Bif&st Bari International Film&TV Festival 2027, Italy

• April 10, 2027
  Event date:
• April 17, 2027
  Event end:

What to expect in 2027

Bif&st – Bari International Film&TV Festival 2027 will bring international and Italian cinema to Bari for a week of screenings, competitions, retrospectives, premieres, filmmaker meetings and special cultural events. The festival’s current artistic project for 2025–2027 places particular emphasis on Southern Italy, the Mediterranean and the cultural identity of Puglia, using cinema as a way to connect different communities and perspectives.

The 2027 edition is expected to continue the festival’s combination of competitive and non-competitive sections. The established format includes the Meridiana international competition, Per il Cinema Italiano, Sarò Breve short-film competition, retrospectives, television and audiovisual content, thematic programmes, premieres, restorations, tributes and special events.

Bari’s historic theatres and cinemas form an important part of the experience. Alongside film screenings, Bif&st has traditionally included encounters with directors and actors, award ceremonies, masterclasses, exhibitions and events that extend beyond conventional cinema programming.

The complete 2027 programme, film selection, guest list and individual screening timetable have not yet been published. These details should be confirmed through the official Bif&st programme once released.

Festival dates

Bif&st Bari International Film&TV Festival 2027 is scheduled for April 10–17, 2027.

The 2027 dates should be treated as the planned festival dates supplied for this listing, as the official Bif&st website has not yet published the complete 2027 programme or detailed festival calendar.

The previous edition ran for eight days and combined daytime screenings and encounters with evening events, competitions, premieres and award presentations. This format is expected to provide the general framework for the 2027 festival.

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Venues & festival locations

Bif&st uses several important cultural and cinema venues around Bari rather than concentrating the entire festival in one location.

Recent editions have used:

• Teatro Petruzzelli
• Teatro Kursaal Santalucia
• Multicinema Galleria
• AncheCinema
• Cinema Il Piccolo
• Circolo della Vela
• Conservatorio di Musica Niccolò Piccinni
• Palazzo Starita and other locations for exhibitions and cultural activities

Teatro Petruzzelli has hosted cinema encounters, afternoon screenings and major evening events, while Teatro Kursaal Santalucia has been used for the Meridiana competition and other programme sections. Multicinema Galleria has hosted Italian cinema competitions, short films, retrospectives, special events and genre programmes.

The final 2027 venue allocation will depend on the published festival programme.

Full programme

The 2027 programme is expected to combine competitive cinema with retrospectives, special screenings, meetings and cultural activities.

The established Bif&st structure includes:

• Meridiana international competition
• Per il Cinema Italiano competition
• Sarò Breve short-film competition
• Rosso di Sera
• Cinema Encounters
• Afternoon screenings at Teatro Petruzzelli
• Retrospectives
• Frontiere
• Special Events
• Doppio Testo
• A Sud
• Horror Nights
• Television and audiovisual programmes
• Masterclasses
• Tributes and restorations
• Exhibitions and cultural projects
• Fuori Bif&st events around Bari

The Meridiana section is designed for feature films, medium-length films, fiction, animation and film or television documentaries from the Euro-Mediterranean area, while Per il Cinema Italiano focuses on Italian works and Italian majority co-productions. Sarò Breve is dedicated to Italian and international short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes.

Featured films & premieres

No individual 2027 films or premiere titles have been officially announced yet.

Based on the established festival format, visitors can expect a combination of international and Italian premieres, competition titles, documentaries, short films, restored works, retrospective screenings and special presentations.

The Meridiana competition traditionally requires participating works to be at least Italian premieres, with the possibility of films receiving world, international or other premiere status depending on the final selection. The festival’s non-competitive programme can also include world, international and European premieres, restorations and tributes.

Previous programming illustrates the breadth of the selection. In 2026, the Meridiana competition included films from across the Euro-Mediterranean region, while the programme also included Italian cinema, retrospectives, special events and genre-focused screenings.

Directors, actors & guests

The final 2027 guest list will be announced closer to the festival.

Bif&st traditionally welcomes directors, actors, screenwriters, producers, critics and other cinema professionals for public encounters, presentations and award ceremonies.

The 2026 edition demonstrated the range of guests associated with the festival, with cinema encounters and presentations involving filmmakers, actors, producers and cultural figures. The programme also featured public meetings connected with individual films and retrospectives.

Guests may appear at film introductions, masterclasses, retrospective events, award ceremonies and public conversations. Visitors interested in meeting filmmakers should monitor the official daily programme because appearances can be connected to specific screenings.

Screening schedule

The complete 2027 screening timetable has not yet been released.

Once published, the official calendar is expected to identify the film or event, date, start time, venue and admission arrangements. Bif&st’s previous calendars have organized screenings and events across multiple venues, meaning visitors should check the location carefully when planning consecutive screenings.

The festival can include several screenings and encounters on the same day, with daytime programmes at theatres and cinemas followed by evening premieres, awards or special events.

Visitors attending multiple screenings should allow sufficient time to travel between venues in central Bari.

Ticket types & accreditation

Ticket arrangements for Bif&st 2027 have not yet been published. As a reference, the 2026 edition used a mixture of free admission and paid tickets depending on the venue and programme section.

Previous-edition public prices included:

• Teatro Petruzzelli free admission for many cinema encounters and afternoon events, subject to available seats
• Teatro Petruzzelli afternoon events on selected dates: approximately $3
• Teatro Petruzzelli Rosso di Sera: approximately $14 for stalls and principal boxes and approximately $7 for other seating areas
• A special Rosso di Sera performance: approximately $23 for stalls and principal boxes and approximately $12 for other seating areas
• Multicinema Galleria paid events: approximately $3
• AncheCinema programmes: approximately $3
• Many competition screenings and retrospectives at selected venues: free admission, subject to availability

These are approximate USD conversions of the 2026 published prices and should be used only as previous-edition guidance.

Some free events in 2026 still required visitors to collect a ticket on the day. At Multicinema Galleria, for example, visitors could collect a maximum of two tickets for current-day free events, subject to availability.

Industry & professional access

Bif&st provides access for filmmakers and other audiovisual professionals through its festival and film office.

The festival’s established structure accommodates directors, producers, actors, screenwriters, distributors, cultural organizations, journalists and other professionals involved in cinema and television.

Film submissions for the established competition structure are handled through the festival’s Film Office. In the 2026 regulations, film registration was free and selected filmmakers were required to provide screening and promotional materials according to festival instructions.

Press accreditation is handled separately. The 2026 press accreditation process required applicants to complete the festival’s dedicated online application during the announced application period.

2027 accreditation requirements and application dates should be confirmed once the new edition’s official accreditation information is published.

Red carpet & special events

Bif&st combines film screenings with public events, awards, encounters and evening programmes that give the festival a strong live-event atmosphere.

Teatro Petruzzelli is particularly important for major festival occasions, including evening events, cinema encounters and award presentations. Previous editions have also used the theatre for special screenings and filmmaker meetings.

Special events can include:

• Opening and closing ceremonies
• Award presentations
• Filmmaker encounters
• Actor and director tributes
• Retrospectives
• Premiere screenings
• Masterclasses
• Special cultural events
• Music and audiovisual presentations
• Exhibitions
• Fuori Bif&st activities around Bari

The festival’s city-wide character also means that cinema-related activities can extend into streets, squares, cultural institutions, shops, schools, cafés and other community spaces through Fuori Bif&st.

Festival rules

Visitors, filmmakers, accredited professionals and participating productions must follow the official Bif&st regulations and the rules of individual venues.

For film participation, the festival regulations establish requirements concerning eligibility, submission, screening materials, subtitles, promotional materials and participation after selection. Selected films must comply with the technical and delivery requirements communicated by the Film Office.

Important participation rules include:

• Film registration and submission must follow the official festival procedure.
• Selected filmmakers must accept the official invitation within the required deadline.
• Selected works must be supplied in the technical format requested by the festival.
• Non-Italian films must be submitted with English subtitles on the projection medium.
• Film and promotional materials must be delivered according to the festival’s instructions.
• Applicants must have the necessary legal authorization to submit their works.
• Accreditation and venue admission remain subject to the festival’s rules and availability.

The final 2027 regulations may contain updated submission deadlines and technical requirements.

How to get there

Bari is served by Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport, located northwest of the city centre. From the airport, visitors can reach central Bari by train, bus, taxi or private transfer.

Bari Centrale railway station is the city’s principal rail hub and is particularly convenient for visitors arriving from other Italian cities. The station is within the central urban area and provides connections for onward travel to the festival’s main venues.

Most central Bif&st venues can be reached from the railway station using walking routes, local buses or taxis. Because the festival operates across several locations, visitors should check the venue shown on each individual programme entry.

Public transport & parking

Bari’s urban public transport network provides bus connections between the railway station, central neighbourhoods and the wider city.

For visitors staying centrally, many festival venues can also be reached on foot. Teatro Petruzzelli, Multicinema Galleria and several other cultural venues are located within or close to Bari’s central area.

Driving is possible, but parking can be more complicated around major festival venues and central streets. Visitors attending evening screenings should allow additional time to find parking and walk to the venue.

Festival-specific transport arrangements, if introduced for 2027, should be checked in the official programme before travelling.

Accommodation areas

Visitors can stay in Bari’s historic centre, central commercial districts or neighbourhoods with convenient access to the festival venues.

Useful areas include:

• Bari Vecchia for historic surroundings and proximity to central cultural attractions
• Murat for central accommodation, restaurants and transport connections
• Madonnella for access to the seafront and central venues
• Umbertino for a central location close to Teatro Petruzzelli
• Libertà for additional accommodation choices and transport connections
• Around Bari Centrale for convenient rail and city transport access

For a festival-focused trip, the central areas around Murat, Umbertino and Bari Vecchia can make it easier to reach multiple venues without relying on a car.

Food & dining

Bari offers a strong local food culture that can be combined easily with a festival visit.

Visitors can try traditional Apulian dishes and street food between screenings, including focaccia barese, panzerotti, orecchiette and seafood dishes. Bari Vecchia is particularly well known for its traditional food culture and historic streets.

The central Murat and Umbertino districts provide a broad choice of cafés, bakeries, casual restaurants and more formal dining venues.

Because Bif&st screenings can be scheduled throughout the day, visitors attending several events should allow enough time for meals between programme slots rather than planning long restaurant visits during tightly scheduled screening periods.

Accessibility

Accessibility arrangements can vary according to the individual festival venue, so visitors with specific mobility or seating requirements should check directly with the festival and venue before attending.

The use of major theatres, cinemas and cultural institutions across Bari means that accessibility can differ between locations. Teatro Petruzzelli, Multicinema Galleria, Teatro Kursaal Santalucia and the other participating venues may have different entrance, seating and assistance arrangements.

For 2027, visitors should contact the festival in advance to confirm accessible entrances, seating availability and assistance procedures for the specific screening or event they intend to attend.

Best screenings to attend

The strongest choices for visitors will depend on the final 2027 programme, which has not yet been announced.

The Meridiana competition is a key section for audiences interested in contemporary international cinema from the wider Euro-Mediterranean region. The Per il Cinema Italiano competition is another important option for viewers looking for new Italian feature films, documentaries and other eligible Italian productions.

Sarò Breve is useful for visitors interested in emerging filmmakers and short-form cinema, while retrospectives can provide an opportunity to watch important films from a particular director or cinematic movement.

Special events at Teatro Petruzzelli can also be worth prioritizing because they combine screenings with filmmaker or actor encounters, presentations and awards.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2026 edition featured a broad programme across Bari, including the Meridiana international competition, Per il Cinema Italiano, Sarò Breve, retrospectives dedicated to Giuseppe Tornatore and Abdellatif Kechiche, Frontiere, Doppio Testo, A Sud, Notti Horror and other special events.

The 2026 programme also included a photography exhibition, Sembra ch’è passato un giorno, dedicated to voices, stories and images from Italian cinema. The exhibition brought together material connected with major figures from the history of Italian cinema.

The festival hosted cinema encounters and public events with filmmakers and actors, while Teatro Petruzzelli provided a setting for major presentations and awards. The programme also included an international premiere and numerous screenings spread across Bari’s theatres and cinemas.

The 2026 edition continued the broader 2025–2027 artistic project focused on Southern Italy, the Mediterranean and Puglia’s cultural identity, with cinema positioned as a means of cultural exchange and international dialogue.

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