Ortigia Film Festival 2026, Syracuse, Italy

• 20 septembre 2026
  Date de l'événement :
• 26 septembre 2026
  Fin de l'événement :

À quoi s’attendre en 2026

Ortigia Film Festival 2026, also known as OFF18, returns to Syracuse for its eighteenth edition with a programme dedicated to Italian and international cinema, emerging filmmakers and innovative audiovisual storytelling. Founded in 2009 by the cultural association Sa.Li.Rò, the festival places particular emphasis on young and innovative cinema while bringing filmmakers, actors, producers, critics and audiences together in the historic setting of Ortigia.

The 2026 edition includes competitive sections for Italian first and second feature films, international documentaries and international short films, together with non-competitive programmes including Cinema Women, Cinema & Animation, La Voce del Mare, OFF Scuole and Special Screenings.

The festival’s 2026 theme is presented as “Oltre il Tempo. Memoria e Visione”, connecting contemporary cinema with memory, artistic heritage and new perspectives. The programme combines screenings with talks, artistic projects, literary presentations and meetings with filmmakers and performers.

Dates des festivals

Ortigia Film Festival 2026 will take place from September 20 to 26, 2026, in Syracuse, Sicily.

The festival runs across several days, with screenings and events taking place mainly in Ortigia. The programme is divided between daytime cultural activities and evening film screenings, talks and special events.

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Lieux et lieux de festival

The festival uses several historic and cultural locations in Ortigia and the wider city of Syracuse.

Arena Minerva
Piazza Duomo, Ortigia, Syracuse

Arena Minerva is one of the principal festival venues. Located alongside Syracuse Cathedral in Piazza Duomo, it is transformed into an outdoor cinema arena and hosts major film sections, meetings with filmmakers and actors, and the festival awards ceremony.

Sala Teatro Massimo
Via del Teatro, 96100 Syracuse, Italy

The historic Teatro Massimo in Ortigia provides an indoor screening location with approximately 500 seats. The 2026 programme uses the venue for feature-film competitions, special screenings and other festival events.

Sala Vittorini
Via Alagona 51/53, 96100 Syracuse, Italy

Sala Vittorini is an independent cinema and cultural space used for international short-film competitions, documentaries, classic cinema and other selected festival activities. Reservations may be required for entry.

Ortea Palace Hotel
Via Nazario Sauro, 96100 Syracuse, Italy

The Ortea Palace Hotel is used for festival-related opening activities and cultural presentations. The historic property sits on Porto Piccolo in Ortigia and provides a central setting for selected opening events.

Programme complet

The 2026 programme brings together competitive cinema, special screenings, cultural conversations and multidisciplinary events.

The main programme includes:

• Italian first and second feature-film competition
• International documentary competition
• International short-film competition
• Cinema Women
• Cinema & Animation
• La Voce del Mare
• OFF Scuole
• Special Screenings
• OFF Talks
• OFF Books
• Événements d’ouverture et de clôture
• Filmmaker and actor meetings
• Festival awards
• Artistic and cultural presentations

The feature-film competition includes four announced titles: La Salita, Balcanica, Antartica – Quasi una Fiaba et Il Grande Giaffa. The international documentary competition includes Auber 89, Miss Jobson, Where the Waves Took Her et La Leggenda del Deserto.

The programme also incorporates animation, environmental cinema, women’s cinema, student productions and special collaborations with cultural and film institutions.

Films en vedette & premières

The 2026 feature-film competition focuses on Italian first and second works. The announced titles are La Salita, Balcanica, Antartica – Quasi una Fiaba et Il Grande Giaffa.

The international documentary competition features Auber 89, Miss Jobson, Where the Waves Took Her et La Leggenda del Deserto. These films form part of the festival’s international documentary selection.

Other 2026 programme titles include Anagliph, The Clouds of Odessa, God Is Shy, Super Vito, Rukeli, Fallen Houses, Heartsick, Lo Sguardo di Emma et Marco Bellocchio – La Porta della Realtà.

Some individual films may receive premieres or special presentations at the festival, with premiere status identified in the official programme or individual film pages.

Réalisateurs, acteurs et invités

Ortigia Film Festival 2026 brings together a substantial group of Italian actors, directors, musicians and cultural figures.

The announced guest and participant list includes:

• Fabrizio Gifuni
• Ambra Angiolini
• Barbara Bouchet
• Filippo Scotti
• Giovanni Esposito
• Nino Frassica
• Vinicio Marchioni
• Neri Marcorè
• Alessio Vassallo
• Roberta Torre
• Michele Riondino
• Nadia Tereszkiewicz
• Barbara Ronchi
• Carlo Verdone
• Morgan
• Milena Vukotic
• Marco Giallini
• Valentina Lodovini
• Paolo Calabresi
• Miriam Leone
• Giorgio Tirabassi
• Aurora Giovinazzo
• Mogol
• Anna Ferzetti
• Veronica Pivetti

The festival also features filmmaker meetings and audience conversations connected with individual screenings.

Calendrier des projections

The official 2026 programme provides individual screening times and locations across the festival venues.

The schedule includes evening screenings at Arena Minerva and Teatro Massimo, while Sala Vittorini hosts additional short-film and educational programmes. Examples from the published programme include feature films at Teatro Massimo, documentary screenings at Arena Minerva and short-film sessions at Sala Vittorini.

The programme also includes:

• Feature-film competition screenings
• International documentary screenings
• International short-film blocks
• Cinema Women presentations
• Animation screenings
• Projections spéciales
• OFF Scuole sessions
• OFF Talks
• Literary presentations
• Closing awards

Because multiple venues operate during the festival, visitors should check the official programme for the exact film, venue and start time before attending.

Types de billets et accréditations

General 2026 admission pricing is not clearly published on the official festival pages reviewed. The festival does, however, offer AmicOFF supporter memberships with reserved seating and additional benefits.

The 2026 AmicOFF options are:

• AmicOFF Gold Card: approximately $175. Includes a reserved seat in the festival arenas throughout the event with reservation, an exclusive gadget, an official photo with a guest actor or director, access to the final awards evening and reserved entry to the closing party.
• AmicOFF Silver Card: approximately $94. Includes a reserved seat throughout the festival with reservation and an official poster or merchandise bag.

These dollar figures are approximate conversions of the published membership amounts and are supporter donations rather than standard admission ticket prices.

Individual screening access and any reservation requirements should be checked against the official 2026 programme and venue instructions.

Industrie et accès professionnel

The festival provides a meeting environment for filmmakers, producers, actors, critics, students and other audiovisual professionals.

The competitive programme is structured around new Italian feature filmmakers, international documentaries and international short films. The festival also creates professional contact opportunities through filmmaker meetings, OFF Talks, presentations and discussions connected with individual works.

Film submissions are handled through FilmFreeway. The 2026 regulations require synopsis and technical information, high-resolution promotional materials, filmmaker biography and filmography, a streaming link and appropriate Italian or English subtitles depending on the language of the film.

Tapis rouge & événements spéciaux

The festival combines cinema screenings with opening ceremonies, artistic installations, talks, presentations and the closing awards evening.

The 2026 programme includes the opening of OFF at Ortea Palace Hotel, an artistic project titled “OFF18 Leuzzi: Memoria Futura”, special events, OFF Talks and a final awards ceremony at Arena Minerva.

The programme also includes meetings with artists and cultural figures, including literary presentations and conversations connected with cinema and contemporary culture.

The final evening includes the presentation of awards for films in competition together with an OFF Talk featuring Peter Greenaway.

Règles du festival

The 2026 regulations establish three principal competitive areas: Italian first and second feature films, international documentaries and international short films. Non-competitive sections include Cinema Women, Cinema & Animation, La Voce del Mare, OFF Scuole and Special Screenings.

The 2026 submission regulations specify:

• Fiction feature films and documentaries may be submitted to the relevant competitive or non-competitive sections.
• International short films can be submitted with a maximum duration of 20 minutes.
• Films require the appropriate Italian or English subtitles according to their original language.
• Submissions are made through FilmFreeway.
• Selected filmmakers must provide the requested screening and promotional materials.
• The festival reserves responsibility for the final screening schedule and selection process.

The regulations also state that filmmakers are responsible for rights and copyright obligations relating to submitted works.

Comment y arriver

Syracuse is located on Sicily’s southeastern coast and is connected with the island’s major cities by road and rail.

Visitors flying to Sicily can use Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, the principal international airport serving the southeastern part of the island. From Catania, Syracuse can be reached by train, intercity bus, rental car or private transfer.

Syracuse railway station provides connections with Catania and other Sicilian destinations. From the railway station, visitors can continue toward Ortigia using local buses, taxis or on foot depending on their accommodation.

For drivers, Ortigia is connected to mainland Syracuse by bridges, but visitors should check current traffic restrictions and the ZTL regulations before entering the historic island by car.

Transports en commun et stationnement

The festival’s venues are concentrated around Ortigia, where walking is often practical between screenings.

Local bus services connect mainland Syracuse with Ortigia, while the festival’s 2026 location information also provides a green-mobility bus route for reaching the island.

Parking inside Ortigia can be restricted because of the historic centre and traffic-control measures. Visitors arriving by car should consider parking on the mainland and continuing by bus or walking across the bridge.

For late-evening screenings, taxis can provide an alternative to public transport, particularly when staying outside the historic centre.

Zones d’hébergement

Visitors attending Ortigia Film Festival can choose accommodation in several parts of Syracuse.

Ortigia: The most convenient area for visitors who want to stay close to the principal festival venues, including Arena Minerva, Teatro Massimo and Sala Vittorini.

Ortigia waterfront: Accommodation around Porto Piccolo provides access to the historic centre, restaurants and the Ortea Palace area.

Neapolis: A useful mainland base with access to archaeological attractions, transport connections and a wider selection of accommodation.

Syracuse city centre: Hotels, guesthouses and apartments around the mainland centre can provide more options while remaining within easy reach of Ortigia.

Visitors attending multiple evening screenings may find staying within walking distance of the historic centre particularly convenient.

Restauration et restauration

Syracuse and Ortigia offer a wide range of Sicilian dining options, from traditional restaurants and seafood venues to cafés, bakeries and casual street-food establishments.

Local dishes and ingredients to look for include fresh Mediterranean seafood, pasta with local fish and shellfish, Sicilian pastries, arancini, granita and seasonal produce.

The historic streets around Ortigia provide numerous restaurants and cafés, making it possible to have dinner or a quick meal between festival screenings.

The area around Piazza Duomo, the waterfront and the central streets of Ortigia offers particularly convenient dining options for visitors moving between festival venues.

Accessibilité

Accessibility is an important part of the festival’s stated approach. The festival describes its Ortigia programme as creating pedestrianized cinematic routes and working to reduce physical and other barriers for audiences.

Venue accessibility nevertheless varies because the festival uses historic buildings, outdoor squares and independent cultural spaces.

Arena Minerva: Outdoor setting in Piazza Duomo with seating arranged for festival screenings and events.

Teatro Massimo: Historic indoor theatre with approximately 500 seats.

Sala Vittorini: Smaller independent cinema space where reservations may be required.

Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should contact the festival team before attending so that venue-specific arrangements can be confirmed.

Meilleures projections à laquelle assister

Italian feature-film competition: A central section for first and second works by Italian filmmakers, including La Salita, Balcanica, Antartica – Quasi una Fiaba et Il Grande Giaffa.

International documentary competition: A strong part of the international programme featuring Auber 89, Miss Jobson, Where the Waves Took Her et La Leggenda del Deserto.

Cinema Women: A dedicated section highlighting films connected with women filmmakers, stories and perspectives.

Cinema & Animation: A programme combining animated works with contemporary audiovisual experimentation.

La Voce del Mare: A section developed with the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area and focused on awareness and respect for the marine ecosystem.

Special Screenings: Selected films outside the main competitions, including collaborations with cultural and film organizations.

Closing awards evening: The final festival programme brings together the competition awards and an OFF Talk featuring Peter Greenaway.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The 2025 edition was the seventeenth edition of Ortigia Film Festival and featured competitions for Italian first and second feature films, international documentaries and international short films, together with Cinema Women, Cinema & Music and La Voce del Mare.

The 2025 programme included films such as Orfeo, Le Città di Pianura, Nero, 6×60, Dedalus et Afrodite in the feature-film competition, while documentary and short-film selections expanded the international programme.

The festival also presented special screenings, OFF Talks, literary events and music-related activities. Guests included filmmakers, actors and cultural figures, with the programme combining cinema with live meetings and multidisciplinary events.

The 2025 AmicOFF programme also offered supporter memberships with reserved seating, merchandise and special access, illustrating the festival’s approach to combining audience participation with direct support for the event.

Billets officiels et accréditation

The official 2026 festival programme is the main reference for screening locations, times and individual event information. The festival’s current website identifies OFF18 as the 2026 edition and provides dedicated pages for films, programme, jury, regulations and locations.

The festival also offers AmicOFF supporter memberships. The 2026 Gold Card is approximately $175, while the Silver Card is approximately $94, based on the published membership amounts. These are supporter donations with benefits rather than standard admission ticket prices.

Filmmakers and industry participants should use the official festival regulations and FilmFreeway submission system for film entries and professional participation. The 2026 regulations specify the required submission materials, subtitle requirements and eligibility conditions.

Festival email: segreteria@ortigiafilmfestival.it

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