Salento International Film Festival

An international festival in the heart of Salento

The Salento International Film Festival (SIFF) is one of the longest-running and most acclaimed independent film festivals in Southern Italy. It takes place every year in Tricase, a town in the province of Lecce, in the most authentic part of Salento, bringing directors, producers, and works from every continent to Puglia. Founded in 2004 by Luigi Campanile, the festival has built a solid international reputation over time, celebrating cinema as a powerful tool for cultural dialogue and a bridge between different peoples and sensibilities.

Independent cinema from around the world

The heart of the SIFF is the international competition open to feature films, short films, documentaries, and experimental works. Each edition selects dozens of films from numerous countries, with the goal of giving a voice to visionary authors and stories that rarely find space in commercial circuits. Screenings are accompanied by meetings with directors, masterclasses, round tables, and opportunities for interaction between the audience and the protagonists of auteur cinema.

Venues in Tricase

Screenings and ceremonies are held primarily in the halls and spaces of the historic center of Tricase, including the historic Palazzo dei Principi Gallone, a suggestive setting that combines architectural heritage with the seventh art. For a few days, the festival transforms the city into a meeting point for cinephiles, industry professionals, and enthusiasts from Italy and abroad.

An award-winning festival

In 2025, the SIFF was awarded the title of Leading Film Festival 2025 by the British magazine LUXlife Magazine, a recognition that confirms its international prestige. In recent years, the festival has also opened its doors to the world of schools and education, involving students as active participants and promoting themes of sustainability and cultural diplomacy.

Cinema and the territory

Much more than just a showcase, the Salento International Film Festival is a cultural project that combines the promotion of auteur cinema with the enhancement of the Salento territory and the city of Tricase. Thanks to its international character and the quality of its selection, it represents one of the most authentic and engaging cinematic events in Puglia today.