Emigrazione, sulle ali del ritorno | Rassegna Cinematografica (1)

Festival start: 23 January 2026      Festival end: 25 January 2026

Organizing a festival dedicated to the theme of emigration in Meduno means giving voice to
a wealth of stories, emotions, and memories that still inhabit the area today.

Through short films and documentaries from different parts of the world, the festival aims to build a bridge between the past and the present, between those who left and those who returned or arrived, between the roots and new identities that intertwine in border areas.

It's the desire to rediscover the memory of Friulian emigration, made up of departures, sacrifices, and hopes, and at the same time to reflect on contemporary migrations, which continue to transform communities and the way we look at the world.

In a natural and human context of great intensity, the festival becomes a moment of encounter and sharing, where authors, spectators, and inhabitants dialogue through the images, words, and emotions of cinema.

It's also an opportunity to promote independent filmmakers, authors, and productions that are capable of sensitively and originally portraying the many nuances of leaving, returning, and belonging.

Finally, the festival aims to strengthen the link between culture and territory, inviting the public to discover the discreet beauty of the villages and to experience community, memory, and cultural rebirth.

The following prizes will be awarded:

Best Short Film Award (awarded by the jury).

Best Documentary Award (awarded by the jury).

Special “Luigi Del Bianco” Award: an award dedicated to Luigi Del Bianco, a Friulian emigrant and chief sculptor of Mount Rushmore. This award will be given to the work (short film or documentary) that, in the jury's sole discretion, best represents the spirit of determination, the sacrifice of emigration, and the contribution of emigrants around the world.

Article 1 - Theme and objective

The film festival “Emigration, on the wings of return” is dedicated to the theme of emigration in all its forms and nuances (historical, current, integration, detachment, return, etc.). The objective is to promote audiovisual works that offer food for thought and new perspectives on this universal phenomenon.

Article 2 - Categories and duration

The festival has two main competitive categories:

SHORT FILMS: fiction or animated works with a maximum duration of 30 minutes (including opening and closing credits);

DOCUMENTARIES: documentary works with a maximum duration of 52 minutes (including opening and closing credits).

Works that exceed the duration limit will not be accepted.

Article 3 - awards

The following awards will be presented:

Best Short Film Award (awarded by the jury).

Best Documentary Award (awarded by the jury).

Special “Luigi Del Bianco” Award: award dedicated to the Friulian emigrant Luigi Del Bianco, chief sculptor of Mount Rushmore. This award will be given to the work (short film or documentary) that, in the sole discretion of the jury, best represents the spirit of determination, the sacrifice of emigration, and the contribution of emigrants around the world.

Article 4 - Admission of works

Year of production: there are no restrictions on the year of production of the works submitted.

Language and subtitles: works that are not in Italian must be subtitled in both Italian and english.

Theme: works must be relevant to the theme of emigration as defined in Article 1.

Article 5 - Submission process and required materials

Submission to the festival is free of charge and can only be done through the Festhome platform.

The following materials must be submitted:

- link to the film for online viewing;
- technical specifications;
- subtitles in Italian and english (in .SRT format or included in the video file, provided that both are present);
- synopsis in Italian and english;
- high-resolution poster of the work (JPG format);
- 4 or 5 high-resolution photos of the production;
- brief CV of the director and author, if different from the director.

Article 6 - Selection and acceptance

The festival direction and a selection committee will review the submitted works and select those admitted to the final stage.

The directors and/or producers of the selected works will be notified by email by December 15, 2025, and must send the high-definition file for public screening by January 20, 2026.

Acceptance of the invitation to the festival implies authorization to screen the work during the event without payment of any compensation.

The festival reserves the right to use excerpts from the selected works (maximum 30 seconds) and the promotional material sent (posters, photos) for advertising, promotional, and publicity purposes.

Article 7 - Final dispositions

Participation in the exhibition implies full acceptance of all points of these regulations.

For any dispute not covered by these regulations, the final and unappealable decision of the exhibition direction shall prevail.