Filmmaker Festival 2026, Milan, Italy

• Novembre 14, 2026
  Data dell'evento:
• Novembre 22, 2026
  Fine dell'evento:

Cosa aspettarsi nel 2026

Filmmaker Festival 2026 returns to Milan for another edition dedicated to independent, experimental and contemporary cinema. The festival has been running since 1980 and brings together international competition titles, Italian filmmaking, documentary work, experimental cinema, retrospectives and expanded audiovisual projects.

The 2026 programme includes the International Competition and Prospettive Competition alongside out-of-competition screenings, Filmmaker Moderns, special retrospectives, Interferenze, Filmmaker Expanded and other curated projects. The festival combines established filmmakers with emerging artists and frequently presents Italian and world premieres.

The programme is spread across several important Milanese cultural and cinema venues, giving visitors the opportunity to experience different areas of the city while following the festival. Screenings are accompanied in some cases by filmmakers and guests, creating opportunities for discussions around the films and their production.

Date del festival

Filmmaker Festival 2026 takes place from November 14 to November 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. The nine-day festival combines competition screenings, special programmes, retrospectives, expanded audiovisual experiences and events for audiences and cinema professionals.

The daily programme is organised across multiple venues, with individual screening times varying according to the section and location. Visitors should consult the official programme before attending because reservations and ticket procedures can differ between cinemas.

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Sedi e sedi del festival

The main festival locations include several established Milanese cinemas and cultural spaces:

• Arcobaleno Film Center – Viale Tunisia 11, Milan
• Cineteca Milano Arlecchino – Via San Pietro all’Orto 9, Milan
• Anteo Palazzo del Cinema – Piazza Venticinque Aprile 8, Milan
• Cineteca Milano MIC – a major venue for selected festival screenings and special programmes
• Università degli Studi di Milano – used for selected expanded and cultural activities
• Careof – associated with contemporary and expanded audiovisual projects

Arcobaleno Film Center, Cineteca Milano Arlecchino and Anteo Palazzo del Cinema are among the principal cinema locations listed for the 2026 festival. The organisers encourage visitors to use public transport, bicycles or lower-impact transport when travelling between venues.

Programma completo

The 2026 programme is built around several strands that cover different forms of contemporary cinema and audiovisual experimentation.

• International Competition – international films competing for festival recognition, with the competition focused on Italian premieres.
• Prospettive Competition – a competitive section for films created by Italian authors.
• Out of Competition – significant films presented outside the main competitions.
• Filmmaker Moderns – contemporary works that expand the festival’s exploration of independent filmmaking.
• Special retrospectives – curated programmes dedicated to important filmmakers, artists or cinematic themes.
• Interferenze – programmes connecting cinema with music, archives and contemporary cultural research.
• Filmmaker Expanded – immersive, interactive and extended audiovisual experiences.
• Special events and encounters – meetings and presentations involving filmmakers, artists and other guests.

The official programme is published day by day, with individual screenings indicating their venue, section, screening time and whether filmmakers or other guests are expected to attend.

Film di lunga durata e anteprime

One of the key attractions of Filmmaker Festival is its focus on films that may be difficult to encounter in conventional cinema programmes. The International Competition accepts films that are Italian premieres, while the wider festival also presents new Italian and international works.

The 2026 programme includes Alice Rohrwacher and JR’s Allégorie Citadine as the opening film. The short French production combines Rohrwacher’s filmmaking with JR’s artistic practice and features performers including Naïm El Kaldaoui, Lyna Khoudri and Leos Carax.

Other programme highlights include Claire Simon’s Apprendre, Ben Rivers’ Mare’s Nest, Fatima Bianchi’s Mater Insula, Edgar Reitz’s Leibniz. Chronik eines verschollenen Bildes and Margherita Spampinato’s Gioia mia.

Registi, attori e ospiti

Filmmaker Festival places strong emphasis on meeting filmmakers and creative teams. Selected screenings are scheduled with authors and directors in attendance, giving audiences the opportunity to hear directly from the people behind the films.

The 2026 programme features filmmakers including Alice Rohrwacher, Claire Simon, Ben Rivers, Fatima Bianchi, Edgar Reitz and Margherita Spampinato. The opening film also connects the work of Rohrwacher with French artist JR and includes performers such as Lyna Khoudri and Leos Carax.

Additional guests may appear for competition screenings, retrospectives, expanded projects, presentations and special encounters. Attendance by filmmakers is identified within the official day-by-day programme.

Programma delle proiezioni

The festival schedule is organised by venue, section and screening time. A typical programme day can include afternoon screenings, evening competition films and later special presentations.

The 2026 schedule includes:

• International Competition screenings at Cineteca Milano Arlecchino
• Prospettive and Filmmaker Moderns programmes at Arcobaleno Film Center
• Selected programmes at Cineteca Milano MIC
• Special and expanded audiovisual projects
• Retrospective screenings and cultural encounters
• Closing events and the final film programme

Because the festival operates across several venues, visitors should check the official schedule for each individual screening before travelling. Some screenings may also have limited seating or separate reservation arrangements.

Tipi di biglietti e accreditamento

The published 2026 ticket information lists a single screening ticket at approximately $9. The exact ticketing procedure depends on the cinema where the screening takes place.

Previous festival editions have also offered festival passes and reduced categories. As a reference for the 2026 season, previous published pass structures have included:

• Proiezione singola: circa $9
• Pass completo per il festival: approximately $41
• Reduced festival pass: approximately $35
• Supporter pass: circa $116

The reduced pass has historically been available to specified categories such as younger audiences and other eligible groups, although visitors should check the current eligibility requirements before purchasing. Festival passes provide access subject to available seating and may require collection of a complimentary admission ticket before individual screenings.

Settore e accesso professionale

Filmmaker Festival has a strong professional dimension alongside its public programme. Its competition structure is designed to showcase independent cinema and provide visibility to emerging and established filmmakers.

The festival also connects with production, distribution, film-school and cultural networks through screenings, meetings and special projects. Filmmaker Expanded adds an additional professional and artistic dimension by exploring immersive and interactive audiovisual forms.

Filmmakers submitting works to the competition should check the applicable regulations carefully. The published submission rules state that films entered into the International Competition must be Italian premieres, while Prospettive is open to Italian and foreign films created by Italian authors.

Red carpet ed eventi speciali

Filmmaker is more focused on independent and research-oriented cinema than on a conventional celebrity red-carpet format. Special events instead centre on filmmakers, artistic projects, retrospectives, premieres, presentations and audience encounters.

Opening and closing events form important moments in the festival programme. The closing programme includes an awards ceremony followed by the closing film, with the director scheduled to be present.

Other special events can include retrospective presentations, expanded cinema experiences, discussions and meetings with filmmakers. Visitors interested in these events should check the programme carefully because special events may have different locations or admission arrangements.

Regole del festival

Visitors are expected to follow the admission and reservation rules established by the individual cinema hosting each screening. Reservations may be subject to the cinema’s own procedures.

For reserved tickets, the published festival information states that tickets should be collected within the required time before the screening. If a reserved ticket is not collected within the specified period, the reservation can be cancelled automatically.

Festival passes provide access subject to available seating. Pass holders may still need to collect an admission ticket before individual screenings rather than entering directly with the pass alone.

Come arrivarci

Filmmaker Festival takes place at several locations across Milan, making the city’s public transport network the most practical option for moving between screenings.

Arcobaleno Film Center is located on Viale Tunisia, while Cineteca Milano Arlecchino is on Via San Pietro all’Orto and Anteo Palazzo del Cinema is on Piazza Venticinque Aprile. These venues are served by Milan’s metro and surface transport network.

Visitors arriving from outside Milan can reach the city through Milano Centrale railway station and then continue by metro, tram or other local transport. Milan’s major airports are also connected with the city by rail, bus and other transfer services.

Trasporti pubblici e parcheggio

Public transport is recommended by the festival itself, particularly because screenings are distributed across different areas of central Milan.

Useful connections include:

• Arcobaleno Film Center: near Porta Venezia and Lima metro stations, with Repubblica also accessible.
• Cineteca Milano Arlecchino: near San Babila, Duomo and Montenapoleone metro connections.
• Anteo Palazzo del Cinema: near Moscova and Garibaldi, with Garibaldi also served by the M5 line and several tram routes.

Parking availability varies considerably by venue and central Milan restrictions. Visitors travelling by car should check local parking facilities and traffic restrictions before departure rather than relying on street parking.

Aree di alloggio

Visitors attending several days of the festival can choose accommodation according to the venues they plan to visit.

Brera and Moscova provide convenient access to Anteo Palazzo del Cinema and central Milan, while also offering restaurants, cafés and evening activities.

Porta Venezia and Repubblica are useful for visitors focusing on Arcobaleno Film Center and looking for strong metro connections to other parts of the city.

Duomo e San Babila are particularly convenient for Cineteca Milano Arlecchino and provide easy access to central Milan attractions.

Milano Centrale is practical for visitors arriving by train or travelling between Milan and other Italian cities.

Cibo e ristorazione

Milan offers a wide choice of restaurants, cafés, bakeries and casual dining options around the festival venues. Visitors attending evening screenings can find dining options around Porta Venezia, Brera, Moscova, Garibaldi and the city centre.

For a festival-focused trip, it is useful to choose restaurants close to the next screening rather than travelling long distances between meals and venues. Central neighbourhoods also offer traditional Milanese dishes alongside Italian regional and international cuisine.

Festival pass holders may also receive discounts with participating partners when such benefits are offered for the relevant edition.

Accessibilità

Accessibility arrangements can vary between the festival’s different cinemas and cultural venues. Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should check directly with the individual venue before attending.

The festival has previously recognised reduced admission categories that include people with disabilities, demonstrating that accessibility forms part of its audience admission policies.

Because the programme takes place across multiple locations, visitors requiring step-free access, accessible seating or other assistance should confirm the facilities available at their chosen cinema before booking.

Le migliori proiezioni a cui partecipare

For first-time visitors, the International Competition is a natural starting point because it represents the festival’s principal competitive showcase and focuses on films receiving Italian premieres.

The opening film is another important choice for visitors who want to experience the festival atmosphere from the beginning. The 2026 opening programme features Allégorie Citadine by Alice Rohrwacher and JR.

Other strong programme choices include:

• International Competition for new international cinema
• Prospettive for emerging and contemporary Italian filmmaking
• Filmmaker Moderns for experimental and formally distinctive work
• Special retrospectives for deeper exploration of individual artists
• Filmmaker Expanded for immersive and interactive audiovisual projects
• Closing programme for the awards ceremony and closing film

Visitors with limited time should prioritise the competition sections and any special retrospective or expanded programme that matches their interests.

Momenti salienti dell'anno precedente

The previous edition presented a broad programme of independent cinema, including the International Competition, Prospettive, Out of Competition, the VALIE EXPORT retrospective, Filmmaker Moderns, Interferenze and Filmmaker Expanded. The festival reported 90 titles, including numerous world and Italian premieres, alongside a substantial programme of guests and events.

The 2025 opening film was Leos Carax’s C’est pas moi, presented as an Italian premiere. The programme also included works by Claire Simon, Edgar Reitz, Ben Rivers, Mauro Santini and other filmmakers across its competition and special sections.

The previous edition concluded with Gioia mia by Margherita Spampinato, presented in the presence of the director, alongside the festival’s awards ceremony.

Biglietti ufficiali e accreditamento

Tickets and festival passes should be purchased or reserved through the official Filmmaker Festival ticketing information and the relevant cinema’s booking system. The 2026 festival lists individual admission at approximately $9, while pass options and their eligibility should be checked through the current official ticket information.

For professional filmmakers and industry participants, the festival’s submission and accreditation procedures are separate from ordinary audience ticketing. Competition submissions should follow the official regulations and eligibility requirements published by Filmmaker.

Informazioni di contatto ufficiali:

• Festival: https://www.filmmakerfest.com/
• Indirizzo: Via Giuseppina Lazzaroni, 8, 20124 Milan, Italy
• Telefono: +39 02 4944 5934
• E-mail: segreteria@filmmakerfest.org

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