Siciliambiente Film Festival (18)

Festival start: 13 July 2026      Festival end: 18 July 2026

The 18th annual SiciliAmbiente Film Festival will take on July 13-18, 2026.

SiciliAmbiente Film Festival aims to promote independent and documentary cinema while fostering creative exchange and networking among filmmakers.

The Festival is organized and sponsored by Demetra Produzioni SAS and Cultural Association CANTIERE 7, with support from public and private partners and sponsors who share the Festival's ethical values.

The Festival accepts films that address:
Environment / Anthropology / Human Rights / Biodiversity / War / Integration / Civil Rights / Sustainable Development / Human-Environment Relationships

The Festival is divided into the following sections:

- Documentary Competition (minimum runtime: 31 minutes)

- Fiction Feature Competition (minimum runtime: 70 minutes)

- Fiction and Documentary Short Film Competition (maximum runtime: 31 minutes)

- Animation Short Film Competition (maximum runtime: 31 minutes)

- Screenings of documentaries, fiction films, short films, tributes, retrospectives, seminars and panel discussions

The Selection Committee will assess films based on the quality of their writing, cinematography and creative language.

Two juries composed of influential figures in Cinema and Culture, will award the following prizes (except for the Audience Award):


FICTION FEATURE FILM SECTION

- The Audience Award

DOCUMENTARY SECTION

- "Il Faro", ('The Lighthouse') Award for Best Documentary (€1,000 ).

- AAMOD Award, consisting of a plaque and the free use of 3' of audiovisual material by the Labor Movement Archives (value of approximately € 3,000)

- “Human Rights Award” by Amnesty International Italy and SiciliAmbiente

- “Environment Award” by Greenpeace Italy


SHORT FILM SECTION

- "Il Faro", ('The Lighthouse') Award for Best Short film.

- “Special TTPIXEL Award”, consisting of 2 sessions of color correction + the production of a dcp master. Total value of € 2,000.

ANIMATED FILM SECTION

- "Il Faro", ('The Lighthouse') Award for Best Animated film.

The monetary awards will be transferred to a representative (director or other) indicated by the right-holders of the film no later than 10 months from the date of the award ceremony. In case of dispute, Festival Management reserves the right to request documentation attesting the identity of the right-holders of the film.

DOCUMENTARY CONTEST – FICTION FILM CONTEST - SHORT FILM CONTEST - ANIMATED FILM CONTEST

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS


- Documentaries (31 minutes or longer), feature films (70 minutes or longer), short films and animated shorts (30 minutes or less) from any country may be submitted, as long as they were completed after January 1, 2025

- If selected, accepted screening formats include:

Unencrypted DCP
Blu-ray DVD
Apple ProRes File
H264 File

Other formats must be approved by the Festival Management.

- No screening fees are offered for competition films.

- Non-Italian language films must have English or Italian subtitles. Films selected for the final stage must be submitted with required promotional materials and an English dialogue list.

- Films longer than 31 minutes will not be eligible for the short film and animation categories.

- Festival Management reserves the right to invite films to compete and to program non-competing films in a showcase section.

- The selection, the general program and the showing schedule are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Festival Management.

- Directors and/or producers of selected films will be notified by June 10, 2026. Films not selected will not receive notification.

- Entering the selection implies acceptance of these regulations, which are also available in the original Italian version. In the event of any discrepancy or misinterpretation, the Italian version shall take precedence.

- If a film is withdrawn after being selected, the producer must pay a penalty of €1,000.

HOW TO APPLY

- A submission fee is required to register for the competitive sections.

- Applications can be submitted online through platforms like FilmFreeway or Festhome.


By March 5, 2026

€25 for fiction feature films
€20 for documentaries
€15 for short films and animated films

From March 6 to April 30, 2026

€30 for fiction feature films
€25 for documentaries
€20 for short films and animated films

- Films submitted without payment will be disqualified.

- Films can be submitted via an online screening link and password in the application form.

- Filmmakers and/or Producers are responsible for their film content and must confirm upon submission that all third-party copyright obligations have been met.

- By submitting, applicants agree that all materials will be deposited in the SiciliAmbiente Archive and grant permission for non-commercial use in cultural and educational contexts, research and promotional activities, both within and beyond this Festival, to protect filmmakers' and producers' interests.
The Festival will serve as liaison between rights holders and distributors.

INVITATIONS AND SHIPPING

Each selected or invited film must include:
– the completed online application form;
– all supporting documentation requested in the selection/invitation notification.

- Screening copies must be received by June 20, 2026 at the address listed above or through online delivery (to be coordinated with Festival Management at copies@festivalsiciliambiente.it); late submissions will be disqualified.


ARCHIVE DONATION

Filmmakers are invited to donate a high-definition copy of their film for documentary cinema preservation and promotion, excluding commercial use.


*NB - Entering the selection implies acceptance of these regulations, which are also available in the original Italian version. In the event of any discrepancy or misinterpretation, the Italian version shall take precedence.