Pettineo Short Movie Fest (2)

Festival start: 16 October 2026      Festival end: 17 October 2026

The second edition of the Pettineo Short Movie Fest aims to strengthen the synergy between cinema and the local area. The Festival's primary goal is to showcase the wonderful locations in our country and surrounding areas, offering an alternative promotional opportunity and strategic local development.

Cash Prizes: 2,000€

Best Narrative Short Film – €500.00 Prize;

Best Documentary Short Film – €500.00 Prize;

Best Sicilian Short Film – €500.00 Prize;

Best Foreign Short Film – €500.00 Prize;

Special Mentions – Recognition Plaque.

The organizers reserve the right to award additional prizes based on funding.

The prizes must be collected in person at the gala evening on October 17, 2026. If the winners or their delegates are absent, the prizes will not be awarded.

Participation Requirements

The competition is open to short films on any theme.

Works previously presented at other festivals are eligible.

Each filmmaker may submit only one work per section.

Short films from any country, produced in any language and/or medium, are eligible.

Films in languages ​​other than Italian must be subtitled in Italian.

The maximum running time allowed for each short film is 30 minutes, including credits.

deadline for submissions: July 15, 2026 (penalty: exclusion).


Competition Categories

1) NARRATIVE: Narrative short films on any theme and produced using any medium and/or medium, excluding AI, are eligible.

2) DOCUMENTARY: Documentaries are eligible that, through a reportage approach, explore and enhance the cultural, social, and naturalistic soul of human beings, places, and situations, produced using any technique and/or medium, excluding AI.

3) SICILY: Short films and works (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental) featuring Sicily as their theme, filmed in Sicily or created by Sicilian filmmakers (even if resident outside the island), produced using any technique and/or medium, excluding AI.

4) FOREIGN: Short films of any genre (fiction, documentary, animation) produced by non-resident filmmakers or produced by foreign companies, produced using any technique and/or medium, excluding AI, are eligible.

Each participant must carefully complete their profile with the following materials, which will also be used for press releases:

- Viewable link to the film (required format: 1920x1080p);
- Official trailer;
- Five stills;
- Short film poster;
- Synopsis;
- Short biography of the director.

The organization will provide free board and lodging in Pettineo, for a maximum of two nights, to all finalist directors/authors of the "Official Selection." Accompanying guests will receive a 50% discount on the rates at participating hotels.