Tertio Millennio Film Fest

The festival of cinema and the sacred in Rome

The Tertio Millennio Film Fest is Italy's leading film event dedicated to the relationship between cinema and the human spiritual dimension. Established in Rome in 1997 at the behest of Pope John Paul II and promoted by the Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo, the festival has established itself over the years as a unique appointment in the capital's cultural landscape, capable of weaving together great auteur cinema, ethical reflection, and interreligious dialogue.

The event takes place every autumn, usually in November, at the Cinema Teatro Don Bosco in the Cinecittà district, within the municipality of Rome, in the Lazio region. Admission to screenings and meetings is traditionally free, confirming the project's popular and educational vocation.

An international competition on meaning

The heart of the festival is the international competition, which every year brings together works from all over the world, often presented as Italian premieres. The selected films do not belong to a "religious" genre: they are contemporary stories that question faith, fragility, evil, hope, and the search for meaning. They are judged by several juries, including an interreligious jury, the jury of the National Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI), and the "New Glances" jury, composed of university students.

Beyond the screenings

Alongside the competition, the program offers retrospectives, masterclasses with guests of honor, tributes to great directors, special events, and cycles of meetings designed especially for young people and students. One section is dedicated to short films by emerging Italian directors under 35.

• International feature film competition, often featuring Italian premieres
• "New Glances" short film showcase
• Masterclasses and meetings with directors and critics
• Moments of interreligious and cultural dialogue

Roots and patronage

The festival has its roots in the preparations for the Great Jubilee of 2000 and enjoys the patronage of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, the Pontifical Council for Culture, and the National Office for Social Communications of the CEI. For nearly thirty years, it has been one of Rome's most original film events, a meeting point for spectators, cinephiles, students, and diverse faith communities.