Rome Independent Film Festival - Riff Awards 2026 (25)

Festival start: 27 November 2026      Festival end: 04 December 2026

The Rome Independent Film Festival (RIFF) is Italy 's first independent and international film festival. Its aim is to unite enthusiasm for films and filmmaking among young filmmakers with the realities of film production and distribution.Since its first edition in 2001, RIFF has become an event that is followed with more and more interest by the public in Rome and a reference for worldwide filmmakers. In these years, the Riff has received works coming from the 5 continents, ending up being an attentive witness representative of the directions and passions of the independent film industry.

(r)evolution AI - the RIFF new section dedicated to the production of films and videos with the application of AI technology.

From this year the RIFF celebrates visual storytelling created with artificial intelligence.

This new competition section promotes innovative applications of AI technology in audiovisual production and presentation.

Cash Prizes: 3,000€
Screening Fee Shorts: 10€
Screening Fee Features: 35€

BEST FEATURE FILM AWARD

RIFF Award: Best Foreign Feature Film

> Laser S. Film Prize: The Prize consists of the use of the Laser S. Film laboratories equal to 3 days of color correction for a commercial value of €6,000.

> DCP for ALL Award: The winner of the Award will receive: The creation of the DCP in 2K and 4K format for their feature film. The DCP version of the official trailer as well. A 15% discount on one of our deliverables packages designed for the distribution of the film.


BEST NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY

> Machiavelli Music Award for Best Italian Documentary. The prize consists of a voucher worth €1,000 each for the purchase of music tracks from the Machiavelli Music catalog, which can be used for synchronization in the winning production companies’ next project.


– BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY

> Machiavelli Music Award for Best Italian Documentary. The prize consists of a voucher worth €1,000 each for the purchase of music tracks from the Machiavelli Music catalog, which can be used for synchronization in the winning production companies’ next project.


- RIFF AWARDS FOR THE BEST FILM USING AI TECHNOLOGY.

> (r)evolution AI Award


– BEST ITALIAN SHORT FILM RIFF
Award for Best Italian Short film.

> The Rai Cinema Channel award is handed over to the best web short for a value of € 1,500.00, this prize is intended to reward the effectiveness of a story on web channels. The award consists of a distribution contract of the rights of the web and free tv of the short, by Rai Cinema and will be aired on www.raicinemachannel.it, on its partner sites and at the discretion of network managers on the RAI channels.


– BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
RIFF Award for Best International Short Film.


– BEST STUDENTS SHORT FILM
RIFF Award for best short film made by students of cinematic arts schools.


– ANIMATION
RIFF Award for Best Short Animation film.


BEST SCREENPLAY
BeDi Produzioni Award for best short film script: Red Komodo 6K Full Kit with Canon lenses and cinema filters. The award consists of the rental of film and television equipment for 5 days of shooting.


BEST STORY
The winner will receive a voucher worth 2,000 euros for the summer course offered by the Rome International Film School.

Eligibility:

1. Films must have been completed after January 2025.

2. Running time for all feature length films must be no less than 52 minutes. Running time for all short films must be no more then 52 minutes.

3. Films/videos must not have received worldwide network television distribution or WEB (including cable and PAY-TV). Competitive entries must not have commercial distribution in Italy to be eligible.

4. Foreign feature or short films submitted to the Festival must be subtitled in Italian OR English if not already an English language film.

5. Entries with Digital Video, Blu-Ray and DCP must be made available for presentation at least two (2) weeks before the festival date.

6. Submissions are only accepted on digital file. Entries, as well as accompanying materials, will NOT be returned and will become property of the organization and its archive.

7. Those selected for screening during the RIFF Awards will be notified at least one(1) month before the event starts by telephone or e-mail.

8. Those selected for the monthly screenings will be notified at least thirty (30) days before the event date by telephone or e-mail.

9. For all the competitions, the project must be an Italian Premiere.

10. Film producers must also agree to include in
future promotion material the mention of the participation at the Roma Independent Film Festival, the relevant section and any award received, along with the official RIFF logo, available on the Internet website.

The Jury

* RIFF AWARD recepients are determined by a jury of professional filmmakers, actors, distributors, agents and journalists.

RIFF AUDIENCE AWARD is determined by audience votes.

* All awards will be split equally between the director and the production company of the film as shown in the credits.

* DCP or file HD (and/or Blu-Ray or DV Master) to be received within 2 weeks of the event. Additional press kits, including B & W or color photos of cast and crew (on cd) 2 or more posters

Invitation and Attendance

Directors whose feature films have been selected for competition are invited as participants for 3 days. Room and board in a hotel for only one representative per film will be provided by the festival. Exceptionally, travel costs can be covered.