Vespertilio Awards (5)

Festival start: 23 May 2026      Festival end: 23 May 2026

Festival Description (Edition: 5)

Festival start date: May 23, 2026 5th Edition of the festival: May 23, 2026

The Vespertilio Awards are an Italian film award dedicated to the horror, mystery, thriller, noir, science fiction, and dark fantasy genres.

The Vespertilio Awards take place over a single evening.

During the ceremony, the various awards will be presented in the different categories.

Awards and categories

Best Film

Best Director

Best Debut Director

Best Screenplay

Best Leading Actress

Best Leading Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Cinematography

Best Original Score

Best Production Design

Best Costumes

Best Makeup

Best Hairstyles

Best Editing

Best Sound

Best Special Visual Effects

Best Poster

Best Production

Best Documentary

Best Short Film

Vespertilio Social Award

3 Special Vespertilio Awards

3 Lifetime Achievement Vespertilio Awards

SHORT FILMS

Art. 1
The competition is open to short films produced between January 1, 2024, and February 28, 2026.

Art. 2
The running time of the short film must not exceed 30 minutes, including credits.

Art. 3
Registration for the Vespertilio Awards must be completed strictly no later than February 28, 2026.

Art. 4
The Vespertilio Awards are assigned by a jury composed of at least five members.

Art. 5
Only Italian productions (or films directed by an Italian director) will be accepted into the competition.

Art. 6
Jury members will be provided with links to view the submitted works.

The jury will select a shortlist of five finalists.

Representatives of the five finalists in each category will be invited to the Vespertilio Awards ceremony, during which the winners will be announced. In the absence of a representative, the award will be assigned to the next ranked finalist.

Jury members may not serve as lead actors or be part of the technical crew of the films in competition. If they wish to do so, they may submit the work to a subsequent edition.

FEATURE FILMS

Art. 1
The Vespertilio Awards will assign a series of awards to films produced in Italy belonging to the following genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Science Fiction, Noir, and Dark Fantasy.

Art. 2
The competition is open to feature films released in Italy in cinemas, on platforms, and at events between January 1, 2024, and February 28, 2026.

Art. 3
The jury is composed exclusively and voluntarily of professionals and enthusiasts from the sector.

Art. 4
Italian productions (or films directed by an Italian director) may compete.
Films from other countries may compete in the specific category (Foreign Film).

Art. 5
For all award categories, the jury will select a shortlist of three films from which a single winner will be chosen and awarded during the final evening of the Vespertilio Awards, scheduled to take place in Rome in May.

Art. 6
Jury members will be provided with links to view the submitted works.

Jury members may not serve as lead actors or be part of the technical crew of the films in competition. If they wish to do so, they may submit the work to a subsequent edition.

Art. 7
The various Vespertilio Awards will be assigned based on the unquestionable judgment of the jury, according to the agreed voting system. The five finalists will be announced prior to the awards ceremony.

Art. 8
Representatives of the five finalists will be invited to the Vespertilio Awards ceremony, during which the winners will be announced. In the absence of a representative, the award will be assigned to the next ranked finalist.

Art. 9
Registration for the Vespertilio Awards must be completed strictly no later than February 28, 2026.

FOREIGN FEATURE FILMS

Art. 1
The Vespertilio Awards will assign an award to films produced worldwide belonging to the following genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Science Fiction, Noir, and Dark Fantasy.

Art. 2
The competition is open to feature films released in cinemas, on platforms, and at events between January 1, 2024, and February 28, 2026.

Art. 3
The jury is composed exclusively and voluntarily of professionals and enthusiasts from the sector.

Art. 4
For this category, the jury will select a shortlist of three or five films from which a single winner will be chosen and awarded during the final evening of the Vespertilio Awards, scheduled to take place in Rome in May.

Art. 5
Jury members will be provided with links to view the submitted works.

Jury members may not serve as lead actors or be part of the technical crew of the films in competition. If they wish to do so, they may submit the work to a subsequent edition.

Art. 6
The various Vespertilio Awards will be assigned based on the unquestionable judgment of the jury, according to the agreed voting system. The five finalists will be announced prior to the awards ceremony.

Art. 7
Representatives of the five finalists will be invited to the Vespertilio Awards ceremony, during which the winners will be announced. In the absence of a representative, the award will be assigned to the next ranked finalist.

Art. 8
Registration for the Vespertilio Awards must be completed strictly no later than February 28, 2026.

DOCUMENTARIES

Art. 1
The competition is open to documentaries released between January 1, 2024, and February 28, 2026.

Art. 2
Foreign documentaries may also participate in this category.

Art. 3
Jury members will be provided with links to view the submitted works.

The jury will select a shortlist of three films from which a single winner will be chosen.

The winner will receive an award during the final evening of the Vespertilio Awards, specially organized in Rome in August.

Art. 4
The Vespertilio Awards will be assigned based on the unquestionable judgment of a jury composed of at least five members.

Art. 5
The finalists and the winner of the Documentary category will be selected by jury vote.

Jury members may not serve as lead actors or be part of the technical crew of the films in competition. If they wish to do so, they may submit the work to a subsequent edition.

Art. 6
Representatives of the finalists will be invited to the Vespertilio Awards ceremony, during which the winners will be announced. In the absence of a representative, the award will be assigned to the next ranked finalist.

Art. 7
Registration for the Vespertilio Awards must be completed strictly no later than February 28, 2026.

MEDIUM-LENGTH FILMS

Art. 1
The Vespertilio Awards will assign a series of awards to films produced in Italy belonging to the following genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Science Fiction, Noir, and Dark Fantasy.

Art. 2
The competition is open to medium-length films released in Italy in cinemas, on platforms, and at events between January 1, 2024, and February 28, 2026. As there is no specific category based on duration, they will be included in the relevant category (short films or feature films).

Art. 3
The jury is composed exclusively and voluntarily of professionals and enthusiasts from the sector.

Art. 4
Italian-produced medium-length films (or films directed by an Italian director) may compete.

Art. 5
For all award categories, the jury will select a shortlist of three films from which a single winner will be chosen and awarded during the final evening of the Vespertilio Awards, scheduled to take place in Rome in May.

Art. 6
Jury members will be provided with links to view the submitted works.

Jury members may not serve as lead actors or be part of the technical crew of the films in competition. If they wish to do so, they may submit the work to a subsequent edition.

Art. 7
The various Vespertilio Awards will be assigned based on the unquestionable judgment of the jury, according to the agreed voting system. The five finalists will be announced prior to the awards ceremony.

Art. 8
Representatives of the five finalists will be invited to the Vespertilio Awards ceremony, during which the winners will be announced. In the absence of a representative, the award will be assigned to the next ranked finalist.

Art. 9
Registration for the Vespertilio Awards must be completed strictly no later than February 28, 2026.