Lakes Noir International Film Festival. (1)

Festival Start: 23 Dezember 2026      Festival Ende: 27 September 2026

Lakes Noir International Film Festival - The Lake District Festival

The Lakes Noir International Film Festival (LNIIF) is an international competitive film event entirely dedicated to Thriller, Noir, and Crime sub-genres (including Italian Giallo, Poliziottesco, and Spy Stories). The festival takes place in the elegant setting of Varese, held within the 18th-century Salone Estense and the Estensi Gardens (known as the "Versailles of Milan"), creating a unique atmosphere of contrast between the natural beauty of the lakes and the mystery of the stories on screen.COMITATO D'ECCELLENZA

Gionmaria Monti – Giornalista, autore e sceneggiatore (RAI)

Sergio Giacon – Illustratore, regista e artista visivo (RAI - Mediaset)

Dante Brancatisano – Direttore e Fondatore del Festival / Direttore della SG Academy

AWARDS

The official award of the festival is the "Golden Swan", which will be presented in the following categories:

Best Noir Feature Film: To the film that best reinterprets the genre with originality and technical excellence.

Best Short Film: To the short work capable of condensing tension and mystery.

Best Crime Documentary: To the best narrative of true events or archival investigations.

Special Critics' Mention: For the work that stands out for its linguistic experimentation.

Winners will receive the physical trophy and the official Digital Laurel to be included in the film's promotional materials.

Eligible Genres: The festival exclusively accepts works within the Noir, Thriller, Giallo, Crime, and Mystery genres.

Free Entry: No entry fee is required for the 2026 edition.

Production Year: Works completed after January 1st, 2023, are eligible.

Subtitles: Foreign language films must have Italian or English subtitles.

Formats: Online screening via Festhome's Screening Room is required for selection. High-definition files (ProRes or H264) will be requested for final screenings.

Rights: By submitting, the filmmaker declares they hold all legal rights to the film.