La Guarimba International Film Festival 2027, Amantea, Italy

• août 7, 2027
  Date de l'événement :
• 12 août 2027
  Fin de l'événement :

À quoi s’attendre en 2027

La Guarimba International Film Festival returns to Amantea, Calabria, from August 7 to August 12, 2027, for its 15th edition. The festival describes itself as a cinema and cultural organization dedicated to bringing cinema back to the people and people back to cinema, combining short films with illustration, workshops, music, community activities and international cultural exchange.

The 2027 edition will focus on short films from around the world, with competitions covering Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Music Videos, Experimental, Dance Films and La Grotta dei Piccoli, the children’s animation programme created in partnership with UNICEF Italia. Films can come from any country and can be made in any language.

The festival is also expected to transform Amantea into a temporary international meeting place for filmmakers, artists, illustrators, musicians, photographers, journalists and audiences. Recent editions have combined outdoor cinema, exhibitions, workshops, concerts, beach activities and cultural events across the town.

Dates des festivals

La Guarimba International Film Festival 2027 takes place from August 7 to August 12, 2027, in Amantea, Calabria. The official 2027 call confirms that this will be the 15th edition of the festival.

The six-day programme is expected to include competition screenings, children’s animation, workshops, artistic activities, special programmes, guest events and the closing awards ceremony.

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

Lieux et lieux de festival

La Guarimba uses several locations around Amantea rather than operating from a single conventional cinema venue. The main festival experience in recent editions has centered on Il Terrenito, the association’s open-air cultural space on Via Mazzini 32.

Other recent festival locations have included:

• Il Terrenito, Via Mazzini 32 – Open-air cultural space used for major evening screenings, concerts, workshops and community events.
• Cinema Teatro Sicoli, Via Elisabetta Noto 38 – Indoor cinema venue used for selected programmes, including the late-night experimental Insomnia section.
• La Piccola Biblioteca di Amantea, Via Mazzini 26 – Community library and cultural space used for La Grotta dei Piccoli and children’s activities.
• Lido Azzurro – Beach location used during the 2026 edition for festival activities.
• Historic centre and seafront – Parts of Amantea are incorporated into the wider festival atmosphere through artistic activities, exhibitions and outdoor events.

The final 2027 venue allocation and individual screening locations will be published with the official programme.

Programme complet

The 2027 programme is built around international short-film competition and a wider cultural programme.

The confirmed competition categories are:

• Fiction – International narrative short films.
• Animation – Animated short films using different techniques and styles.
• Documentary – Short documentaries from filmmakers around the world.
• Music Videos – Creative audiovisual works produced for music.
• INSOMNIA – Experimental – Experimental and unconventional short-form cinema.
• Dance Films – Films that use movement and dance as a central cinematic element.
• La Grotta dei Piccoli – Children’s animation programme organized in partnership with UNICEF Italia.

The festival’s recent wider programme has also included:

• Artists For La Guarimba – International illustration exhibition.
• Doodle Space – Open creative drawing activities.
• Workshops for children and adults.
• Masterclasses and professional meetings.
• Concerts and live music.
• Beach cinema and community events.
• Cultural and artistic activities in Amantea’s historic centre.
• La Guarimba On Tour – Presentation of selected films outside the main festival.

The 2027 call states that approximately 170 films will be selected across Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Music Videos, Dance Films and INSOMNIA, while La Grotta dei Piccoli will form a separate children’s animation programme.

Films en vedette & premières

The 2027 film selection has not yet been announced. The official call is open to short films from every nationality and language, with all themes accepted. Films must have been produced after January 1, 2025 and must not exceed 30 minutes including credits.

La Guarimba does not require premiere status. A film can already have been shown at another festival in Italy or be available online and still be eligible for submission. This allows the festival to focus on presenting international short films to the Amantea audience rather than restricting selection according to premiere requirements.

The festival’s recent programmes have included films from dozens of countries and numerous languages. In 2025, 67 films from 40 countries were selected for the main competition from 1,044 submissions, alongside 100 animated shorts for La Grotta dei Piccoli.

Réalisateurs, acteurs et invités

La Guarimba brings filmmakers and artists from around the world to Amantea, creating an international community around short cinema and visual culture.

The 2027 official selection will include directors whose films are chosen for the competition, while the festival also invites artists, illustrators, musicians, photographers and other cultural professionals to participate in the wider programme. The festival’s selection process is handled by a programming team and its jury includes professionals from cinema, television, media and education, with a filmmaker always represented.

In 2026, the jury included Gabrielė Cegialytė, director of Vilnius Film Festival; Croatian experimental filmmaker Sara Jurinčić; and Portuguese Oscar-nominated animation director João Gonzalez. The 2027 jury and guest list will be announced separately.

The festival also provides hosting and food for directors whose films are selected for the official competition. Travel expenses are not covered by the festival.

Calendrier des projections

The detailed 2027 film-by-film schedule has not yet been published. Based on recent editions, screenings are spread across the six festival days and take place at outdoor and indoor locations around Amantea.

Recent schedules have included evening competition blocks at Il Terrenito, late-night Insomnia screenings at Cinema Sicoli and dedicated children’s and youth programmes at La Piccola Biblioteca di Amantea.

The 2026 schedule, for example, included an opening concert followed by competition screenings at Il Terrenito, a midnight Insomnia programme at Cinema Sicoli and children’s animation screenings at La Piccola Biblioteca. Similar programme structures may continue in 2027, but the exact films and times will be confirmed in the official schedule.

Types de billets et accréditations

Public admission to La Guarimba’s screenings is free, continuing the festival’s long-standing policy of making the event accessible to everyone. The official festival information states that all events are free and encourages visitors who wish to support the festival to make donations or purchase festival merchandise.

For the 2027 edition:

• General festival admission: $0
• Film screenings: $0
• Special events: $0 where included in the public festival programme
• Children’s programme: $0
• Voluntary donations: Optional
• Filmmaker submission: Fee varies according to category and submission deadline

The 2027 call confirms that submission fees differ by category and deadline and are displayed on the submission platform. The festival does not publish a single universal submission price because the fee changes according to the selected category and deadline.

Industrie et accès professionnel

La Guarimba has an active professional dimension alongside its public programme. Filmmakers selected for the official competition are invited to Amantea, where the festival provides hosting and food during their participation. Travel expenses remain the responsibility of participants.

The festival also develops international professional relationships through La Guarimba On Tour, which presents selected films at festivals and cultural events in other cities and countries. Recent activities have included industry participation at international short-film festivals and professional events.

Artists and filmmakers can also participate in workshops, masterclasses, cultural meetings and collaborative activities, making the festival a place for informal networking as well as film screenings.

Tapis rouge & événements spéciaux

La Guarimba has a distinctive open-air festival format rather than relying primarily on conventional red-carpet ceremonies. Its major events combine film with music, illustration, community activities and informal encounters between filmmakers and audiences.

Recent editions have featured opening concerts, international illustration exhibitions, artist residencies, children’s creative workshops, live music, beach cinema, cultural tours and special screenings.

The closing programme includes the presentation of competition awards. The festival also presents the Vitaliano Camarca Audience Award and the Nonna Saveria Award, which recognize audience participation and contributions to the festival community.

Règles du festival

The 2027 competition is open internationally and accepts short films in any language and on any subject.

The main requirements include:

• Films must be no longer than 30 minutes including credits.
• Eligible films must have been produced after January 1, 2025.
• All nationalities and languages are accepted.
• All themes are allowed.
• All formats are accepted.
• There is no limit to the number of films a filmmaker may submit, but each film must be submitted separately.
• Premiere status is not required.
• Films can already have been screened at other festivals or be available online.
• English subtitles are required for submitted films, except music videos.
• Work-in-progress films may be submitted if the festival is informed when the completed version will be available.

The 2027 submission deadlines are:

• Early deadline: September 30
• Regular deadline: March 10
• Late deadline: March 31
• Official selection announcement: May 26

The festival expects to select around 170 films for the main competition programme.

Comment y arriver

Amantea is a coastal town in Calabria on the Tyrrhenian Sea and is served directly by the railway line connecting Rome with Reggio Calabria.

Par train : Amantea railway station is located close to the sea and provides connections along the Tyrrhenian route. The line connects the town with destinations including Paola, Naples and other points toward Rome and southern Calabria.

Par avion : The nearest major airport is Lamezia Terme International Airport. From the airport, visitors can travel to Lamezia Terme Centrale and continue by train to Amantea. The festival describes the airport as being a short journey from Amantea, with the train connection taking around 20 minutes from Lamezia Terme Centrale.

En voiture : Amantea can be reached by road along Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast. A car can be useful for visitors combining the festival with trips to other coastal towns and inland areas.

Transports en commun et stationnement

The railway is one of the easiest ways to reach the festival because Amantea station is close to the coastal part of town and the main festival area.

Local walking is practical once visitors arrive because many festival locations are within Amantea’s central area. The seafront, historic centre, Il Terrenito and other cultural locations can be incorporated into a walking-based festival itinerary.

Visitors travelling by car should check local parking arrangements before arriving, particularly during evening screenings when demand around the town centre and seafront can increase.

Zones d’hébergement

Amantea Town Centre is the most convenient choice for festival visitors because it provides access to restaurants, shops, the historic centre and festival activities.

Amantea Seafront is suitable for visitors who want to remain close to the beach and railway station while attending evening screenings.

Campora San Giovanni offers additional accommodation options along the coast south of Amantea and can be considered by visitors travelling by car.

Paola provides another option for visitors who want to combine festival attendance with a larger regional transport hub and use the train to reach Amantea.

Selected official-competition directors receive hosting and food from the festival, but ordinary visitors should arrange their own accommodation.

Restauration et restauration

La Guarimba integrates local food into the festival experience, reflecting its connection with Amantea and Calabria. Recent editions have included Calabrian lunches featuring local specialities as well as Venezuelan food, reflecting the festival’s Calabrian-Venezuelan cultural identity.

Visitors can explore traditional Calabrian dishes, seafood, handmade pasta, local vegetables, cured meats, cheeses and regional desserts throughout Amantea.

The seaside location also provides opportunities to combine festival evenings with seafood restaurants, cafés and casual dining along the coast.

Festival activities may also include community meals and food events connected with visiting filmmakers and artists.

Accessibilité

Accessibility is an important part of La Guarimba’s stated cultural mission. The festival describes accessibility and integration as part of the values behind its work and aims to create a free public festival open to different audiences.

Because the programme uses a mixture of outdoor spaces, historic streets, beach locations, cinemas and community venues, physical accessibility can vary between individual activities.

Visitors who require step-free access, accessible seating or other assistance should contact the festival before travelling so arrangements can be confirmed for particular venues and events.

The festival can be contacted at info@laguarimba.com, while its office is located at Via Mazzini 32, Amantea.

Meilleures projections à laquelle assister

Fiction Competition – The Fiction programme presents international narrative shorts and is one of the principal competitive sections of the festival.

Animation Competition – A strong choice for audiences interested in different animation techniques, visual styles and international storytelling.

Documentary Competition – This section presents short non-fiction films covering subjects and experiences from different countries and communities.

INSOMNIA – Experimental – The late-night experimental programme is designed for viewers interested in unconventional, abstract and boundary-pushing cinema. Recent editions have scheduled it around midnight at Cinema Sicoli.

La Grotta dei Piccoli – The children’s animation programme offers age-appropriate short films and gives young viewers a direct role through the Children’s Jury.

Music Videos and Dance Films – These categories provide a different approach to short-form storytelling through music, movement and audiovisual experimentation.

Closing Awards – The final evening brings together competition results, award presentations and the festival community.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The 2026 edition screened more than 180 short films from 53 countries, covering fiction, animation, documentary, music video and experimental cinema. The programme also included La Grotta dei Piccoli and transformed Amantea’s outdoor cultural spaces, cinema, library, beach and streets into a connected festival environment.

The 2025 edition presented 193 short films from 67 countries, including 100 animated films in La Grotta dei Piccoli. The festival reported 60 international guests, 15 illustrators, two conferences, two concerts and around 350 spectators each evening.

The 2025 competition awards included:

• Best Fiction: A Son and A Father by Andrés Ramírez Pulido
• Best Animation: The Golden Donkey by Anne Verbeure
• Best Documentary: Shadows by Rand Beiruty
• Best Music Video: Sexual Misery by Ingrid Heiderscheidt
• Best Experimental Film – INSOMNIA: Beyond the Façade by Eyup Kus
• La Grotta dei Piccoli Award: Amen
• Guarimberos Award: Children of the Bird by Julia Tudisco
• Vitaliano Camarca Audience Award: The Leader Will Come by Michiel Geluykens and Manuel Janssens

The 2026 edition continued the festival’s international character with artists from countries including Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Bolivia, Hungary, Estonia, Norway, Switzerland, Venezuela, Myanmar, Ghana, Hawaii, Tanzania and Pakistan participating in Artists For La Guarimba.

Billets officiels et accréditation

La Guarimba is a free-entry festival, and the official festival information states that screenings and festival events are free to the public. Visitors who want to support the organization can make voluntary donations or purchase festival merchandise.

The 2027 edition is already confirmed for August 7–12, and the official call for entries is open for international short films. Submission fees vary according to category and deadline and are displayed through the festival’s submission platform rather than published as one fixed price.

Selected directors are invited by the festival, which provides hosting and food during their participation. Travel costs are not covered, and the festival does not pay screening fees.

For festival information, filmmaker enquiries and participation questions, contact info@laguarimba.com. The festival office is at Via Mazzini 32, Amantea, Calabria, Italy.

Vidéo

Localisation

FAQ