Wonder Film Festival

The cinema of the youngest in Potenza

The Wonder Film Festival is the first film festival in Basilicata designed entirely for children and young people. Born in Potenza, it focuses on the youngest audience both as spectators and as creators: the competition actually welcomes short films made by secondary school students and young independent talents under 20.

Educating with images

The festival's objective is to discover new talents and promote image education projects conducted in Italian schools, as part of the National Plan for Cinema and Images for Schools promoted by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education. The themes addressed by the competing works range from legality to the environment, from inclusion to bullying, to human rights: topics that speak directly to the world of young people.

Competition and awards

The selection is divided into several categories, including best school film, best Lucanian short film, emerging talents, and best international short film. A jury of professionals evaluates the creativity, originality, and social impact of the works, awarding prizes including the prestigious Golden Star. Alongside the competition, the program includes screenings of major animated films and training sessions.

A cultural network

The festival is conceived by the Centre for Integrated Geomorphology for the Mediterranean Area (CGIAM) with the Maurizio Leggeri Library and promoted together with the Experimental Centre for Mediterranean Arts (CeSAM), with the patronage of the Basilicata Region, the Municipality of Potenza, and the Regional School Office. A project that makes Potenza a reference point for children's cinema in Southern Italy.