Ariano International Film Festival 2027, Ariano Irpino, Italy

What to expect in 2027

Ariano International Film Festival 2027 will bring international cinema, Italian productions, documentaries, animation, short films, environmental cinema and emerging audiovisual projects to Ariano Irpino in Campania. The festival is organised by Rai.Co. APS and focuses on promoting different forms of cinematographic expression while creating opportunities for meetings between filmmakers, audiences and professionals.

The 2027 edition is planned for July and August 2027, with the exact dates still to be announced. The festival is expected to continue its established combination of competitive screenings, special films, cultural events, guest appearances, workshops, public meetings and awards.

The competition structure used for the latest edition included international feature films, documentaries, short films, school shorts, animation, environmental documentaries, Made in Campania productions and films created with artificial intelligence.

Festival dates

Ariano International Film Festival 2027 is planned for July and August 2027, with the official festival dates to be confirmed.

The event normally combines several days of film screenings with meetings, cultural activities, workshops, special presentations and the final awards ceremony.

The definitive 2027 programme and daily timetable will be published by the festival after the selection process is completed.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venues & festival locations

The festival is centred on Ariano Irpino in the province of Avellino, Campania, with activities taking place across municipal cultural and public spaces.

Auditorium Comunale

The municipal auditorium is one of the principal cinema venues used by the festival. It has hosted competition screenings, special films, meetings with filmmakers and presentations involving actors and other guests.

Villa Comunale

Villa Comunale is an important outdoor festival location. Recent editions have used the venue for public screenings, guest meetings, red-carpet activities and the closing ceremony.

Sala Castello Normanno

The Castello Normanno area has been used for workshops, educational activities, exhibitions and special cultural programming.

Palazzo degli Uffici

Palazzo degli Uffici has previously hosted presentations, cultural activities and special events connected with the festival.

The exact 2027 venue allocation will be confirmed with the official programme.

Full programme

The 2027 programme is expected to include the main competitive and cultural strands developed by the festival.

• International feature-film competition
• International documentary competition
• International short-film competition
• School short-film competition
• International animation competition
• AIFF GREEN environmental documentary competition
• MADE IN CAMPANIA short-film competition
• A.I. competition for films created partly or entirely with artificial intelligence
• OUTSIDER screenings
• Special film presentations
• AIFF CULT screenings
• Workshops and educational activities
• Meetings with filmmakers and actors
• Scientific and cultural presentations
• Exhibitions and artistic activities
• Public entertainment events
• Red-carpet appearances
• Jury activities
• Final awards ceremony

The latest regulations describe WORLD, GREEN, MADE IN CAMPANIA, A.I. and OUTSIDER as major sections of the festival programme.

Featured films & premieres

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced. Selected titles will be revealed after the festival completes its submission and jury-selection process.

The competition framework allows international feature films, documentaries, shorts, school films and animation, while separate sections address environmental documentaries, Campania-produced shorts and AI-created films.

Recent editions have also included special screenings and premieres connected with guests and productions. The latest programme featured the presentation of Tex McKenzie, associated with director and actor Ronn Moss, together with members of the production and cast.

The festival may also present Italian premieres, special screenings and films outside the main competition, depending on the 2027 selection.

Directors, actors & guests

Ariano International Film Festival regularly combines competition screenings with appearances by actors, directors, producers, television personalities and other cultural figures.

The 2026 programme included guests such as Lino Banfi, Vincenzo Schettini, Carlotta Pinto, Cartisia Somma, Greta De Rosa, Tiziano Cavaliere, Stefano Sala and Daniel Nilsson.

The festival’s guest programme can include public conversations, film presentations, career recognitions and meetings connected with individual productions.

The 2027 guest list has not yet been announced. Confirmed actors, directors, jury members and special guests should be added once the organisers publish the official programme.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2027 screening timetable has not yet been released.

Based on the festival’s established format, screenings are expected to be distributed between the principal auditorium and other festival locations, with separate sessions for competition titles, special films and public events.

The final schedule normally identifies the film title, section, venue and screening session. The festival states that the definitive schedule and admission of works to the competitions are made available after the selection process.

Ticket types & accreditation

Public ticket information for the 2027 edition has not yet been published.

Recent AIFF public events have been offered with free admission. For example, the latest festival programme described guest events and special screenings as free entry, subject to available seating.

Public screenings

Previous-edition reference: $0 for listed free-admission festival events.

Festival accreditation

Accreditation is available through the festival’s official accreditation system for relevant guests, professionals and participants. The 2027 accreditation conditions have not yet been published.

Filmmaker submissions

The latest published competition regulations required a submission fee. Previous-edition early registration fees included $14.04 standard / $11.70 gold for World feature films and $11.70 standard / $9.36 gold for World short films and documentaries. These amounts refer to film submissions rather than public admission.

Industry & professional access

Ariano International Film Festival includes a professional dimension designed to encourage meetings and exchanges between filmmakers, producers, distributors, critics, jurors and other people working in cinema.

The festival’s stated objectives include creating opportunities for meetings and discussion that support shared growth among professionals in the film industry.

Professional activities can include filmmaker meetings, jury sessions, film presentations, workshops, cultural panels and discussions connected with individual productions.

The competition is evaluated by specialist juries, with awards covering several film categories and additional recognition from press, students and audiences.

Red carpet & special events

The red carpet is an important part of the festival’s public-facing programme, particularly for meetings with invited actors, directors and award recipients.

Recent editions have combined red-carpet appearances with career recognitions, film presentations and meetings with audiences. The latest edition included a career award for Lino Banfi and a public appearance connected with the closing programme.

Special events can also include cultural presentations, educational workshops, science-and-cinema activities, exhibitions, entertainment programmes and screenings outside the main competition.

The exact 2027 red-carpet guests and special-event programme will be announced by the organisers.

Festival rules

The 2027 regulations have not yet been published, so filmmakers should follow the new official rules once released.

The latest regulations provide a useful reference for the festival’s established submission structure:

• Feature films can be submitted within the festival’s specified duration limit.
• Short films have a separate maximum duration.
• Documentaries and animations have different duration conditions.
• Films not in English or Italian require English or Italian subtitles.
• Eligible feature films, shorts and documentaries must satisfy the applicable production-date requirement.
• Multiple works can be submitted using separate registrations.
• Selected films may become part of the Ariano International Film Festival archive.
• The final programme and competition admissions are determined after the selection process.

The latest rules also introduced a dedicated A.I. competition for short films created entirely or partially with artificial intelligence tools, with participants required to identify the software or methods used.

How to get there

Ariano Irpino is located in the Irpinia area of Campania, in the province of Avellino.

By car

Ariano Irpino can be reached from the Campania motorway network, making driving one of the practical options for visitors travelling from Naples, Avellino and other parts of southern Italy.

From Naples

Visitors arriving through Naples can travel toward Avellino and continue inland toward Ariano Irpino by road.

From Avellino

Ariano Irpino is connected with Avellino by road and can be reached by regional public transport or private vehicle.

Because festival activities may be distributed between several locations, visitors should check the venue listed for each event before travelling.

Public transport & parking

Ariano Irpino has regional bus connections linking the town with other communities in Campania and the wider Avellino area.

Visitors arriving by train should check current regional rail connections and onward bus services because the most convenient route can vary depending on the departure point.

For drivers, parking availability depends on the individual venue and local arrangements. Central public areas can become busier during major festival events, particularly during outdoor screenings and the red-carpet programme.

The festival’s final 2027 programme should be consulted for venue-specific parking and transport information.

Accommodation areas

Visitors can stay in Ariano Irpino or in nearby towns in the Irpinia area.

Ariano Irpino

Staying in the town provides convenient access to the principal festival venues and is suitable for visitors attending several days of programming.

Avellino

Avellino offers a larger selection of hotels, restaurants and transport connections and can work well for visitors combining the festival with wider travel around Campania.

Irpinia countryside

Agriturismi, country accommodation and smaller hospitality properties around Irpinia provide an alternative for visitors interested in combining the festival with rural scenery and local food experiences.

Food & dining

Ariano Irpino is located in the Irpinia region, an area known for traditional Campanian cuisine and agricultural products.

Visitors can find restaurants, cafés, bakeries and local food businesses around the town, making it possible to combine festival activities with regional dining.

Local cuisine

Typical Irpinian food experiences can include handmade pasta, local cheeses, cured meats, seasonal vegetables, regional breads and Campanian wines.

Festival visitors

Because screenings and special events can take place at different venues, visitors should allow time between sessions for meals and refreshments, particularly when planning a full day of festival activities.

Accessibility

Accessibility information for the 2027 festival venues has not yet been published.

Because AIFF uses several locations around Ariano Irpino, accessibility can vary between auditoriums, outdoor spaces, historic buildings and temporary festival areas.

Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should contact the organisers before attending so that venue access, seating arrangements and assistance can be confirmed.

The festival’s official contact email for enquiries is info@arianofilmfestival.com.

Best screenings to attend

WORLD competition

The WORLD competition is the festival’s broad international section, bringing together feature films, documentaries, short films, school shorts and animation. It provides the widest overview of the international competition programme.

AIFF GREEN

The GREEN competition focuses exclusively on documentaries dealing with environmental subjects and the relationship between people, territory and the natural environment.

MADE IN CAMPANIA

This section is dedicated to short films made completely or partly in Campania, making it useful for visitors interested in regional filmmaking and local creative production.

A.I. competition

The A.I. section presents short films created entirely or partially with artificial intelligence tools and examines new approaches to audiovisual production.

Special screenings and AIFF CULT

Special screenings and cult-film events provide an alternative to the competition programme and can include widely known productions, guest presentations and public discussions.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2026 edition was the 14th Ariano International Film Festival. The competition included WORLD, GREEN, MADE IN CAMPANIA, A.I. and OUTSIDER sections.

The 2026 winners included Ölū Köpekler Isırmaz for Best Feature Film, A Friend of Dorothy for Best Short Film, North: An Epic Journey of Friendship for Best Animation and Dal Mio Punto di Vista for Best Documentary.

The programme also recognised Goodbye Baghdad with the People’s Choice Award, Dream of Liberation with the Press Award, Cet Été-Là with the Student Jury Award, Camera con Vista as Best Short Film in the Made in Campania section and Una Muerte Digna as Best Short Film in the A.I. section.

The public programme extended beyond competition screenings, with guest appearances and special events involving figures such as Lino Banfi, Vincenzo Schettini and members of the cast and production of Tex McKenzie. Several of these public events were offered with free admission.

Official tickets & accreditation

Official 2027 ticket and accreditation information has not yet been announced.

Previous festival programming indicates that many public screenings, guest meetings and special events have been offered free of charge, making $0 the previous-edition reference for those free public events. Availability can be subject to venue capacity.

Filmmakers should distinguish public admission from competition submission fees. The latest regulations used paid FilmFreeway submissions, with fees varying according to category and registration phase.

For 2027, filmmakers, industry professionals, accredited guests and other participants should use the official AIFF accreditation and registration information once it is published.

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