Film Festival della Lessinia 2027, Bosco Chiesanuova, Italy

What to expect in 2027

Film Festival della Lessinia 2027 is expected to bring international mountain cinema back to Bosco Chiesanuova in the Lessini Mountains of the Province of Verona. The festival focuses on the life, history and traditions of mountain communities and combines international cinema with cultural activities, exhibitions, conversations, excursions, workshops, music and food experiences. The festival was founded in 1995 and has developed into an established international event dedicated to stories connected with mountain environments and communities.

The festival accepts films without restrictions based on genre or duration, selecting works through its official selection committee. Its programme can therefore include fiction, documentary, animation, experimental and hybrid productions from Italy and around the world. The latest edition presented films from more than 40 countries alongside a wider cultural programme of more than 100 events.

The festival’s identity is closely connected to the territory. Visitors can combine film screenings with guided walks, cultural excursions, exhibitions, literary presentations, concerts, workshops and local food experiences.

The 2027 edition is also expected to continue the festival’s professional and sustainability-oriented initiatives, including FFDLpro and projects dedicated to preserving and promoting audiovisual heritage connected with mountain communities.

Festival dates

Festival period: August or September 2027 (Dates TBD)

The exact 2027 dates have not yet been announced. The festival traditionally takes place around the end of summer in Bosco Chiesanuova, with the main programme distributed across the Teatro Vittoria, Festival Square and other locations around the town.

Visitors should consult the official Film Festival della Lessinia website before making travel arrangements because individual screenings, exhibitions, excursions and cultural events may operate at different times and locations.

Venues & festival locations

Teatro Vittoria: The Teatro Vittoria is the central cinema venue of the festival. Its main auditorium has 334 seats and hosts the principal film screenings, while the Sala Olimpica has 120 seats and is used for cultural meetings, exhibitions and other activities.

Piazza del Festival: Located in front of the Teatro Vittoria, the Festival Square is the social centre of the event. It hosts food and drink areas, concerts, meetings, the festival office, the Mountain Bookshop and special events. The square is equipped with structures that allow activities to continue in poor weather.

Auditorium Parole Alte: This 200-seat temporary auditorium hosts literary presentations, director meetings, roundtables, debates and forums.

Centro Socio Culturale: Located in central Bosco Chiesanuova, the municipal cultural centre provides exhibition and conference spaces for selected festival activities.

Sede CAI Lessinia: The local CAI Lessinia headquarters is used for exhibitions and other cultural activities.

Piazza della Chiesa: This central square can host preview events and cultural or food-related activities.

Other Lessinia locations: Guided excursions, experiential walks and territory-based projects extend the festival beyond the main venues and introduce visitors to the landscapes and cultural heritage of the Lessini Mountains.

Full programme

The 2027 programme is expected to combine competitive cinema with a broad cultural programme.

International competition: The principal competition presents selected films from Italy and around the world, with the festival accepting works across different genres and formats.

FFDL+: A section designed for younger audiences, with children’s films and related activities.

Montagne Italiane: This section focuses on Italian films dealing with mountain landscapes, communities, heritage and contemporary issues.

FFDLgreen: A dedicated environmental section exploring ecological themes and the relationship between people and the natural world.

Retrospective: Selected previous works and filmmakers can be presented through curated retrospectives.

Special events: Special screenings, premieres, presentations and guest appearances form part of the wider programme.

Parole Alte: Literary presentations, author meetings, director conversations, roundtables and public debates are held under this cultural programme.

Children’s workshops: Educational and creative activities introduce younger visitors to cinema, storytelling and mountain culture.

Culinary workshops: Food-related activities connect local gastronomy with the festival’s wider cultural programme.

Excursions and experiential walks: Guided walks allow visitors to explore the Lessinia landscape and cultural heritage.

Exhibitions: Photography, visual art, historical and cinema-related exhibitions can be incorporated into the programme.

Concerts and performances: The Festival Square regularly becomes a venue for live music and cultural performances.

FFDLpro: The industry section provides professional activities connecting filmmakers with film commissions and audiovisual professionals.

Featured films & premieres

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced. The festival’s selection policy allows films of different genres and durations to compete or appear outside competition, providing a varied international programme.

Recent programming has included:

• International feature films
• Short fiction films
• Documentaries
• Animation
• Experimental films
• Hybrid works
• Mountain documentaries
• Environmental films
• Italian productions
• Children’s films
• Retrospective titles
• Special-event films

The latest published programme included approximately 80 films from more than 40 countries. The preceding edition presented 86 films from 36 countries, including eight world premieres and 18 Italian premieres.

Recent selections have included works such as “Andariega,” “Nous sommes les fruits de la forêt,” “Frost uten snø og is,” “Radeji zešílet v divočině,” “Per Silenzio e Vento” and “Quello che resta.” These titles illustrate the festival’s interest in mountain life, environmental subjects, human relationships with landscapes and stories from different regions of the world.

Confirmed 2027 premieres should be added once the official programme is released.

Directors, actors & guests

The 2027 guest list has not yet been announced. The festival traditionally welcomes directors, actors, writers, artists and other cultural figures for conversations, masterclasses and film presentations.

Recent editions have featured guests such as Moni Ovadia and Marco Paolini, alongside numerous directors, actors, authors and writers connected with the programme. The festival’s artistic director Alessandro Anderloni has been involved with the organisation since its first edition and has served as artistic director since 1997.

Guest activities can include:

• Director meetings
• Actor conversations
• Masterclasses
• Public interviews
• Film introductions
• Literary discussions
• Roundtables
• Cultural debates
• Professional meetings
• Special screenings

The final 2027 guest list will depend on the confirmed film selection and festival programme.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2027 screening schedule has not yet been published. The festival normally distributes cinema activities throughout the day, with the Teatro Vittoria serving as the principal screening location.

Visitors can expect a mixture of:

• Competition screening blocks
• FFDL+ children’s screenings
• Italian mountain films
• Environmental cinema
• Feature-length productions
• Short-film programmes
• Documentary screenings
• Animation
• Retrospective films
• Special screenings
• Premiere presentations
• Director discussions

The festival’s recent programme has combined cinema with cultural meetings and other events, allowing visitors to move between film screenings, exhibitions, talks, excursions and concerts during the same festival period.

Ticket types & accreditation

Standard cinema ticket: $7 based on the latest published ticket price of $6 plus the applicable $1 online presale fee, converted from the previous-edition price.

Reduced FFDL+ ticket: $5 for children’s FFDL+ screenings based on the latest published price of $4 plus the $1 online presale fee.

Online booking: The latest ticket conditions state that the $1 presale fee applies to Teatro Vittoria screenings purchased online, while laboratories and excursions purchased through the online portal do not carry a presale fee.

Cultural events: Many talks, exhibitions, concerts and public activities are offered as part of the wider festival programme without a cinema admission charge, although individual activities can have their own booking conditions.

The 2027 ticket prices have not yet been announced. The figures above are therefore previous-edition reference prices rather than confirmed 2027 prices.

Industry & professional access

FFDLpro is the festival’s industry section, launched as part of the festival’s 30th-anniversary development and created in collaboration with the five film commissions of the Triveneto region. The initiative provides a professional dimension to the festival alongside its public cinema programme.

Professional activities can include:

• Meetings with filmmakers
• Film commission presentations
• Industry discussions
• Networking opportunities
• Audiovisual production meetings
• Professional panels
• Discussions around mountain locations
• Projects involving emerging filmmakers
• Connections between independent cinema and regional audiovisual organisations

The festival also operates H.A.D.A.MO., the Hub and Multimedia Digital Archive of the Mountain, designed to preserve and develop audiovisual material related to mountain territories.

Red carpet & special events

Film Festival della Lessinia combines its cinema programme with ceremonies, guest appearances, special screenings and cultural events throughout Bosco Chiesanuova.

Special events can include:

• Opening and closing ceremonies
• Film premieres
• Director presentations
• Actor appearances
• Guest conversations
• Special screenings
• Retrospectives
• Literary presentations
• Roundtables
• Concerts
• Theatre and performance
• Art exhibitions
• Guided excursions
• Food events

The Festival Square is particularly important for evening social activity, with a stage for concerts and special events alongside the food and hospitality areas.

Festival rules

Film eligibility: Films may be admitted in competition or outside competition without restrictions based on genre or duration, subject to selection by the festival committee.

Screening access: Visitors should follow the admission conditions associated with each screening and venue.

Tickets: Tickets purchased online for Teatro Vittoria screenings are subject to the applicable presale fee.

Programme changes: Screening times, venues and individual programme elements may be changed by the organisers for organisational or technical reasons.

Professional access: Industry and professional activities can require separate registration or accreditation.

Festival conduct: Visitors are expected to follow venue rules, staff instructions and any specific requirements announced for individual activities.

Sustainability: The festival operates according to an event sustainability management approach based on responsible resource management, inclusion and continuous improvement, with reference to ISO 20121:2012.

How to get there

Bosco Chiesanuova is located in the Lessini Mountains in the Province of Verona, making Verona the principal transport hub for visitors arriving from elsewhere in Italy or internationally.

By air: Verona Villafranca Airport is the most practical major airport for reaching Bosco Chiesanuova. From the airport, visitors can continue toward Verona and then travel by road into the Lessini Mountains.

By train: Visitors arriving by rail can travel to Verona Porta Nuova and continue toward Bosco Chiesanuova by road or regional bus connections.

By car: Driving is one of the most convenient ways to reach Bosco Chiesanuova because the town is in a mountainous area and festival activities can extend beyond the central venue.

The festival’s mountain setting means that visitors should allow additional travel time compared with travelling between locations within Verona itself.

Public transport & parking

Public transport connections from Verona provide an alternative to driving, although visitors should check current seasonal timetables before travelling because services into the Lessini Mountains are more limited than urban transport in Verona.

For visitors arriving by car, parking should be planned in advance, particularly for evening screenings and busy festival periods.

The main festival area is concentrated around the Teatro Vittoria and Piazza del Festival, allowing visitors who park farther from the centre to continue on foot.

The festival’s use of multiple central venues means that visitors can often walk between the principal cultural spaces once they arrive in Bosco Chiesanuova.

Accommodation areas

Bosco Chiesanuova: The most convenient base for visitors attending several festival events because the main cinema and cultural venues are located in the town centre.

Erbezzo: A nearby Lessinia mountain community offering another option for visitors who prefer a quieter rural setting.

Roverè Veronese: Suitable for travellers exploring the wider Lessini Mountains while remaining within reach of Bosco Chiesanuova.

Grezzana: A practical option closer to Verona for visitors combining the festival with time in the city.

Verona: Offers the widest choice of hotels, apartments and other accommodation, although visitors will need to travel into the mountains for festival events.

Visitors staying outside Bosco Chiesanuova should consider evening return journeys when choosing accommodation because some festival activities continue into the night.

Food & dining

Food is an important part of the Film Festival della Lessinia experience. The Festival Square hosts the Osteria del Festival, while the Trattoria del Festival provides traditional Lessinia dishes and other local specialities.

Osteria del Festival: The festival’s social meeting point offers coffee, drinks, wines, cold cuts, cheeses and other refreshments. Recent festival information highlights products including Monte Veronese DOP cheese and local Lessinia cured meats.

Trattoria del Festival: This festival restaurant focuses on traditional Lessinia and Veronese mountain cuisine and is operated through a social project involving hospitality professionals and people experiencing social difficulties.

Visitors can also explore restaurants, pizzerias, trattorias, cafés and local food businesses around Bosco Chiesanuova.

Accessibility

Accessibility is incorporated into the festival’s venue planning and sustainability approach.

The Festival Square is specifically described by the organisers as accessible to people with disabilities, while its covered structures also allow public activities to continue during poor weather.

Because the festival also uses historic buildings, mountain locations, outdoor spaces and excursion routes, accessibility can differ from one activity to another.

Visitors requiring accessible seating, step-free access or assistance should contact the festival before attending and confirm the conditions of the specific venue or excursion.

The festival’s broader sustainability policy emphasises inclusion and responsible management of the event.

Best screenings to attend

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced, so individual titles cannot be confirmed. Visitors can nevertheless prioritise several programme categories.

International competition: A good choice for discovering new filmmakers and contemporary stories from different mountain regions and cultures.

Montagne Italiane: Recommended for visitors interested specifically in Italian mountain communities, landscapes, traditions and contemporary rural life.

FFDLgreen: Particularly relevant for audiences interested in environmental issues and the relationship between people and nature.

FFDL+: Designed for younger audiences and families, with films selected for children and related activities.

Special events: These can provide opportunities to see important films alongside directors, actors or other invited guests.

Retrospectives: Useful for visitors interested in established filmmakers and films that have contributed to the festival’s broader exploration of mountain cinema.

Premieres: New films presented for the first time can offer a chance to discover international productions before wider festival or cinema circulation.

Previous year’s highlights

The latest published festival programme presented approximately 80 films from more than 40 countries alongside more than 100 cultural events. The programme included competition films, FFDL+, FFDLgreen, Italian mountain cinema, special events and retrospective material.

The previous edition also featured an extensive cultural programme including literary presentations, workshops, excursions, exhibitions, concerts, performances and food experiences.

The festival’s latest selection includes international productions such as “Andariega” by Raùl Soto Rodríguez, “Nous sommes les fruits de la forêt” by Rithy Panh, “Frost uten snø og is” by Asgeir Helgestad, “Radeji zešílet v divočině” by Miro Remo and “Shulka” by Raquel Maria Soaje and Maria Cecilia Casanova.

The programme also included environmental works such as “Anguane, le voci dell’acqua,” “Per Silenzio e Vento” and “Pestiferus Lupus,” while the FFDL+ section provided a broad selection for younger audiences.

The festival’s wider cultural programme continued the tradition of combining cinema with mountain culture, literature, food, music and outdoor activities. The Festival Square served as the main meeting place, with the Auditorium Parole Alte hosting conversations and literary activities.

Official tickets & accreditation

Cinema tickets: The latest published ticket information lists standard Teatro Vittoria admission at $7 including the online presale fee, while reduced FFDL+ admission for children up to 14 is $5 including the online presale fee. These are previous-edition reference prices and are not confirmed 2027 prices.

Online booking: The official ticketing platform handles online reservations for Teatro Vittoria screenings and states that the presale fee applies to those cinema tickets.

Industry access: Professional visitors should monitor the official FFDLpro information for accreditation and participation requirements.

Film submissions: Filmmakers should use the official festival entry system and regulations when the relevant 2027 call opens.

Official website: https://ffdl.it/

Ticket information: Official FFDL ticket information

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