeting place where international short films find a screen and an audience in a city that previously lacked such a showcase.

Six competitive sections

The competition is divided into six sections, designed to provide space for diverse languages and generations. In the inaugural edition, forty-nine works were selected:

• Italian Fiction Short Films – Under 35: ten selected works
• Italian Fiction Short Films – Over 35: nine selected works
• International Fiction Short Films: ten selected works
• Italian and International Animated Short Films: ten selected works
• Short Films made with Artificial Intelligence: five selected works
• Italian and International Music Videos: five selected works

The division between under-35 and over-35 filmmakers allows for the promotion of newcomers without pitting them directly against established professionals. Equally significant is the section dedicated to works generated with artificial intelligence, which places RIFF among the festivals most attentive to the transformations of audiovisual language.

A top-tier jury

From its very first edition, the festival has assembled an official jury composed of about twenty Italian and international professionals. Announced names include cinematographer and director Daniele Ciprì, editor Marco Spoletini, costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, cinematographer Daria D'Antonio, sound designer Maricetta Lombardo, cinematographer Ferran Paredes Rubio, editors Paola Freddi and Pietro Morana, screenwriter Menotti, actor Franco Pistoni, and critics Pedro Armocida and Mario Sesti.

Alongside section awards, the jury presents technical and artistic accolades: Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress, as well as awards for production design, costumes, and sound design. The audience actively participates by voting for films after each screening, contributing to the Audience Award.

The Rea d'Oro

The statuette presented to the winners is called Rea d'Oro and is inspired by the legend of Rhea Silvia, mother of Romulus and Remus, from whom the city of Rieti is traditionally said to derive its name. It is an explicit link between the award and the historical identity of the Sabine territory, which the festival has placed at the center of its image. Winners also receive products and services provided by sponsors and partners, with a total prize pool valued at over 10,000 euros.

A tribute to Christopher Nolan

In addition to the competitive screenings, the program of the first edition included a tribute to Christopher Nolan, featuring screenings of Inception and Interstellar. This choice aligns with the festival's free-admission model, aimed at building local engagement.

The Rieti context

Rieti is a city of approximately 45,000 inhabitants overlooking the Piana Reatina, just a few kilometers from the Franciscan sanctuaries of the Valle Santa. The Multisala Moderno, located on Via Cintia, is situated near the historic center and serves as the city's main cinema hub: hosting an international festival here means restoring a cultural function to the theater that goes beyond commercial programming, in a province of Lazio often sidelined by major festival circuits.

RIFF has received support from the Ministry of Culture and the patronage of SIAE and ANICA, a significant achievement for a first-time event.