Archivio Aperto Festival 2026, Bologna, Italy

• 22 octobre 2026
  Date de l'événement :
• octobre 26, 2026
  Fin de l'événement :

À quoi s’attendre en 2026

Archivio Aperto Festival returns to Bologna from 22–26 October 2026 for its 19th edition, presented under the title Upside Down / Sottosopra. The festival is organized by Fondazione Home Movies – Archivio Nazionale del Film di Famiglia and is dedicated to rediscovering private, family, amateur, experimental and artist-made moving-image archives and bringing them into dialogue with contemporary culture and public history.

The 2026 edition continues the festival’s focus on archival cinema while expanding the relationship between historical images, memory, artistic research and new forms of storytelling. The theme “Upside Down” considers how archives can be revisited from unexpected perspectives, using forgotten images and personal memories to question established ways of looking at history and contemporary life.

Archivio Aperto was founded in Bologna in 2008 and has developed into a multidisciplinary festival combining film screenings with talks, workshops, installations, live soundtracks and research activities. Since 2022, its programme has included a competitive section dedicated to documentary and experimental works using archival materials and family memories.

The 2026 festival features two film competitions:

• Compétition internationale
• Open Frame Competition

The International Competition accepts works of any genre and length, including found footage, documentary, experimental film, video essays, fiction hybrids and animation, provided that they engage with memory and archives. Open Frame is intended for shorter works of up to 30 minutes produced in academic, university, workshop or residency contexts.

One of the first announced programme highlights is Experimental Stories: Stan Brakhage, a retrospective devoted to the influential experimental filmmaker. The programme includes 10 films made between 1959 and 2001, all presented on 16mm film.

The festival will also host the first Archive Care Autumn School, running from 22–27 October alongside Archivio Aperto. It is designed for researchers, curators and early-career professionals interested in the preservation, reuse and public presentation of small-format audiovisual archives.

Dates des festivals

Archivio Aperto Festival 2026 will take place from 22–26 October 2026 in Bologna, Italy. The event is the 19th edition of the festival.

The main festival therefore runs for five days. The associated Archive Care Autumn School extends beyond the festival dates, running from 22–27 October 2026, with its own educational programme and professional activities.

The 2026 edition is titled Upside Down / Sottosopra and is dedicated to people who have searched, and continue to search, for new possible worlds. The theme connects the festival’s archival work with ideas of alternative histories, personal memory and unexpected ways of reading images from the past.

Vous visitez cet événement ? Ne manquez pas ces activités et expériences locales étonnantes pendant votre séjour.

Lieux et lieux de festival

Archivio Aperto takes place across several cultural and cinematic venues in Bologna. The festival’s home and organizational base is Fondazione Home Movies – Archivio Nazionale del Film di Famiglia, located at Via Sant’Isaia 18, 40123 Bologna.

The festival has historically used several venues around central Bologna, including spaces associated with Cineteca di Bologna and the Sant’Isaia area. Previous editions have included the Ex Chiesa di San Mattia, Sala Berti at the former Convento di San Mattia, Cinema Lumière, Sala Cervi, Cinema Modernissimo, Teatro San Leonardo and other cultural locations.

The official 2026 programme will determine the precise location of individual screenings and events. Visitors should therefore check the final festival calendar before travelling to a particular screening.

The Sant’Isaia area remains an important point of reference for the festival. In previous editions, the Festival Center at Via Sant’Isaia 20 served as an information and accreditation point, while the Ex Chiesa di San Mattia at Via Sant’Isaia 14 hosted screenings, meetings and film programmes.

Programme complet

The 2026 programme combines competitive cinema, experimental film, archival research, professional activities and educational events.

The principal programme strands include:

• Compétition internationale
• Open Frame Competition
• Experimental Stories
• Archival and family-film programmes
• Talks and research presentations
• Workshops and masterclasses
• Installations and exhibitions
• Live film soundtracks and performances
• Professional meetings
• Archive Care Autumn School
• Young Jury activities
• Événements spéciaux

The International Competition is open to documentary, found-footage, experimental, video-essay, animation and hybrid works of any duration. The films must place memory and the archive at the centre of their approach, including through reused images and connections between private stories and public history.

Le Open Frame Competition focuses on works of 30 minutes or less created in academic, university, workshop or residency environments. It provides a dedicated space for emerging filmmakers and artists working with archival and experimental forms.

The 2026 edition also introduces Archive Care Autumn School, a six-day educational programme combining more than 20 hours of masterclasses, lectures, case studies, guided visits and discussions with professionals from the archive, museum, research, cinema and contemporary-art sectors.

Films en vedette & premières

The complete 2026 competition selection and full film schedule should be checked through the official festival programme as titles are announced.

One confirmed highlight is the Stan Brakhage retrospective within the Experimental Stories section. It consists of 10 films spanning 1959–2001 and is presented entirely on 16mm film, with the programme curated by Cecilia Ermini in collaboration with Light Cone.

Brakhage’s work is particularly relevant to Archivio Aperto because the festival has a long-standing interest in experimental cinema and the artistic reuse of moving images. Previous editions have featured filmmakers including Maya Deren, Jonas Mekas, Péter Forgács, Gustav Deutsch, Boris Lehman and Rose Lowder.

The 2026 International Competition will introduce contemporary works engaging with archival material, memory, family history and private images. Selected films can range from documentary and found footage to experimental cinema, video essays and hybrid forms.

Open Frame will provide another opportunity to discover shorter works produced within educational and artist-development contexts. The competition is specifically limited to films of 30 minutes or less.

Réalisateurs, acteurs et invités

Archivio Aperto is more strongly oriented toward filmmakers, artists, researchers, archivists and curators than a conventional commercial film festival focused on actors and celebrity appearances.

The artistic direction of the festival has been entrusted to Sergio Fant and Giulia Simi since 2023.

The festival’s 2026 educational programme also identifies a number of teachers and professionals involved in Archive Care Autumn School, including Laura Brambilla, Cecilia Ermini, Sergio Fant, André Habib, Anna Masecchia, Elena Pirazzoli, Alberta Romano, Mirco Santi, Giulia Simi, Paolo Simoni and Irene Tedeschi.

Additional national and international guests connected with the festival programme are expected to be announced alongside the full programme. The organizers state that participants in Archive Care will have opportunities to meet curators, researchers, artists and professionals from different disciplines.

Calendrier des projections

The complete daily screening timetable for 22–26 October 2026 should be consulted on the official festival calendar when published.

Archivio Aperto traditionally combines daytime screenings with afternoon discussions, evening film programmes, special presentations and events. Its previous schedules have included film screenings, Italian premieres, filmmaker Q&As, research panels, film-performances and special closing programmes.

For 2026, the schedule is expected to include the International Competition and Open Frame alongside the announced Stan Brakhage retrospective and additional archival and experimental programmes.

Visitors interested in 16mm screenings should pay particular attention to the Experimental Stories schedule, as the Brakhage retrospective is specifically planned to be shown on film rather than as digital presentations.

Types de billets et accréditations

The 2026 public accreditation prices have not yet been published on the official festival information available at the time of writing. As a reference, the 2025 general accreditation cost $40.19, the reduced accreditation cost $34.46, and the student accreditation cost $22.97, converted using the ECB reference rate of €1 = $1.1481 on 17 September 2026.

The 2025 accreditation provided access to competition screenings and priority booking for selected experimental and archival programmes. Accredited visitors also received priority access to certain professional meetings and reduced admission to selected special events.

The 2026 system may differ, so visitors should check the official accreditation announcement before purchasing or registering.

The Archive Care Autumn School has separate participation fees. The ordinary 2026 fee is $287.03, while the early-bird fee was $229.62. These amounts are conversions of the official €250 and €200 fees using the 17 September 2026 ECB reference rate.

Industrie et accès professionnel

Archivio Aperto has a substantial professional and research dimension focused on archives, documentary cinema, experimental film and the contemporary reuse of historical images.

The new Archive Care Autumn School is particularly relevant to professionals. It provides more than 20 hours of masterclasses, lectures, case studies and guided visits, together with access to the wider festival programme. Participants can also request one-to-one meetings with teachers and take part in networking meals with curators and guests.

The School is aimed at researchers, curators, cultural professionals, early-career practitioners and people changing professional direction who want to develop skills relating to audiovisual archives and their public presentation.

The 2026 School is limited to a maximum of 15 participants. Applications are assessed according to applicants’ profiles, motivations and educational or professional background.

Tapis rouge & événements spéciaux

Archivio Aperto is not primarily structured around a traditional celebrity red-carpet format. Its special events instead focus on experimental cinema, archive research, live performances, installations, filmmaker encounters and discussions.

The festival’s 2026 Stan Brakhage programme is one of the principal special presentations announced so far. The retrospective includes 10 works made across four decades and will be shown in 16mm.

The Archive Care Autumn School also forms part of the festival’s expanded professional programme, with masterclasses, guided visits, case studies and networking opportunities.

The festival’s previous editions have also included live film soundtracks, exhibitions and public presentations. Its multidisciplinary structure means that visitors can combine cinema screenings with installations, talks and cultural events during the festival period.

Règles du festival

Film submissions and competition participation are governed by the official 2026 regulations. The International Competition accepts works of any genre and duration that engage with memory and archival material, while Open Frame is restricted to works of 30 minutes or less created in academic, university, workshop or residency contexts.

For submitted films that are not world premieres, the 2026 regulations require their first screening to have taken place after 1 January 2025. The submission deadline was 31 July 2026.

The competition regulations also establish separate juries for the International Competition and Open Frame Competition. The International Competition jury consists of three representatives from international cinema, art and academic fields.

Audience members should follow the rules of each screening venue regarding entry, seating, photography, recording and late admission. Specific rules may differ between cinema, museum, cultural and performance locations.

Comment y arriver

Bologna is one of northern Italy’s major transport hubs and is well connected by high-speed rail, regional trains, buses and air services.

Bologna Centrale railway station is the main arrival point for visitors travelling by train. From the station, central festival areas can be reached by public transport, bicycle or on foot depending on the specific venue.

Visitors arriving by air can use Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, which is connected to the city by public transportation. The airport is relatively close to central Bologna, making it practical for visitors arriving from other Italian and European cities.

The festival’s official location information encourages visitors to travel sustainably and states that festival venues are easily reachable on foot or by bicycle. The organization also works with RideMovi to provide bicycle-sharing options at key festival points.

Transports en commun et stationnement

Public transport is a practical way to move between Archivio Aperto venues. Many festival locations are within central Bologna and can be connected by city buses or reached on foot.

The festival has previously encouraged audiences to leave cars at home and use walking, bicycles or public transportation. RideMovi bicycle stations have been available near the festival area, including locations around Via Sant’Isaia and Piazza Malpighi.

Visitors arriving by car should check Bologna’s current traffic restrictions and parking arrangements before travelling. Central Bologna includes restricted traffic areas, and parking availability varies according to location.

Because the festival uses multiple venues, visitors should check the address of each screening rather than assuming every event takes place at the Festival Center.

Zones d’hébergement

The historic centre of Bologna is a convenient area for visitors attending Archivio Aperto because many cultural venues, restaurants and transport connections are concentrated there.

The Sant’Isaia area is particularly useful for festival visitors because Fondazione Home Movies and several past Archivio Aperto venues are located nearby. Staying around Via Sant’Isaia, Piazza Malpighi or the western side of the historic centre can reduce travel time between events.

Accommodation around Bologna Centrale is another practical option, especially for visitors arriving by train or planning day trips outside Bologna.

Visitors staying for the Archive Care Autumn School should consider accommodation close to the festival and Foundation Home Movies locations because the School runs from 22–27 October and includes intensive daily activities.

Limited accommodation was also offered as part of the Archive Care Autumn School. The official programme lists a five-night shared-room option at $229.62 per person, converted from the stated €200 fee.

Restauration et restauration

Bologna is widely known for its culinary culture, giving festival visitors many opportunities to combine film events with local dining.

The historic centre contains restaurants, trattorias, cafés, bakeries and food markets within walking distance of many festival locations. Visitors attending afternoon and evening screenings can therefore plan meals without travelling far from the central programme.

Traditional Bolognese dishes include tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini, mortadella and other regional pasta preparations. The city also has a broad contemporary restaurant scene and many informal options for quick meals between screenings.

For visitors following the festival throughout the day, cafés and casual restaurants around the university district and historic centre can be convenient for breaks between programmes.

Those attending Archive Care Autumn School should note that the School’s participation package includes six networking meals with curators and guests, according to the official 2026 information.

Accessibilité

Accessibility can vary between the different cinemas, historic buildings, cultural spaces and temporary festival locations used by Archivio Aperto.

Visitors with mobility or other accessibility requirements should check the accessibility arrangements for the specific venue before attending. This is particularly important for historic locations where architectural access can differ from modern cinema facilities.

The festival’s central locations are generally connected by public transport and pedestrian routes, while its official location information emphasizes walking and cycling between venues.

For assistance or specific accessibility questions, visitors can contact Archivio Aperto directly before the festival using the official contact information.

Meilleures projections à laquelle assister

The International Competition is a central choice for visitors who want to discover contemporary documentary, found-footage and experimental works using archival material. The competition accepts a wide range of formats and approaches to memory and historical storytelling.

The Experimental Stories: Stan Brakhage programme is particularly relevant for audiences interested in avant-garde cinema. The 2026 retrospective contains 10 films spanning 1959–2001 and is presented entirely on 16mm.

Open Frame is another useful section for visitors interested in emerging filmmakers and shorter works. Its films are limited to 30 minutes and are produced within academic, university, workshop or residency contexts.

Visitors interested in professional development should also look at Archive Care Autumn School activities. The programme connects archival research with curatorial practice, contemporary art, cinema and public presentation of historical material.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The 2025 edition, titled Time of Liberations, was the 18th edition of Archivio Aperto and took place from 26–30 September 2025 in Bologna.

Its international competition featured 10 feature films and 11 short films exploring different forms of liberation across past, present and future.

The 2025 programme included Italian premieres, Q&A sessions, experimental cinema, research meetings and special events. Venues included Cinema Lumière, Sala Cervi, Ex Chiesa di San Mattia, Cinema Modernissimo and Teatro San Leonardo.

The programme also featured experimental and archival research strands, including Storie Sperimentali – Kenneth Anger, La Natura dell’archivio – The Cinema of Rose Lowder, and Open Frame – Student Film Program.

The 2025 edition therefore continued the festival’s characteristic combination of documentary cinema, experimental moving images, archival research, public discussions and live cultural events.

Billets officiels et accréditation

Official 2026 public accreditation details should be checked through the Archivio Aperto website when released. The festival had not published the 2026 general accreditation prices in the currently available information.

For reference, the 2025 accreditation was $40.19 for the standard pass, $34.46 for the reduced category and $22.97 for students, based on the 17 September 2026 ECB reference rate. A supporter accreditation in 2025 was $57.41 and included the same access plus a festival tote bag.

The 2026 Archive Care Autumn School costs $287.03 at the standard rate and $229.62 for the early-bird rate. The School includes the festival accreditation, more than 20 hours of training, networking meals, one-to-one meeting opportunities and a participation certificate.

The official festival website is the appropriate source for 2026 ticketing, accreditation, programme updates and venue information.

Site officiel : https://www.archivioaperto.it/

Téléphone : +39 051 339 7243

Courriel : info@archivioaperto.it

Dates des festivals : 22–26 October 2026

Localisation

FAQ