Villa Medici Film Festival

A festival between cinema and contemporary art

The Villa Medici Film Festival is the cinematic event of the French Academy in Rome, hosted in the 16th-century villa that overlooks the Pincio in the heart of Rome. Established in 2021, the festival has quickly become one of the most original fixtures of the Roman autumn: not just another film festival, but a space where auteur cinema meets contemporary art, video art, research documentaries, and experimental short films.

The formula remains true to its original vision: a few dense days, a small and curated selection, and a venue that is a spectacle in itself. Screenings are held across three screens, one of which is set up outdoors in the courtyard facing the villa's facade, under the Roman sky.

The international competition

The heart of the festival is the international competitive section, which brings together twelve recent films without distinction of genre or duration: feature films and shorts, fiction and documentary, works by visual artists and established directors all compete for the same prize. This is a rare choice in the Italian festival landscape and explains the unique character of the selection, often featuring titles from over twenty countries.

An international jury of three members awards two prizes:

• Villa Medici Prize for Best Film, with a 5,000 euro award;
• Special Jury Prize, with a 3,000 euro award.

Both prizes include the opportunity for a creative residency at Villa Medici, extending the relationship between the festival and the winning authors.

Focus and open-air evenings

Alongside the competition, the Focus section offers out-of-competition works, carte blanche selections curated by jury members, and meetings with directors, often in dialogue with curators and artists. The open-air evenings in the courtyard are the most popular part of the event: premieres, restored films, and rediscovered classics are screened before an audience of up to five hundred spectators per night. In total, the program features over forty screenings across five days.

Villa Medici, a unique setting

Built in the 16th century and home to the French Academy in Rome since 1803, Villa Medici houses historic gardens, frescoed loggias, and a view of the city that alone justifies the climb to the Pincio. During the festival, paths and courtyards become temporary screening rooms: you move from an indoor hall to a screen among the trees, with breaks spent in the garden. Those attending the evenings discover a side of the villa that daytime visits do not reveal.

A Roman and international audience

The festival attracts Roman cinephiles, students, artists, and curators, as well as locals from the central districts who walk up from the Spanish Steps. Attendance has grown with each edition, exceeding four thousand tickets in the previous year. Language is no barrier: films are presented in their original version with subtitles, in keeping with international festival standards.

When to go and what to expect

The event is held every year in September, when Rome enjoys pleasant weather and outdoor evenings are still possible. It is advisable to book seats in advance, especially for the courtyard evenings, which regularly sell out. Visitors can combine the festival experience with a tour of the villa's gardens and collections.