Cittadella International Film Festival (1)

Festival start: 08 May 2026      Festival end: 10 May 2026

Il festival è anche un punto d’incontro: masterclass, panel industry, incontri con autori e momenti di networking offrono ai partecipanti un’opportunità unica di crescita e visibilità.

CIFF – Cittadella International Film Festival is an international film event held in the stunning medieval town of Cittadella (Padua, Italy)—a walled city rich in history, culture, and architectural beauty.

The festival is dedicated to promoting independent cinema from around the world, giving space to emerging filmmakers and established artists who craft stories that move, challenge, and inspire.

The prestigious Malta’s Tower Award (Premio Torre di Malta) is the festival’s top honor, awarded to the film that best exemplifies narrative innovation, visual impact, and artistic excellence. The award is named after the historic "Torre di Malta," a medieval landmark that stands as a symbol of the city’s cultural heritage.

CIFF welcomes short films, documentaries, feature films, experimental cinema, and animation, across all genres and languages. Screenings take place in spectacular historic venues, offering a cinematic experience deeply rooted in place and tradition.

CIFF is more than a festival—it’s a hub for exchange, with masterclasses, industry panels, Q&A sessions, and networking opportunities designed to connect creators and audiences worldwide.

Cash Prizes: 300€

PREMI E CATEGORIE / AWARDS & CATEGORIES

Premi Ufficiali:

Il CIFF – Cittadella International Film Festival premia l’eccellenza nel cinema indipendente internazionale, non solo nei contenuti, ma anche nelle arti e nei mestieri che compongono l’opera cinematografica.

Premio Torre di Malta – Malta’s Tower Award:

Il massimo riconoscimento del festival: una miniatura esclusiva dell’antica Torre di Malta, assegnata al Miglior Film Assoluto per la sua eccellenza complessiva a livello narrativo, estetico e tecnico.

Targhette di Riconoscimento:

Tutti i vincitori riceveranno targhe personalizzate con nome del regista/autore, titolo del film e categoria di premiazione o menzione speciale.

Categorie Competizione Principale:

- Miglior Cortometraggio Internazionale

- Miglior Lungometraggio di Finzione

- Miglior Documentario

- Miglior Film Sperimentale / Videoarte

- Miglior Film d’Animazione

- Miglior Film Studentesco / Scuola di Cinema

- Premio del Pubblico

- Menzioni Speciali della Giuria


Premi Tecnici e Artistici:

- Miglior Regia

- Miglior Sceneggiatura

- Migliore Fotografia

- Migliore Scenografia

- Miglior Montaggio

- Miglior Colonna Sonora Originale

- Migliori Costumi

- Miglior Trucco

- Miglior Sonoro

- Miglior Attore Protagonista

- Miglior Attrice Protagonista

- Miglior Attore Non Protagonista

- Miglior Attrice Non Protagonista


Premi Speciali e Onorari:

- Premio alla Carriera (Career Achievement Award) assegnato a personalità del cinema per il contributo artistico straordinario

- Premio Cultura e Territorio per opere che valorizzano identità locali, memoria storica o paesaggi

- Premio Giovani Talenti per registi under 25 o studenti emergenti

- Premio Visioni Future per linguaggi innovativi o sperimentali


Official Awards

The CIFF – Cittadella International Film Festival celebrates excellence not only in storytelling, but also in the many cinematic crafts that bring a film to life.

Malta’s Tower Award – Premio Torre di Malta

The festival’s highest honor: a handcrafted miniature replica of the Malta’s Tower, awarded to the Best Overall Film for artistic, technical, and narrative excellence.

Recognition Plaques
All winners receive engraved plaques with the filmmaker’s name, film title, and the award or recognition received.

Main Competition Categories

- Best International Short Film:

- Best Fiction Feature Film

- Best Documentary

- Best Experimental / Video Art

- Best Animated Film

- Best Student Film / Film School

- Audience Award

- Special Jury Mentions


Technical & Artistic Awards:

- Best Director

- Best Screenplay

- Best Cinematography

- Best Production Design

- Best Editing

- Best Original Score

- Best Costume Design

- Best Makeup

- Best Sound Design

- Best Lead Actor

- Best Lead Actress

- Best Supporting Actor

- Best Supporting Actress


Honorary & Special Awards:

- Career Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the art of cinema

- Culture & Territory Award for works that enhance cultural heritage, memory, or landscape

- Young Talent Award for emerging filmmakers under 25 or student directors

- Future Visions Award for bold, innovative cinematic language

1. Festival Mission

CIFF – Cittadella International Film Festival aims to celebrate independent cinema from around the world, offering a prestigious platform for emerging and established filmmakers in the stunning medieval city of Cittadella (Padua, Italy).

2. Festival Dates

The next edition will be held in [insert month/year], featuring screenings, masterclasses, networking events, and awards ceremonies.

3. Competition Categories

- International Short Films (up to 30 min)

- Fiction Features (over 60 min)

- Documentaries (short or feature-length)

- Experimental / Video Art

- Animation

- Student Films / Film Schools

- Focus Italy (Italian directors or films set in Italy)

- Music Video


4. Awards

The Malta’s Tower Award will be given to the Best Overall Film. Additional awards include:

- Best Director

- Best Short Film

- Best Documentary

- Audience Award

- Special Mentions


5. Submission Guidelines

Submissions must be made exclusively via Festhome and include:

Full technical details

Short synopsis (max 500 characters)

Trailer (optional but recommended)

English subtitles (mandatory if the original language is not English or Italian)


6. Eligibility

Films must have been completed after January 1st, 2023

No nationality restrictions

Submission implies full acceptance of the present rules

7. Selection

All submissions will be evaluated by the CIFF Artistic Committee. Selected filmmakers will be notified via email. Selected works will be screened during the festival.

8. Screenings

The festival will take place in person, with the possibility of an online component. Filmmakers must provide high-quality screening copies in the required formats.

9. Rights and Responsibilities

Entrants are responsible for the content of their work and must hold all rights necessary for public exhibition. CIFF reserves the right to use promotional materials and excerpts for non-commercial festival promotion.

10. Acceptance

Participation in the festival implies full acceptance of these rules and regulations.