Sicilia Queer Filmfest 2027, Palermo, Italy

What to expect in 2027

Sicilia Queer Filmfest 2027 is expected to return to Palermo as an international film festival focused on new cinematic visions, independent filmmaking, queer cinema, emerging authors and experimental approaches to film language. The festival combines competitive screenings with retrospectives, thematic sections, conversations, literary events, performances and special presentations.

The festival is organized by the cultural association Sicilia Queer and has developed a strong connection with Palermo’s independent cultural and cinematic scene. Its programme traditionally brings together established filmmakers, emerging directors, critics, performers and audiences around films that explore identity, diversity, contemporary culture and unconventional forms of storytelling.

The 2027 programme is expected to continue the festival’s international focus while giving particular attention to new and independent voices. Recent editions have featured more than 80 films, alongside discussions, artistic projects, special guests and multidisciplinary events.

Festival dates

Sicilia Queer Filmfest 2027 is planned for May or June 2027 (Dates TBD). The exact 2027 festival schedule has not yet been officially announced.

The festival traditionally runs as a multi-day programme in Palermo, with screenings and cultural activities concentrated around the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa. Visitors should check the official festival programme once the 2027 edition is announced for confirmed screening dates and individual event times.

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Venues & festival locations

The principal festival hub is expected to remain Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, a major cultural complex in Palermo.

Cinema De Seta is the festival’s principal cinema venue and has hosted opening nights, competition screenings, special presentations, closing ceremonies and meetings with filmmakers.

Goethe-Institut / Sala Wenders has also been used for screenings and discussions, while the Institut français / Terrazze has hosted film-related meetings, literary activities and cultural presentations. Other spaces within Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, including Haus der Kunst and Cre.Zi. Plus, have been incorporated into festival programming in recent editions.

The main festival complex is located at:

Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa
Via Paolo Gili, 4
90138 Palermo, Italy

Additional events may take place at cultural institutions and partner venues elsewhere in Palermo, depending on the 2027 programme.

Full programme

The 2027 programme has not yet been published, but visitors can expect a combination of competitive and non-competitive cinema.

Typical programme areas include:

• International competition for new cinematic visions
• Feature films and medium-length works
• Short films
• Queer cinema and contemporary independent filmmaking
• Documentary, fiction, animation and experimental works
• Film retrospectives
• Regional, national and international premieres
• Screenings with directors and actors in attendance
• Cinema criticism and discussions
• Literary and cultural events
• Masterclasses and professional meetings
• Artistic performances and multidisciplinary projects
• Opening and closing events
• Special awards and tributes

The International New Visions Award has historically been dedicated to first and second works, new authors and films distinguished by innovative language and an original perspective. The competition has accepted fiction, documentary, animation, music videos and experimental works.

Recent editions have also included thematic sections such as Panorama Queer, Presenze, Eterotopie, Letterature Queer and Retrovie Italiane, although the exact section names and programme structure for 2027 remain to be confirmed.

Featured films & premieres

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced. The festival is expected to present a mixture of international discoveries, independent productions, new authors and films receiving their Palermo, Sicilian, Italian or other regional premieres.

Recent programmes have included international premieres and regional premieres alongside films selected for the main competition and thematic sections. The festival’s programming approach places particular emphasis on originality, experimentation and different cinematic perspectives rather than restricting the selection to conventional queer-themed storytelling.

Visitors can expect the 2027 programme to identify premiere status within individual film descriptions once the official catalogue is released.

Directors, actors & guests

The festival regularly invites filmmakers, actors, performers, writers, critics, researchers and other cultural figures to Palermo.

Recent editions have featured guests such as Bruce LaBruce, Francesca Comencini, Iaia Forte, Albert Serra, Nick Deocampo and other international and Italian artists. Some screenings are accompanied by filmmaker introductions or Q&A sessions, giving audiences an opportunity to discuss the films directly with their creators.

The 2027 guest list will be announced by the festival as invitations and programme partnerships are confirmed.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2027 screening timetable has not yet been released.

Based on recent editions, screenings are generally distributed throughout the day and evening, with different venues hosting parallel programme sections. Cinema De Seta normally serves as the central screening venue, while other cultural spaces accommodate selected screenings, talks, exhibitions and literary activities.

The programme may include:

• Afternoon feature and short-film screenings
• Competition presentations
• Thematic programmes
• Retrospectives and classic films
• Premiere screenings
• Director and actor Q&As
• Evening special events
• Opening and closing screenings
• Award presentations

Visitors should consult the official online programme before attending because films and events can be scheduled at different venues.

Ticket types & accreditation

2027 ticket prices have not yet been announced. For planning purposes, the most recent published festival pricing can be used as a guide.

The previous edition offered:

• Supporter membership: approximately $116
• Festival pass: approximately $70
• Festival pass with Queer Card reduction: approximately $52
• Student festival pass: approximately $29
• Daily admission: approximately $14
• Reduced daily admission with Queer Card: approximately $12
• Student daily admission: approximately $7
• Single screening: approximately $7
• Reduced single screening with Queer Card: approximately $6
• Student single screening: approximately $4

The festival also offered a discounted teacher subscription in the previous edition, with a limited number of subscriptions available at approximately $35.

These amounts are converted from the previous edition’s published euro prices and should be treated as reference pricing rather than confirmed 2027 prices.

Industry & professional access

Sicilia Queer Filmfest provides opportunities for filmmakers, producers, distributors, critics, programmers, researchers and other film professionals to meet around independent cinema.

Professional activity can include filmmaker Q&As, industry discussions, presentations, masterclasses, networking opportunities and meetings connected with emerging cinema.

The festival also accepts film submissions through FilmFreeway for its international competition. The previous regulations required eligible works to meet the festival’s artistic and technical conditions, with submission materials and screening copies supplied through the official submission process.

Professional accreditation and any dedicated 2027 industry arrangements should be confirmed once the new festival regulations are published.

Red carpet & special events

Sicilia Queer Filmfest combines film screenings with special cultural and social events.

Opening and closing nights are important parts of the festival programme, with recent editions featuring premieres, guest appearances, award ceremonies and closing celebrations. The festival has also organized special events connected with literature, visual art, performance and contemporary culture.

The Premio Nino Gennaro is another important festival tradition. The award recognizes an artist or intellectual for work connected with the international promotion of queer culture, the appreciation of difference and the defense of LGBT rights.

Special parties and live performances may also form part of the programme, depending on the 2027 edition.

Festival rules

The detailed 2027 regulations have not yet been published.

The most recent competition regulations indicate that the festival’s international competition is open to short films, medium-length films and feature films. The competition has welcomed fiction, documentary, animation, music videos and experimental works, while excluding advertising films and television title sequences.

Recent regulations have also focused on first and second works, new authors and films demonstrating innovative cinematic language and an original perspective. Films can engage with queer themes broadly, but participation is not limited only to films explicitly dealing with LGBT subjects.

Filmmakers should always consult the official 2027 call for entries before submitting because eligibility requirements, submission fees, deadlines, technical specifications and premiere conditions can change between editions.

How to get there

Sicilia Queer Filmfest takes place primarily in Palermo, Sicily, with the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa serving as the central festival location.

Palermo is served by Falcone Borsellino Airport, which has connections with numerous Italian and European cities. From the airport, visitors can reach central Palermo by train, bus, taxi or private transfer.

For visitors arriving by train, Palermo Centrale is the city’s principal railway station. From the central area, the festival complex can be reached by local bus, taxi or car.

If travelling by car, the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa area is accessible from Palermo’s main urban road network, although traffic and parking conditions should be considered during busy festival periods.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is generally the most practical option for visitors staying in central Palermo.

Local AMAT bus services connect the city centre with different neighbourhoods around the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa. Taxis and ride-hailing or private transfer services can also be considered for late-night screenings and special events.

Parking around the festival complex may be limited during busy periods. Visitors travelling by car should allow additional time to find a suitable public parking space and should follow local parking restrictions.

Because several festival activities can take place in different nearby venues, walking between locations may also be practical for visitors staying close to Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa.

Accommodation areas

The most convenient accommodation choices are generally in and around central Palermo.

Zisa and Politeama: These areas provide relatively convenient access to the main festival complex while offering restaurants, cafés and accommodation options.

Historic Centre: Staying around the historic centre provides access to Palermo’s major cultural attractions, restaurants and nightlife, with the festival venues reachable by public transport or taxi.

Via Libertà and Borgo Vecchio: These central areas offer a broad selection of hotels, guesthouses and apartments and can be convenient for visitors attending both festival events and sightseeing activities.

Kalsa: A good choice for visitors who want to combine the film festival with Palermo’s historic architecture, museums and evening dining scene.

Booking accommodation early is advisable because Palermo can become busy during major cultural and tourism periods.

Food & dining

Palermo offers a strong Sicilian food culture, making the festival a good opportunity to combine cinema with local dining.

Visitors can find traditional Palermo street food such as arancine, panelle, crocchè and sfincione, alongside Sicilian pasta, seafood, pastries and gelato.

Around the city centre and historic districts, restaurants range from casual trattorias and markets to contemporary Sicilian restaurants. Visitors staying near the festival venues can also find cafés and food spaces suitable for a quick meal between screenings.

Recent festival editions have included food and refreshment spaces connected with the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, including Cre.Zi. Plus and other partner locations.

Accessibility

The festival has demonstrated a continuing interest in inclusive cinema and accessibility. Recent programmes have included films presented with inclusive Italian subtitles through collaborations involving MatchBox Cine and SudTitles, with the stated aim of supporting a more accessible cinema experience for deaf audiences.

Accessibility can vary between individual venues because the festival uses several cultural spaces. Visitors with specific mobility, hearing or visual-access requirements should contact the organizers before attending so that the most appropriate venue and access arrangements can be confirmed.

Best screenings to attend

For first-time visitors, several types of events can provide a broad introduction to Sicilia Queer Filmfest.

International competition: The New Visions competition is central to the festival’s focus on emerging filmmakers and innovative cinematic approaches.

Premiere screenings: Films receiving regional, national or international premieres can offer opportunities to discover new work before wider theatrical or festival circulation.

Director and actor Q&As: Screenings accompanied by filmmakers or performers provide additional context and opportunities for audience discussion.

Retrospectives: Historical and contemporary retrospectives provide a deeper understanding of filmmakers, movements and queer cinema.

Special awards: Events connected with the Premio Nino Gennaro combine cinema with the festival’s wider cultural mission.

Closing programme: The final programme traditionally brings together award presentations, selected films, special guests and a closing celebration.

Previous year’s highlights

The most recent edition featured more than 80 films and expanded the festival’s multidisciplinary programme with cinema, literature, visual art, discussions and special events. The programme included the International New Visions competition, thematic screenings and the Under Queer project supporting emerging Italian queer filmmakers.

Among the notable guests and projects were director Claire Simon, filmmaker and artist Bruce LaBruce, actress and performer Louise Weard, and filmmaker Nick Deocampo, whose Philippine cinema programme formed part of the Eterotopie section.

The festival also presented special projects involving literature and performance, including readings, conversations and artistic collaborations. The Premio Nino Gennaro was awarded to Bruce LaBruce in the most recent edition, accompanied by screenings of his work.

The closing programme combined the awards ceremony with a final selection of films and a closing party, continuing the festival’s tradition of linking cinema with live cultural events.

Official tickets & accreditation

Official 2027 ticketing and accreditation information has not yet been released.

In the previous edition, tickets were sold online through LiveTicket, with options including individual screenings, daily admission, festival passes, student access and supporter memberships. The festival also offered special access arrangements for teachers.

Filmmakers wishing to submit work should monitor the official Sicilia Queer Filmfest call for entries and FilmFreeway submission page. The competition regulations provide the official requirements for eligible films, submission materials and screening copies.

For general visitor information, the official festival contact is:

Phone: +39 328 4219198
Email: info@siciliaqueerfilmfest.it

The festival’s registered office is Via Tunisi, 6, 90138 Palermo, Italy, while its operational office is located at Via Catania, 73, 90141 Palermo.

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