Fano International Film Festival 2026, Italy

• October 27, 2026
  Event date:
• October 31, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

Fano International Film Festival 2026 returns to Fano for its 38th edition, bringing together Italian and international independent cinema, emerging filmmakers and short-film productions. Organized by Fotovideocineclub of Fano in cooperation with the Municipality of Fano, FEDIC and the Italian Ministry of Culture, the festival is designed as a meeting point for filmmakers, film professionals, specialist media and cinema audiences.

The festival has a particular focus on young directors and films presenting contemporary subjects together with innovative artistic, formal and cinematic language. Works can come from Italy or abroad and can be produced on Super 8, 16–35mm film or in digital formats.

The 2026 edition is expected to combine competitive screenings with international selections, Italian cinema, animation, documentaries, a school section, filmmaker meetings, special cultural events and the final awards ceremony.

Festival dates

Fano International Film Festival 2026 will take place from October 27 to 31, 2026, in Fano, Marche, Italy.

The five-day festival will include film screenings, meetings with filmmakers, special events and the official awards ceremony. The competition programme is designed around short films, with selected works also presented to audiences and the press during the festival.

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

Venues & festival locations

The festival’s main administrative address is:

Fano International Film Festival
Via Albert Einstein, 11
61032 Fano (PU), Italy

Screenings and festival activities have also been hosted at Masetti Cinema, located at Via Don Bosco, 12, Fano. The cinema is used for festival screenings and special events.

The festival also makes use of public cultural spaces and locations around Fano for special events, exhibitions, meetings, guided activities and other cultural initiatives. The organizers emphasize the city’s historic and artistic heritage as part of the wider festival experience.

Full programme

The complete 2026 screening programme has not yet been published in full, but the festival’s official 2026 submission guidelines establish the principal competition structure.

The programme is expected to include:

• Italian and international short films
• Fiction and documentary works
• Animated films
• Films directed by women
• International selections
• Italian independent cinema
• Best Actor and Best Actress selections
• Original screenplay selections
• School cinema
• Special jury selections
• Feature-film presentations
• Filmmaker meetings
• Press and audience encounters
• Opening and closing events
• Awards and special mentions

The festival accepts films on any subject and aims to promote works by emerging filmmakers. Its school section gives students and teachers from Italian educational institutions an independent space within the wider festival.

Featured films & premieres

The 2026 film selection has not yet been publicly announced in its entirety.

The festival specifically encourages filmmakers to present works that can benefit from festival exposure, including films receiving a premiere or exclusive screening. Approximately 10,000 works have reportedly been submitted to the festival over its history.

The competition is open to short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes. Eligible works can be produced on Super 8, 16–35mm film or in digital formats, with film-to-tape transfers also accepted.

Selected films are expected to be announced through the official festival programme and catalogue once the selection process is complete.

Directors, actors & guests

Fano International Film Festival has a long history of presenting emerging filmmakers alongside established Italian and international actors and directors.

Past guests and artists associated with the festival include:

• Neri Marcorè
• Ambra Angiolini
• Alessandro Haber
• Isabella Ragonese
• Gérard Depardieu
• Jean Rochefort
• Kasia Smutniak
• Alessandra Mastronardi
• Nicolas Vaporidis
• Valeria Solarino
• Ricky Tognazzi
• Massimo Dapporto
• Remo Girone
• Giovanni Storti
• Francesca Inaudi
• Michela Cescon

The festival also organizes meetings with authors whose films are selected, allowing filmmakers to discuss their work with audiences and the press.

The confirmed 2026 guest list will be published as the festival programme develops.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2026 timetable is still being finalized.

The official regulations state that a larger selection of films recommended by the jury will be screened for audiences and the press during the festival, with meetings with authors taking place alongside the screenings. The official award ceremony is scheduled to include screenings of the winning works.

The screening schedule is expected to include:

• Competitive short-film sessions
• International selections
• Italian cinema
• Documentary screenings
• Animation programmes
• School cinema
• Special screenings
• Filmmaker meetings
• Press presentations
• Award-winning films
• Closing and gala presentations

Visitors should consult the official programme for individual film titles, screening times and venue information once the final schedule is released.

Ticket types & accreditation

The festival’s official website states that its public-theatre screenings are offered with free admission, making the main festival programme accessible to general audiences.

Some special events or independent cinema presentations may have separate admission arrangements. Previous programme information has included special screenings with paid admission, such as a breakfast screening and a post-festival presentation priced at approximately $7 per person after conversion from the published previous-edition amount.

For the 2026 main festival programme, visitors should therefore expect:

• Main public screenings: Free admission
• Special cinema events: May have separate admission
• Professional access: Subject to festival arrangements
• Filmmaker submissions: Governed by the official competition regulations

Industry & professional access

Fano International Film Festival has developed a strong professional role as a meeting and exchange point for independent filmmakers, film-industry professionals and specialist film publications.

The festival’s professional activities can include:

• Filmmaker and director meetings
• Press encounters
• Discussions around selected films
• Jury activities
• Industry networking
• School and educational cinema
• Technical and artistic discussions
• Presentations of emerging filmmakers

The 2026 competition is open to Italian and foreign filmmakers. Each entrant may submit a maximum of two short films, with each film limited to 30 minutes. Entries are submitted through a Vimeo streaming link sent to the festival email address.

Red carpet & special events

Fano International Film Festival combines its film competitions with cultural activities across the city.

Special events can include:

• Opening ceremonies
• Art exhibitions
• Conferences
• Evening concerts
• Book presentations
• Themed screenings
• Guided tours
• Cultural excursions
• Local heritage activities

The festival also works with local institutions and associations to connect cinema with Fano’s historic and artistic heritage.

The main awards presentation forms one of the central events of the festival, with winning films screened as part of the official ceremony.

Festival rules

The 2026 competition is open to both Italian and international filmmakers.

Submission format: Films may be submitted on Super 8, 16–35mm film or in digital formats. Film-to-tape transfers are also accepted.

Subject: The festival accepts films on all subjects.

Number of entries: Each entrant may submit no more than two short films.

Running time: Each submitted film must not exceed 30 minutes.

Submission method: Entries must be submitted exclusively through a Vimeo streaming link sent to info@fanofilmfestival.it, preferably with a download option.

Submission materials: Entrants are asked to provide accurate film information and significant still images for the official catalogue.

Awards: The jury awards the principal prizes together with special recognition for animation, documentary, female-directed films, acting and original screenplay. A Best Feature Film award is also presented.

How to get there

Fano is located on Italy’s Adriatic coast in the Marche region and is accessible by road, rail, air and sea.

By car, visitors can reach Fano via the A14 motorway, using the Fano motorway exit. The SS16 Adriatica and SS3 Flaminia also provide road connections with the city.

By train, Fano railway station is served by the railway network connecting destinations including Milan, Bologna and Taranto.

For air travel, the festival identifies Ancona–Falconara Airport and Rimini Airport as nearby airports, both approximately 40 km from Fano. Fano also has an airport offering air-taxi services.

Public transport & parking

Fano railway station provides the most useful public-transport connection for visitors arriving from other Italian cities.

From the railway station, visitors can continue toward the city centre and festival venues by local transport, taxi or on foot depending on the location of their accommodation.

Visitors arriving by car can use the A14 and the city’s road network. Parking availability varies according to the venue and time of day, so arriving early is advisable for busy evening screenings and special events.

The festival’s main Masetti Cinema venue is located at Via Don Bosco, 12, within the urban area of Fano.

Accommodation areas

Visitors attending the festival can choose from several accommodation areas in Fano.

Historic centre: Convenient for visitors who want to combine festival screenings with Fano’s historic streets, cultural attractions, restaurants and evening activities.

Lido and waterfront: Suitable for visitors who want to stay close to the Adriatic coast while remaining within reach of central Fano.

Fano railway station area: A practical option for visitors relying on train connections or planning excursions to nearby cities.

Mainland Fano: Offers hotels, guesthouses and apartments with convenient road access and generally easier parking than the historic centre.

Booking early is advisable during the festival period, particularly for visitors planning to attend several days of screenings.

Food & dining

Fano has a strong Marche and Adriatic food tradition, giving festival visitors plenty of opportunities to combine film screenings with local cuisine.

Typical choices include fresh Adriatic seafood, handmade pasta, piadina, local cured meats, cheeses and traditional Marche dishes.

The historic centre provides numerous restaurants, cafés, bakeries and casual dining options, while the waterfront has seafood restaurants and places suited to evening meals.

Visitors attending screenings at Masetti Cinema can also choose from restaurants and cafés in the surrounding urban area before or after evening programmes.

Accessibility

The festival takes place across cinema, public and cultural spaces in Fano. Accessibility can therefore vary between individual venues and special-event locations.

Visitors requiring wheelchair access, reserved seating, assistance or other accommodations should contact the festival organizers before attending so that venue-specific arrangements can be confirmed.

The festival’s public programme is designed for a broad audience and includes school, community and cultural activities alongside the competitive film programme. Its use of public venues also allows visitors to combine screenings with other cultural experiences in Fano.

Best screenings to attend

International short-film selection: A key choice for discovering filmmakers from outside Italy and seeing different cinematic approaches within the festival’s international programme.

Italian independent cinema: Recommended for visitors interested in new Italian directors and contemporary Italian storytelling.

Animation: The festival awards a dedicated Best Animation prize, making animated works an important part of its competitive programme.

Documentary: The Best Documentary award highlights the importance of non-fiction filmmaking within the festival’s selection.

Films directed by women: A dedicated award recognizes female-directed works and provides another focus within the competition.

Gala and awards ceremony: The closing ceremony brings together winning films, award presentations and festival participants and provides a concentrated overview of the competition.

Previous year’s highlights

The festival’s previous programme has included international short films, Italian cinema, documentary and fiction selections, animation and a gala awards afternoon.

Previous award-winning works included Transumanza by Giovanni J. Bertoia, which received the Best Italian Film and FEDIC Award; The Boy with White Skin by Simon Panay, recognized as Best Foreign Film; and Playing God by Matteo Burani, which received Best Animated Film and Best Soundtrack. Vincent Cassel was recognized for his performance in Le Colisée.

The programme also included an international showcase featuring films from Israel, Iran and Spain, a selection from Italy’s National Film School, Italian and international animation, and a special screening presented with the director in attendance.

The festival’s broader history includes appearances by numerous established Italian and international actors and directors, while continuing to provide a platform for emerging filmmakers.

Official tickets & accreditation

The official festival website states that its public-theatre screenings are generally offered with free admission. Visitors should check the final 2026 programme for any special screenings or events that require separate arrangements.

Filmmakers interested in participating should follow the official 2026 submission guidelines. The competition accepts Italian and international short films and requires submissions through a Vimeo streaming link. The final submission deadline is September 1, 2026.

Selected films will be included in the festival programme, while the winning works will be screened during the official awards ceremony. The festival also contacts winners and special mentions directly, while other entrants can contact the artistic director for information about their submission.

Festival address: Via Albert Einstein, 11, 61032 Fano (PU), Italy
Telephone: +39 0721 854372
Mobile: +39 335 8348462
Email: info@fanofilmfestival.it

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