SalinaDocFest – International Narrative Documentary Festival
The festival of non-fiction cinema in the heart of the Aeolian Islands
About SalinaDocFest
The narrative documentary festival in Salina
The SalinaDocFest – International Narrative Documentary Festival is one of the most beloved cultural events in Sicily and the entire Italian film scene. Born in 2007 from the vision of director Giovanna Taviani, who remains its artistic director, the festival has made its home on the island of Salina, in the Aeolian archipelago, province of Messina. Here, every summer, the small town of Malfa becomes the headquarters for a festival that focuses on non-fiction cinema, auteur documentaries, and narrative storytelling.
A widespread festival across the island's villages
SalinaDocFest is a widespread event that involves the entire island: competition screenings and special events are held primarily in Malfa, between the Congress Centre, Palazzo Marchetti, and the Ravesi Wine Bar. However, the festival also comes alive in Santa Marina Salina, with its square and small port hosting evenings, award ceremonies, and concerts, and in Lingua, with the charming Piazzetta Cannata dedicated to the Musica.Doc section. The island's natural setting, amidst the sea, Malvasia vineyards, and capers, is an integral part of the experience.
Competition, Literary Cafés, and Enocinema
The heart of the festival is the National Competition for narrative documentaries, featuring a high-quality jury and prestigious awards presented on the final night. Alongside the screenings, SalinaDocFest offers the famous morning Literary Cafés, Enocinema meetings that combine cinema, literature, and tastings of the island's wines, the Musica.Doc section dedicated to music documentaries, and numerous special awards presented to internationally renowned directors, actors, and authors.
An event with international appeal
Over the years, the festival has hosted top-tier names from cinema and culture, confirming its status as an excellent showcase for Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. The choice to hold the event in mid-summer has strengthened SalinaDocFest's vocation to combine cultural tourism, local development, and quality cinema on one of the most fascinating islands in the Mediterranean.
SalinaDocFest — edition 2026
The 20th edition of SalinaDocFest, scheduled from July 8th to 12th, 2026, celebrates twenty years of the festival with an evocative theme: "Odysseys – Contemporary Odysseys // Islands Battles Returns". The official jury is composed of Daria Bignardi, Marco Müller, and Cristina Piccino. The edition opens in Santa Marina Salina with the SDF Award – Odysseys to Uberto Pasolini and the screening of Itaca – Il ritorno, and closes in Malfa with the National Competition awards ceremony. A rich program that weaves together cinema, literature, music, and Aeolian food and wine.
Programme SalinaDocFest 2026
Wednesday, July 8 — Malfa and Santa Marina Salina
- 15:00 — Malfa, Congress Centre: Attraverso Mozia by Salvo Cuccia and Lo spazio vuoto by Alberto Ceresoli and Stefano P. Testa
- 19:30 — Santa Marina Salina, Small Port: Enocinema meeting with Uberto Pasolini (moderated by Arianna Finos)
- 21:30 — Santa Marina Salina, Square: inauguration and SDF Award – Odysseys to Uberto Pasolini
- 22:00 — Itaca – Il ritorno by Uberto Pasolini, preceded by the short film Una rosa by Simone Massi
Thursday, July 9 — Malfa
- 11:00 — Literary Café with Daria Bignardi ("Islands Prisons Solitudes")
- 15:00 — Congress Centre: Claudia fa brutti sogni and I Fratelli Segreto
- 18:00 — Ravesi Wine Bar: Enocinema with Niccolò Ammaniti
- 21:30 — Square: Ravesi Award "From Text to Screen" to Daria Bignardi and Lady Wilmar Award to Niccolò Ammaniti
- 22:00 — concert by Etta Scollo, tribute to Rosa Balistreri; followed by Rino Gaetano – Sempre più blu and Nino 18 giorni
Friday, July 10 — Malfa, Santa Marina Salina, and Lingua
- 11:00 — Literary Café with Marco Müller
- 15:00 — Congress Centre: Everything Works Out (In the End) and La Verità Migliore
- 19:30 — Small Port: Enocinema with Sepideh Farsi ("Gaza, life under siege")
- 21:00 — "SalinaDocFest against War" and Irritec Award to Sepideh Farsi; followed by Put your soul on your hand and walk
- 23:30 — concert by Mario Incudine, Canzoni scordate
Saturday, July 11 — Malfa and Santa Marina Salina
- 11:00 — Literary Café with Valeria Golino
- 19:30 — Small Port: Enocinema with Valeria Golino, Mario Martone, and Ippolita di Majo ("The prison odyssey of Goliarda Sapienza")
- 21:30 — Gruppo Arena Foundation Award; followed by Fuori by Mario Martone with Valeria Golino, Matilda De Angelis, and Elodie
Sunday, July 12 — Malfa (closing night)
- 11:00 — Literary Café with Milo Manara ("The Odyssey told by Telemachus")
- 15:00 — Congress Centre: special event Manara by Valentina Zanella, with Milo Manara
- 17:30 — Palazzo Marchetti: Enocinema with Isabella Ragonese and chef Martina Caruso
- 21:30 — Square: closing night and announcement of the Competition awards (Palumbo Editore Award, Signum Audience Award, 9 Dots Film Best Editing Award, Howden Milo Manara Award) in the presence of the jury
Highlights SalinaDocFest 2026
Prices SalinaDocFest 2026
Practical information — SalinaDocFest
How to get there
Salina can be reached by sea via hydrofoils and ferries from the ports of Milazzo (province of Messina), Messina, Palermo, and the other Aeolian Islands. On the island, the festival venues are located in the villages of Malfa, Santa Marina Salina, and Lingua, connected by local buses and taxis.
Main venues
Malfa: Congress Centre, Palazzo Marchetti, Ravesi Wine Bar. Santa Marina Salina: Square, Small Port, Rapa Nui Olive Grove. Lingua: Piazzetta Cannata.
Contacts
Secretariat: [email protected] — Official website: www.salinadocfest.it
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — SalinaDocFest
Palazzo Marchetti
Via Provinciale, 98050 Malfa