Trani Cinema and Sea Festival
The festival that blends cinema, the sea, business, and sustainability in Trani
About Cinema and Sea
A festival between cinema and the sea in Trani
The Trani Cinema and Sea Festival is one of the most original cultural events in the Adriatic region of Puglia. Every year, the town of Trani, in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, transforms for a few days into a capital of the silver screen overlooking the sea, where the language of cinema engages with environmental protection, the business world, social inclusion, and regional development. It is more than just a film festival: it is a multidisciplinary event that combines screenings, short films, documentaries, talks, podcasts, photography exhibitions, awards, and even scuba diving in the city's coastal waters.
From its 2021 origins to today
The festival's first edition was held in 2021 at Palazzo Beltrani, featuring National Geographic documentaries dedicated to the protection of marine ecosystems. Since then, the event has grown steadily, building a recognizable identity and developing international collaborations, including the Estimar Italo-Spanish Festival and the Italo-Serbian Festival in Belgrade. Over the years, the festival has become itinerant, changing venues and formats: from the Villa Comunale to the historic palaces of the city center, always with its gaze fixed on the Adriatic.
The themes: environment, business, and inclusion
The heart of the festival is the relationship between cinema and the sea, expressed through four pillars that intertwine in every edition:
- Environmental sustainability: screenings and meetings dedicated to defending the marine ecosystem and fighting climate change;
- Business and territory: stories of entrepreneurship that promote Puglia and the Mediterranean;
- Social inclusion: a significant space reserved for Paralympic sports and accessible diving disciplines;
- Heritage promotion: dives into the seabed of Trani to document the city's submerged heritage.
The Cathedral of Cinema and the Sea Award
The highlight of every edition is the presentation of the Cathedral of Cinema and the Sea Award, a trophy created by artist Antonella Palmitessa and dedicated to individuals who, through cinema, business, and culture, contribute to the promotion of the territory and the spread of a culture of sustainability. The award symbolically recalls the famous Romanesque Cathedral of Trani, one of the most photographed monuments in Italy, which reflects directly onto the sea.
Trani, the festival city
Trani is one of the pearls of the Apulian Adriatic: its harbor, historic center, palaces overlooking the water, and the Cathedral by the sea provide an ideal setting for a festival that makes the relationship between land and sea its distinctive hallmark. The event is supported by the Municipality of Trani, the Apulia Film Commission, and the patronage of the Puglia Region, in addition to the collaboration of numerous public and private partners.
Cinema and Sea — edition 2026
The fifth edition: cinema, business, and the seabed of Trani
The 5th edition of the Trani Cinema and Sea Festival was held on July 3 and 4, 2026, with Trani once again serving as the capital of cinema and the sea. The two days took place between the Hotel Regia and Palazzo San Giorgio, two iconic city landmarks overlooking the Adriatic, transformed into a stage for meetings, screenings, talks, podcasts, photography exhibitions, awards, and previews.
The event was hosted by journalist Vanessa Quinto, a familiar face from Rai News 24. The heart of the edition featured scuba diving in the waters of Trani by a group of champions of underwater disciplines, including Paralympic apnea pioneer Fabrizio Pagani, Paralympic world champion Ilenia Colanero, world underwater video champion Antonino Paganello, and underwater photographer Virginia Salzedo. The footage captured during the festival was screened for the first time during the closing evening.
Highlights included the presentation of the docufilm "Valter Scavolini. La vita come grande impresa" (directed by Mattia Zanca) and the presentation of the Cathedral of Cinema and the Sea Award, a work by artist Antonella Palmitessa. It was an edition that combined major business, attention to the territory, sensitivity toward inclusion, and a watchful eye on the environment threatened by climate change.
Programme Cinema and Sea 2026
Friday, July 3, 2026
- "Cinema, territory, and sea" podcast at Palazzo San Giorgio, on the relationship between audiovisual media, regional promotion, and sea culture, with director and producer Francesco Lopez, actress Sofia D'Elia, producer Gianpietro Preziosa, director Annamaria Di Pinto, and actress Anna Rita Del Piano;
- Networking sessions between businesses and institutions;
- Dives into the seabed of Trani with underwater sports athletes.
Saturday, July 4, 2026
- Inauguration of Virginia Salzedo's underwater photography exhibition;
- Presentation of the docufilm "Valter Scavolini. La vita come grande impresa" (directed by Mattia Zanca);
- Screening of short films "Le meraviglie sommerse di Trani", "La nostra ultima estate" (WeShort), and "Bad romance" by Michele Pinto;
- Premiere screening of underwater footage captured in the waters of Trani;
- Presentation of the Cathedral of Cinema and the Sea Award.
Highlights Cinema and Sea 2026
- Hosted by Rai News 24 journalist Vanessa Quinto
- Dives and underwater filming in the waters of Trani with FIPSAS Paralympic champions
- Underwater photography exhibition by Virginia Salzedo
- Docufilm "Valter Scavolini. La vita come grande impresa"
- Cathedral of Cinema and the Sea Award by artist Antonella Palmitessa
Practical information — Cinema and Sea
How to get there
By train: Trani station is on the Adriatic line, with frequent connections from Bari (about 40 minutes) and Foggia. The festival venues are located in the historic center and are within walking distance.
By car: Take the Trani exit from the SS16 Adriatic highway; the A14 motorway (Andria-Barletta or Molfetta exits) is just a few kilometers away.
By plane: The reference airport is Bari-Palese Karol Wojtyła, about 50 km away, connected by trains and shuttles.
Venues
Recent editions have taken place between Palazzo San Giorgio and the Hotel Regia, at the foot of the Cathedral, overlooking the sea. It is recommended to check the festival's official channels for updated dates and programs.
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Where does it take place — Cinema and Sea
Palazzo San Giorgio