Saturnia Film Festival

Great short cinema in the villages of the Maremma

The Saturnia Film Festival is an international film event dedicated to short films, held every summer in the municipality of Manciano, in the province of Grosseto, in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma. Screenings bring some of the area's most evocative villages to life: the squares of Manciano, the famous thermal hamlet of Saturnia, the ancient village of Montemerano, and the Terme di Saturnia area. It is a natural open-air stage where auteur cinema meets history, landscapes, and the unique atmosphere of this southern part of Tuscany.

Three competitive categories and the Best Director Award

The festival is structured around an international short film competition divided into three categories: fiction, animation, and documentary. Selected works, with a maximum duration of 15 minutes, arrive from all over the world to compete for the most anticipated honor, the Best Director Award. Over the years, the event has expanded to include feature films, with a section dedicated to debut and sophomore works of Italian cinema, and has introduced thematic spotlights such as the "Women's Perspectives" section. Finalist directors are hosted in a four-star local hotel, reflecting the festival's commitment to young authors and emerging talent.

An increasingly international festival

Having grown edition after edition, the Saturnia Film Festival has solidified its international vocation by forging collaborations with entities such as the Matera Film Festival, the Clorofilla Film Festival, and the London Rolling Film Festival. The event is organized by the Aradia Productions Cultural Association with the support of the Municipality of Manciano, under the presidency of Antonella Santarelli and the artistic direction of director Alessandro Grande. The festival has also been showcased at the Venice Film Festival, where news regarding upcoming editions is often announced.

Cinema, territory, and wellness

What makes the Saturnia Film Festival a special appointment is the encounter between cinematic culture and local identity. Evening screenings in the squares are accompanied by tastings of typical Maremma products, concerts, and public meet-and-greets, while the proximity to the renowned Terme di Saturnia—the event's main sponsor—adds a dimension of wellness and relaxation to the experience. For film buffs, as well as those visiting Tuscany in the summer, it is the perfect opportunity to discover quality works in an unforgettable setting.