River to River Florence Indian Film Festival 2026, Italy

• 3 décembre 2026
  Date de l'événement :
• décembre 8, 2026
  Fin de l'événement :

À quoi s’attendre en 2026

River to River Florence Indian Film Festival 2026 will bring another edition of Florence’s long-running celebration of Indian cinema and the cultures of the Indian subcontinent. Founded in 2001, the festival was created as the first festival outside India devoted entirely to films from and about India. It operates under the aegis of Fondazione Sistema Toscana, with the patronage of the Embassy of India, and is part of AFIC, the Association of Italian Film Festivals.

The 2026 edition is expected to combine recent Indian feature films with documentaries, short films, web series, special screenings, filmmaker meetings and cultural events. The festival traditionally provides a broad view of contemporary India while also looking at independent cinema, emerging filmmakers, major Indian productions, social themes and new audiovisual languages.

The official festival site has opened film entries for the 2026 edition, with the submission deadline set for September 1, 2026. The complete selection, programme and guest list are expected to be announced closer to the festival.

Dates des festivals

River to River Florence Indian Film Festival 2026 is scheduled to take place from December 3 to 8, 2026, in Florence, Italy.

The festival traditionally takes place in December and forms part of Florence’s wider winter cinema programme. The 2025 edition was held over six days, while the festival itself has operated annually since 2001.

Exact screening times, opening and closing ceremonies, individual film dates and special-event schedules for 2026 will be published with the official programme.

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Lieux et lieux de festival

The main festival venue in recent editions has been Cinema La Compagnia in central Florence, at Via Cavour 50r. The cinema hosted the 2025 edition and has regularly been used for River to River screenings and guest events.

The 2026 festival is expected to use Cinema La Compagnia as its principal screening location, while additional cultural activities may take place at other venues around Florence.

Recent editions have also used museums, galleries, cultural institutions and other city locations for exhibitions, talks, food events and special activities. The exact 2026 satellite venues will depend on the final programme.

Programme complet

The 2026 programme will be announced after the film selection process is completed. The official festival website confirms that film entries for the 2026 edition are open, with submissions closing on September 1, 2026.

Based on the festival’s established format, the programme is expected to include:

• Feature films from India and the Indian diaspora
• Courts-métrages
• Documentaires
• Web series and innovative audiovisual projects
• Films connected with contemporary Indian society
• Special screenings and restored classics
• Filmmaker and actor meetings
• Talks and cultural discussions
• Food and cultural events
• Photography or visual-art exhibitions
• Événements d’ouverture et de clôture

The final 2026 programme should be checked against the official festival schedule once released.

Films en vedette & premières

The 2026 film selection has not yet been announced. The festival’s recent editions have placed particular emphasis on contemporary Indian cinema, independent productions, new directors, women filmmakers, documentaries and films addressing social and cultural change.

In 2025, the programme included more than twenty works covering feature films, documentaries, short films and web series. The edition presented Italian and European premieres alongside established and contemporary Indian cinema.

Recent featured titles included Anurag Basu’s Metro …In Dino, Aranya Sahay’s Humans in the Loop, Goutam Ghose’s Parikrama and Aditya Chopra’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The festival also introduced a special River section dedicated to films connected with the symbolism and cultural importance of rivers in India.

The 2026 selection should provide a new group of contemporary Indian films and premieres once the official programme is published.

Réalisateurs, acteurs et invités

The 2026 guest list has not yet been announced.

River to River traditionally invites directors, actors, producers, writers and other film professionals connected with the selected films. Guest appearances frequently include Q&A sessions, audience meetings and discussions following screenings.

The festival’s recent guests demonstrate the international profile of the event. The 2025 edition welcomed directors Anurag Basu, Varsha Bharath, Chithra Jeyaram and Nilesh Maniyar, actor Rahul Bose and producer Angela Page.

Previous editions have also welcomed internationally recognised names including Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Irrfan Khan, Deepa Mehta, Aparna Sen, Kabir Bedi, Anurag Kashyap, Adil Hussain and Vinay Pathak.

Calendrier des projections

The detailed 2026 screening schedule is not yet available.

Once released, the programme is expected to list individual screening times, film titles, directors, running times, language information and subtitle details. Recent programmes have generally identified screenings by category and have provided Italian and English subtitle information where applicable.

Visitors should check the official programme before travelling because screening times, guest appearances and room assignments can change.

The main cinema schedule is expected to include afternoon and evening screenings, with opening and closing events forming key points of the festival calendar.

Types de billets et accréditations

The 2026 ticket prices have not yet been announced. For reference, the 2025 edition used the following ticket structure:

• Single afternoon screening: approximately $5.85
• Full afternoon pass: approximately $8.19
• Projection en soirée : approximately $8.19
• Reduced evening ticket: approximately $7.02
• Daily pass: approximately $14.04
• Pass festival : approximately $52.65

These figures are converted from the 2025 prices using an approximate exchange rate of €1 = $1.17 and should be treated as reference prices rather than confirmed 2026 rates. The 2025 ticket information listed afternoon, evening, daily and festival-pass options at Cinema La Compagnia.

The 2025 cultural accreditation cost approximately $40.95 after conversion. It was intended for people connected with film schools, universities, publishing houses and cineclubs and was collected through the festival accreditation process.

Industrie et accès professionnel

River to River provides opportunities for filmmakers, cultural professionals, students, journalists and members of the film community to engage with Indian cinema and its creators.

Professional and cultural accreditation has previously been available to people associated with:

• Film schools
• Universities
• Publishing houses
• Cineclubs
• Cultural organisations
• Film and media activities

Accredited participants can benefit from access to festival screenings and selected professional or cultural activities according to the rules established for each edition.

The 2026 accreditation procedure, eligibility requirements and application deadline should be confirmed through the official festival once the new information is published.

Tapis rouge & événements spéciaux

The opening and closing ceremonies are important parts of the River to River experience. In 2025, the festival opened with a ceremony followed by Metro …In Dino and a Q&A with director Anurag Basu.

Special events can extend beyond cinema screenings. Previous editions have featured photographic exhibitions, talks, cooking demonstrations, Indian cooking lessons, literary activities and other cultural collaborations.

The 2026 red-carpet guests and special-event programme have not yet been announced, so visitors should consult the official programme before planning around particular appearances.

Règles du festival

Festival rules normally cover admission, screening access, accreditation, photography, recording and audience conduct.

Visitors should follow the instructions of Cinema La Compagnia and festival staff, arrive before the scheduled screening, keep mobile devices silent and respect restrictions concerning photography or recording.

Accredited visitors must comply with the conditions attached to their accreditation. Film professionals and cultural participants should also check the specific requirements for professional access when the 2026 regulations are published.

Film submissions are governed separately by the festival’s official entry regulations. The current festival website confirms that submissions for the 2026 edition are open and that the entry deadline is September 1, 2026.

Comment y arriver

River to River takes place in Florence, a major cultural and tourist destination in central Italy.

Cinema La Compagnia is located on Via Cavour in the historic centre, making it practical to reach from Florence’s central railway station and surrounding historic districts.

Visitors arriving from outside Florence can travel by train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella and continue through the city centre by walking or local public transport. Florence is also served by Florence Airport, with connections into the city.

Because the festival takes place in the historic centre, visitors staying centrally can often combine screenings with walking access to restaurants, museums, shopping streets and other cultural attractions.

Transports en commun et stationnement

Public transport is generally the most practical way to reach the festival’s central Florence locations.

Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station provides national and regional train connections and is within convenient reach of the historic centre. Local buses and other city transport services can also be used for locations outside walking distance.

Parking in central Florence can be restricted, particularly around the historic centre and areas affected by the city’s traffic regulations. Visitors arriving by car should check current access restrictions and use authorised car parks outside restricted areas where appropriate.

Zones d’hébergement

Visitors attending River to River can choose accommodation in or around Florence’s historic centre, depending on budget and preferred atmosphere.

Centre historique : Staying near the centre provides convenient access to Cinema La Compagnia, restaurants, museums and other cultural attractions.

Santa Maria Novella : This area is useful for visitors arriving by train and offers a large selection of hotels and short-stay accommodation.

San Lorenzo : Located close to the central market and major historic sights, this district is convenient for visitors combining the festival with sightseeing.

Santa Croce : This area offers restaurants, cafés and evening activity while remaining within walking distance of central Florence.

Oltrarno : Across the Arno, Oltrarno provides another option for visitors looking for accommodation near Florence’s historic centre while staying slightly away from the busiest central streets.

Restauration et restauration

Indian food and culinary culture have been recurring parts of the River to River programme.

The festival’s recent editions have included cooking demonstrations and Indian cooking lessons alongside film screenings and cultural meetings. In 2025, the festival presented food-related activities involving chef Basheer Kutty Mansoor and Nura Catering, as well as a cultural event combining Indian food, literature, music and cinema.

Florence also provides a wide range of restaurants, cafés, bakeries and international dining options around the central festival area.

Visitors can combine daytime screenings with Tuscan dining or seek Indian and South Asian restaurants in and around the city, depending on their preferred cuisine.

Accessibilité

Accessibility arrangements can vary between individual venues and events.

Cinema La Compagnia is the principal cinema used by the festival in recent editions, and visitors who require wheelchair access or other assistance should contact the venue or festival organisers before attending.

People with specific accessibility requirements should confirm entrance arrangements, seating, accessible toilets and assistance directly with the festival before travelling.

The official festival contact is +39 055 286929 and info@rivertoriver.it.

Meilleures projections à laquelle assister

The exact 2026 films have not yet been announced, so individual titles cannot yet be confirmed.

For visitors planning their first River to River experience, the following programme types are generally useful to prioritise:

• Opening film: The opening screening traditionally introduces the new edition and may feature invited filmmakers or guests.
• European or Italian premieres: These provide an opportunity to see newly presented Indian films during their festival debut in the region.
• Feature-film competition: Contemporary feature films form an important part of the festival’s cinematic programme.
• Documentaries: Documentary screenings offer perspectives on Indian society, culture, communities and contemporary issues.
• Short films: The short-film programme can highlight emerging directors and different approaches to storytelling.
• Special classics: Restored or historically significant Indian films provide context for the development of Indian cinema.
• Guest screenings: Screenings attended by directors or actors can include discussions and audience Q&A sessions.
• Closing screening: The closing event traditionally provides a final opportunity to experience the festival atmosphere and special programming.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The 2025 edition celebrated the festival’s 25th anniversary with six days of cinema and cultural programming at Cinema La Compagnia and other Florence locations. More than twenty works were presented across feature films, documentaries, shorts and web series.

The opening programme featured Anurag Basu’s Metro …In Dino, with the director attending the screening. Actor Rahul Bose appeared with Berlin, while other guests included directors Varsha Bharath, Chithra Jeyaram and Nilesh Maniyar and producer Angela Page.

The 2025 programme also included Humans in the Loop by Aranya Sahay, presented as a European premiere, and a special River section featuring films connected with the cultural symbolism of India’s rivers.

The festival also expanded beyond cinema through the India Calling photography exhibition at Palazzo Vecchio, talks, cooking activities and other cultural events.

The festival’s longer history includes appearances by major figures from Indian cinema and culture, including Amitabh Bachchan, Deepa Mehta, Irrfan Khan, Kabir Bedi, Abhishek Bachchan and Aparna Sen.

Billets officiels et accréditation

Official 2026 ticket sales and accreditation details should be checked through the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival website once the new programme is released.

The official festival is based at Via Maggio 1, 50125 Florence, Italy, and can be contacted at +39 055 286929 or info@rivertoriver.it.

For cultural accreditation, visitors should wait for the 2026 application procedure rather than relying on the 2025 requirements. The previous accreditation system was specifically aimed at participants connected with film schools, universities, publishing houses and cineclubs.

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