International Imago Film Festival 2027, Teramo, Italy

What to expect in 2027

International Imago Film Festival 2027 will return to Teramo for another edition dedicated to independent and international cinema. Organised by IMAGO, the festival was created to promote cinema, experimentation and new forms of cinematic language while connecting filmmakers, professionals and audiences.

The 2027 edition is planned for July and August 2027, with the exact dates still to be announced. The established format combines feature-film competitions with special screenings, live performances, concerts, guest appearances and an awards ceremony.

The festival has developed into an international event with submissions from filmmakers around the world. The organisers report that more than 2,700 works were submitted for the latest edition and that the festival has received films from 125 countries across its editions.

Festival dates

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

The festival traditionally runs as a multi-day cinema and cultural event, with screenings scheduled alongside concerts, live entertainment, filmmaker meetings and special guest evenings.

The final daily programme and screening timetable will be published by the organisers once the 2027 selection is complete.

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

Venues & festival locations

Piazza Martiri della Libertà

Piazza Martiri della Libertà in central Teramo is the festival’s principal outdoor location. Recent editions have used the square for evening film screenings, concerts, guest appearances and the final awards ceremony.

Sala L’Arca

Sala L’Arca has been used for indoor screenings during the festival. Recent programmes scheduled additional feature-film presentations at the venue, creating a second screening environment alongside the large outdoor programme.

Teramo city centre

The festival’s central Teramo location makes it possible for visitors to combine cinema with the city’s historic centre, restaurants, cafés and cultural attractions.

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

Full programme

The 2027 programme is expected to maintain the festival’s established combination of competitive cinema and public cultural events.

• Italian fiction feature-film competition
• International fiction feature-film competition
• Out-of-competition feature films
• Short films
• Documentaries
• Monthly cinematic work awards
• Special screenings
• Filmmaker presentations
• Guest appearances
• Live performances
• Concerts
• Cultural meetings
• Environmental cinema
• Socially focused special awards
• Red-carpet evenings
• Final awards ceremony

The official regulations specify separate competitions for Italian and international fiction feature films, while short films and documentaries may also be submitted outside the main competition and considered for the monthly award.

Featured films & premieres

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced.

The principal competition is dedicated to fiction feature films, with Italian and international works evaluated separately. Eligible feature films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes under the latest published regulations.

Recent programming has included films presented with their directors and cast members. The latest programme featured works such as L’ultima settimana di Settembre, Per il mio bene, Giriamo un film a modo mio, L’ultima sfida, Mister Green and Il diritto alla felicità.

Premiere status for the 2027 films will depend on the final selection and distribution arrangements. The festival will publish the selected titles and programme information closer to the event.

Directors, actors & guests

Guest appearances are a significant part of the International Imago Film Festival experience. The programme regularly combines film screenings with meetings involving actors, directors and other figures from Italian and international cinema.

The latest programme included guests such as Paola Minaccioni, Marisa Laurito, Manuela Arcuri, Paolo Conticini, Remo Girone and Pietro Masotti.

The festival’s artistic direction is led by Claudio Rossi Massimi, an author, screenwriter and director with extensive experience in cinema, television and documentary production.

The complete 2027 guest and jury list has not yet been announced.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2027 screening schedule has not yet been released.

Recent editions have used a combination of afternoon indoor screenings and evening outdoor screenings in Piazza Martiri della Libertà. A typical programme can include an afternoon feature screening followed by a guest appearance and a major film presentation in the evening.

The final timetable is expected to identify the film title, director, cast, screening location and any accompanying guest presentation.

Visitors attending several events should check the daily programme carefully because screenings and special events can take place at different locations.

Ticket types & accreditation

The latest festival information states that all festival activities are free of charge. This includes cinema screenings, live performances and concerts.

Public admission

Previous-edition reference: $0 for festival activities.

Film submissions

Registration of films for the official selection is free under the latest published regulations.

Professional accreditation

Specific 2027 accreditation arrangements have not yet been announced. Filmmakers and industry participants should follow the official festival instructions when the new programme is published.

Industry & professional access

International Imago Film Festival provides opportunities for filmmakers and cinema professionals to present their work to an international audience and participate in meetings surrounding the selected films.

The festival is organised by IMAGO, an established film and communication organisation with more than two decades of experience in cinema, television and audiovisual production. IMAGO has produced documentaries, short films and feature films and has worked with Italian cultural and media institutions.

The competition jury consists of qualified professionals from different areas of the cultural and audiovisual sector. Awards cover directing, screenplay, acting, cinematography, original music and other filmmaking disciplines.

Red carpet & special events

The festival’s evening programme provides a strong public setting for guest appearances, film presentations and cultural entertainment.

Recent editions have included named guest evenings before the main feature screening, followed by presentations involving directors and actors. The programme also included a dedicated evening for the special Il diritto alla felicità award.

Concerts and live performances are integrated into the festival programme. A recent edition opened with a We All Love Ennio Morricone concert before an outdoor film screening.

The 2027 red-carpet guests, concerts and special events will be announced with the official programme.

Festival rules

The 2027 regulations have not yet been published. The latest regulations provide the clearest reference for the festival’s established submission requirements.

Feature films

Italian and international fiction feature films can enter the official competition. The latest rules require a minimum running time of 60 minutes and production from the specified eligibility period.

Out-of-competition works

Short films and documentaries can be submitted outside the main feature-film competitions and may also be considered for the monthly cinematic work award.

Submission materials

Initial selection requires a streaming link with password. Finalists are required to provide high-quality film photographs, a trailer and poster.

Screening requirements

Foreign films are presented in their original language with Italian and English subtitles. Films in languages other than English require an English-subtitled copy to be supplied to the festival.

How to get there

Teramo is located in Abruzzo in central Italy and is connected with larger cities in the region by road and public transport.

By car

Teramo can be reached from the A24 motorway, providing road connections toward Rome, L’Aquila and the Adriatic coast. Driving is convenient for visitors combining the festival with travel around Abruzzo.

From Rome

Visitors arriving from Rome can travel east via the A24 motorway toward Teramo. The journey crosses the Apennines before reaching the city.

From Pescara

Pescara is one of the closest major transport hubs on the Adriatic side. Visitors can continue toward Teramo by regional road or public transport.

The main festival location in Piazza Martiri della Libertà is centrally situated within Teramo.

Public transport & parking

Teramo is served by regional bus services connecting it with Pescara, L’Aquila and other towns in Abruzzo.

Visitors arriving by train should check current rail and onward bus connections because Teramo’s principal public transport connections involve a combination of regional rail and bus services.

Parking

Visitors travelling by car should use designated public parking areas around the city centre and follow local traffic restrictions. Piazza Martiri della Libertà is in the central urban area, so parking directly beside outdoor festival activities may be restricted.

During major evening events, visitors should allow additional time to park and walk to the festival venue.

Accommodation areas

Teramo provides hotels, guesthouses, apartments and smaller accommodation options suitable for festival visitors.

Teramo city centre

Staying in central Teramo provides the easiest access to Piazza Martiri della Libertà, restaurants, cafés and other festival activities.

Near the railway and bus connections

Accommodation closer to public transport connections can be convenient for visitors arriving without a car.

Teramo countryside

Visitors travelling by car can consider agriturismi and rural accommodation around the city, particularly if they want to explore the Abruzzo countryside during their festival visit.

Adriatic coast

Travellers combining the festival with a coastal holiday can stay toward the Teramo coast and travel inland for the evening programme.

Food & dining

Teramo has a strong local food culture and provides restaurants, cafés, bakeries and traditional Abruzzo establishments around the city centre.

Visitors can explore regional specialities such as handmade pasta, local cheeses, cured meats, meat dishes and traditional desserts.

The central location of the festival makes it convenient to combine screenings with dinner or refreshments in nearby restaurants and cafés.

For evening outdoor screenings, visitors may wish to eat before the main programme begins or use nearby establishments after the event.

Accessibility

The festival takes place primarily in central Teramo, with its main outdoor events held in Piazza Martiri della Libertà and indoor screenings at venues such as Sala L’Arca.

Accessibility can vary depending on the individual venue, seating arrangement and temporary outdoor installations.

Visitors requiring specific accessibility assistance should contact the festival organisers before attending so that current information about venue access and available facilities can be confirmed.

The festival’s current website provides official contact channels for programme and organisational enquiries.

Best screenings to attend

Italian feature competition

The Italian competition provides an opportunity to discover contemporary Italian fiction films and the filmmakers, actors and creative teams behind them.

International feature competition

The international competition brings foreign fiction productions into the main festival programme and provides a broader view of contemporary independent cinema.

Special guest screenings

Guest evenings combine a film presentation with an appearance by an actor, director or other invited personality. Recent programmes have featured Paola Minaccioni, Marisa Laurito, Manuela Arcuri and Paolo Conticini.

Il diritto alla felicità programme

The special award and related events focus on personalities from art, entertainment and culture who have distinguished themselves through social engagement.

Closing awards ceremony

The closing event brings together the competition results, award recipients, filmmakers and festival guests in Piazza Martiri della Libertà.

Previous year’s highlights

The latest edition expanded the festival’s programme across eight days and combined cinema with live performances and concerts. The organisers reported more than 2,700 submissions and continued growth in public participation and online visibility.

The programme included afternoon screenings at Sala L’Arca and evening presentations in Piazza Martiri della Libertà. Recent films included Lykke Post Partum, They Call Me the Panzer, Pastoris, Sinél, Under My Skun, For Your Sake and La Estrella Que Perdí.

The evening programme also presented L’ultima settimana di Settembre with Diego Abatantuono and Biagio Venditti, Per il mio bene with a cast including Barbora Bobulova and Stefania Sandrelli, and L’ultima sfida featuring Gilles Rocca and Michela Quattrociocche.

The closing programme included the festival awards, while the jury’s prize structure recognised Italian and international films, directors, screenwriters, actors, actresses, cinematography and original music.

Official tickets & accreditation

International Imago Film Festival’s latest festival information states that all activities are free of charge, including film screenings, live shows and concerts. The previous-edition public admission reference is therefore $0.

Film registration for the official competition is also free under the latest published regulations. Selected films are screened without screening fees, meaning the festival does not pay a screening fee to selected works.

The 2027 accreditation arrangements for filmmakers, guests and professionals have not yet been published. Visitors should use the official festival website for the final programme and any registration instructions.

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