Sicilia Film Fest

Author cinema under the stars of Terrasini

The Sicilia Film Fest is one of the most appreciated summer film festivals in the province of Palermo. It takes place in Terrasini, overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare, and is hosted by the Palazzo D'Aumale, a historic waterfront building that becomes an open-air cinema for a week in August. The evening screenings, with free admission until capacity is reached, make the event a popular yet high-quality gathering, attracting cinephiles, vacationers, and locals alike.

A festival of premieres and author talks

Artistically directed by Vincenzo Sacco and organized by the film production company Altre Storie in collaboration with the Sicilian Region and the Municipality of Terrasini, the festival presents a film screening every evening, often as a premiere, introduced by a Q&A session with the audience. These cinetalks allow attendees to meet directors, screenwriters, actors, and contemporary cinema figures, fostering a direct dialogue between creators and viewers.

Focus on short films and new languages

Alongside feature films, the Sicilia Film Fest pays great attention to short films and new voices in Sicilian cinema. The festival awards honors such as the Faro d'Oro (Golden Lighthouse) for best film, the Faro d'Argento (Silver Lighthouse) voted by the public, and the Faro dell'emozione (Emotion Lighthouse) for best performance—awards that symbolically reflect the maritime heritage of Terrasini.

Cinema, memory, and civic commitment

The festival often addresses themes related to memory and civic duty. Among the most significant highlights is the animated series L'Onore dei Pupi, which reinterprets the UNESCO-recognized tradition of Sicilian puppet theater to tell the stories of those who challenged the mafia, from Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino to Peppino Impastato, Rosario Livatino, and Father Pino Puglisi.

A summer highlight for the region

Part of the summer event calendar of the Municipality of Terrasini, the Sicilia Film Fest combines cinema with the promotion of the architectural and landscape heritage of the Palermo coast. Its free, open-air format in one of Western Sicily's most beloved towns makes it an ideal stop for those spending the summer between Palermo and the Gulf of Castellammare.