IMF INTERNATIONAL MOCKUMENTARY FESTIVAL (1)

Festival start: 27 October 2027      Festival end: 31 October 2027

FROM OCTOBER 27 TO 31, 2027, THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL MOCKUMENTARY FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE IN MILANO / ITALY!

A "mockumentary" (also known as a pseudo-documentary) is an audiovisual genre—encompassing films, documentary, short films but also animations—in which fictional events and invented stories are presented to the viewer using the techniques and language typical of a documentary. The most well-known examples are films and TV series that employ the style of real-life reportage to tell fabricated stories, often with a comedic, satirical, or horror-oriented tone. The event will be held in Milan at a venue yet to be announced, which will be transformed into an evocative and immersive space by professional set designers.

A grand hall—to be known as the "MOCKUMENTARY PALACE"—will host screenings of the films in the “MAIN COMPETITION, as well as the gala awards ceremony and the subsequent after-party. A separate, smaller screening room will host mockumentaries that are not in competition, featuring instead in the official selections "OUT OF COMPETITION" and "FOREVER" categories.

Another small room will host a WORKSHOP led by Italian and international professionals in the genre, who will explore and explain the concept of the "mockumentary." This is aimed at anyone with an interest in the subject, but is primarily designed to train young people—the potential mockumentary creators of the future—by offering them a new professional path, hobby, or form of entertainment. Unlike traditional films, mockumentaries rely above all on creativity and the ability to produce artistic works on a negligible budget—works that can nonetheless make a significant impact within the worlds of entertainment and culture.

The awards ceremony will feature a specific dress code, turning the arrival area into a "themed" fashion showcase—taking place on a "BLACK CARPET" rather than the "RED" carpet seen at other international festivals—complete with photographers and onlookers stationed in designated areas. The dress code is not strictly tied to an "Halloween" theme; after all, as the term "mockumentary" implies, the genre encompasses much more than just horror. Instead, the "mockumentary" dress code is left to individual interpretation—the only requirement is to be "original, entertaining, and visually striking!" Following a welcome "mocktail,"* the event will proceed in a classic format, with attendees taking their seats to await the announcement of the awards for the 2027 edition. The ceremony will be followed by the "IMF PARTY"—a celebration to mark and commemorate the occasion!

The term originates from a combination of the English words "mock" (imitative, derisive, or parodic) and "documentary." Unlike a "fake documentary," a mockumentary is not primarily driven by narrative goals; instead, it focuses on content that is comedic-paradoxical, political-satirical, or rooted in horror and fantasy. Although its origins are primarily in film and television, the genre has also extended into radio, new media, and transmedia storytelling. Developing from the 1960s onwards—initially through "docufiction" (a blend of documentary and fictional reconstruction, often used in television for historical reenactments)—the genre proliferated in the 21st century, incorporating meta-filmic elements, such as the "found footage" device. The neologism "mockumentary" has a dual origin story, linked both to its very first written appearance and its subsequent popularization: The creation of the term: According to the Oxford English Dictionary and linguistic historians, the word was first coined in 1956 by Canadian television producer and journalist ROSS MCLEAN, who used it to ironically describe the failure of his satirical CBC show, *Stopwatch and Listen*. Despite its emergence in the 1950s, the term remained a niche concept until the mid-1980s. It was director ROB REINER who firmly established the term among the general public and film critics. During promotional interviews for his 1984 cult classic *THIS IS SPINAL TAP*, Reiner repeatedly used the word "MOCKUMENTARY" to explain the style of his fictional documentary about a heavy metal band.

A dedicated, specialized jury—including international selectors—will choose the films that will participate in the Festival.

A separate, specialized international jury will select the award winners, joined by film enthusiasts who register via the official website or Instagram. The International Jury will take a particular interest in original, creative works by debut directors and female filmmakers; we oppose all forms of discrimination and are also keen on narratives that address social injustices and environmental issues.

1 BEST INTERNATIONAL MOCKUMENTARY
2 BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR
3 BEST INTERNATIONAL DOP
4 BEST INTERNATIONAL SCRIPT
5 BEST ITALIAN MOCKUMENTARY
6 BEST ITALIAN DIRECTOR
7 BEST ITALIAN DOP
8 BEST ITALIAN SCRIPT
9 SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
10 SPECIAL MEDIA PRIZE (CRITICS'/MEDIA AWARD)
11 SPECIAL HUMAN PRIZE (BEST MOCKUMENTARY PROMOTING IMPORTANT SOCIETAL VALUES)
12 STAND BY ME – DEDICATED TO DIRECTOR ROB REINER, SON OF CARL REINER

To be eligible for IMF 2027, films entered into the competition must have been completed no earlier than January 1, 2026. There are no duration restrictions for entries in the "out of competition" or "forever" categories. The "mockumentary" (also known as a pseudo-documentary) is an audiovisual genre—encompassing documentaries, feature films, short films but also animations—in which fictional events and invented stories are presented to the viewer using the techniques and language typical of a documentary. Well-known examples include films that adopt the style of real-life reportage to tell imaginary tales, often with a comedic, satirical, or horror tone. There are several animated mockumentaries (fake documentaries). While the mockumentary genre is historically associated with live-action (like This Is Spinal Tap or The Office), animation has exploited this style to create brilliant parodies, biting satires, or surreal tales. For example, Surf's Up (2007): It is probably the most famous big-budget animated mockumentary. The mockumentary genre is therefore much broader, even if it seems selective. So, don't hesitate to submit your work. If it doesn't meet the "mockumentary criteria," we'll promptly notify you and refund your entire payment. You can also request more information by emailing imf@noblesseoblige.net or by writing to us on Instagram, Facebook, or Messenger.