Via Emilia Doc Fest – Documentary Film Festival
The documentary film festival of Modena
About Via Emilia Doc Fest
The documentary festival in Modena
The Via Emilia Doc Fest is one of the most anticipated events of Modena's cultural autumn, in Emilia-Romagna. Created to provide a space for real cinema, the festival has established itself over the years as a place where documentary becomes a tool for telling the present: each edition is built around thematic days that address the major issues of public debate — contemporary work, mental health, rights, gender issues, historical memory — through films from around the world.
Venues of the event
The heart of the festival is the historic Cinema Astra in Modena, joined over the years by other city venues such as Filmstudio 7B and various local cinemas. The choice of art-house cinemas and symbolic city locations reinforces the festival's connection with Modena's cultural fabric and its loyal local audience.
Premieres and guests
Alongside the main November program, the festival offers a series of national premieres throughout the preceding months, often accompanied by the presence of the directors and public Q&As. Screenings are frequently followed by debates, dialogues with authors, and discussions with experts, in line with the documentary's aim to stimulate collective reflection.
A local cultural project
The event is organized by Arci Modena and Ucca (Unione Circoli Cinematografici Arci), with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Fondazione di Modena, and the patronage of the Municipality of Modena. Over the years, alongside the competition and screenings, the festival has paid particular attention to cinema for schools and new media, confirming itself as an experience that combines cinematic vision, civic engagement, and public participation.
Why participate
- Italian and international documentaries selected on major current issues
- National premieres with directors in attendance
- Encounters, debates, and dialogues with authors and protagonists
- Historic and art-house cinemas in the center of Modena
- Free admission to many screenings
Via Emilia Doc Fest — edition 2026
Via Emilia Doc Fest 2026
The Via Emilia Doc Fest 2026 will take place in Modena from November 9th to 13th, 2026, with Cinema Astra as the main venue. The event, organized by Arci Modena and Ucca, confirms its formula based on thematic days dedicated to the major issues of the present, told through documentary films.
2026 Premieres
The edition has been preceded by several national premieres: on March 18th, at Cinema Astra, Una lunghissima ombra by Andrea Laszlo De Simone was presented, an audiovisual project blending music and visual poetry; on May 6th, at Filmstudio 7B, the premiere of The Sea by Shai Carmeli Pollak, an award-winning and Oscar-nominated documentary, was screened, followed by a connection with guests and a debate.
Program Coming Soon
The full program for the five-day event in November, including competition films, guests, and screening times, will be published in the weeks leading up to the event on the festival's official website.
Programme Via Emilia Doc Fest 2026
Highlights Via Emilia Doc Fest 2026
Prices Via Emilia Doc Fest 2026
Practical information — Via Emilia Doc Fest
Getting there
Cinema Astra is located in the center of Modena, easily reachable on foot from the train station. By car, Modena is served by the A1 motorway (Modena Nord or Modena Sud exit); the nearest airport is Bologna, about 40 km away.
Tickets
Many festival screenings are free admission until seats are full. Some premieres and special evenings require a ticket (usually around 5 euros), with booking via platforms like TicketOne. It is advisable to check the access procedures on the official website.
Information
Full program, venues, and updates on the festival's official website and Arci Modena's social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Via Emilia Doc Fest
Cinema Astra