Rome Theater Festival

An international stage for young actors

The Rome Theater Festival is the only event in Italy entirely focused on drama academies and professional acting schools from all over the world. Each participating institution is granted a dedicated evening to present a show produced by their students or recent graduates, under the supervision of their home school. Performances are often staged in the guest company's original language, turning the festival into a true crossroads of languages, styles, and theatrical traditions.

How it works

Participation in the festival is free for selected academies and acting schools. The technical and organizational infrastructure is provided by the Accademia Teatrale di Roma Sofia Amendolea, which supplies the venue, technical-artistic support, and production staff. Access to the performances is determined through auditions and calls for entry published on the event's official website. The festival takes place throughout the season, with selection sessions and performance evenings hosted at the Academy's headquarters on Via Giovanni da Procida, in Rome's Nomentano district.

The jury and the Gemini d'Oro awards

Performances are evaluated by a jury composed of industry professionals: journalists and theater critics, casting directors, directors, producers, actors, and agents. At the end of the program, the Gemini d'Oro awards are presented in various categories, including Best Show, Best Director, Best Choreography, Best Actor, and Best Actress, alongside the Sofia Amendolea Special Prize. For young performers, this is a precious opportunity for visibility and feedback in front of professional industry operators.

A history spanning over twenty years

Founded in 2003, the Rome Theater Festival has built a dense network of partnerships and educational exchanges with the best European and international drama academies over the years. The event has hosted schools from Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Egypt, Russia, Iran, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and many other countries. Throughout its history, it has received the patronage of UNESCO, the Lazio Region, the Municipality of Rome, and the Ministry of Culture, as well as institutional honors from the Presidency of the Italian Republic.

In Rome, in the heart of Lazio

The event takes place in Rome, the capital of the Lazio Region, at the headquarters of the Accademia Teatrale di Roma Sofia Amendolea in the Nomentano district. For theater enthusiasts and acting students, the festival represents an international meeting point in the Roman cultural landscape, where the training of young actors intertwines with cultural exchange and the promotion of emerging talent.