NOAM Faenza Film Festival (4)

Inizio del Festival: 11 novembre 2026      Festival si chiude: 15 novembre 2026

NOAM Faenza Film Festival is Italy’s first and only film festival dedicated to independent cinema from North America — including the USA, Canada, and Mexico — and is held annually in the city of Faenza, Emilia-Romagna. The 2026 edition, taking place from November 11 to 15, presents a bold and diverse program. NOAM 2026 will have a special country focus on Mexico, with particular priority given to films from this country, highlighting the richness and diversity of its contemporary cinema.

The festival is structured into six main sections for feature films:

NOAM Concorso, the feature competition showcasing bold new visions from North American directors;

NOAM Extra, a curated selection of out-of-competition titles;

NOAM Classic, featuring landmark films from the region’s cinematic history;

NOAM Special, dedicated to retrospectives and tributes, including a prestigious Lifetime
Achievement Award;

NOAM Preview, presenting pre-festival events and free screenings;

NOAM Anteprima, a regional tour of screenings and talks across Emilia-Romagna.

The short film competitions include NOAM Lab, tailored to schools and youth audiences. This section is enriched by a special out-of-competition program.

NOAM winners receive a prestigious handcrafted ceramic award, created by celebrated Faenza-based artist Andrea Salvatori. This award, made using traditional ceramic techniques for which the city of Faenza is internationally renowned, symbolizes the fusion of artistic excellence and cultural heritage — a true emblem of Italian craftsmanship and identity.

Awards are given by two professional juries:

- the Feature Jury, which assigns the City of Faenza Award for Best Feature and the Youth Award, recognizing outstanding resonance with audiences under 30;

- the Short Film Jury, which selects the best films in the NOAM Lab and NOAM Youth competitions.

Beyond the honor itself, winning or participating at NOAM provides filmmakers with key visibility in Italy, often leading to further screenings, professional contacts, and in some cases, distribution opportunities. Several films presented at NOAM have gone on to be screened in Italian cinemas or at partner festivals.

THE FESTIVAL AND THE ORGANIZATION

NOAM aims to promote the art of independent cinema from North America through the presentation of groundbreaking and thought-provoking films.

DATE AND DURATION

The upcoming edition will take place from November 11 to 15, 2026.

SECTIONS IN COMPETITION

NOAM features one competitive section for feature films (NOAM Concorso) and one competitive sections focusing on short films (NOAM Lab).


FEATURE FILM SUBMISSION RULES

- Eligibility Criteria –

1.Duration: Films must have a runtime of over 60 minutes.

2. Production Countries: Films must be produced in or co-produced with Canada, Mexico, the United States, or Caribbean territories. Exceptions may be made for projects by directors originally from those regions, even if produced elsewhere.

3. Premiere Status: Priority will be given to films that have not yet had an Italian theatrical, festival, or digital premiere at the time of selection.

4. Production Year: Only films completed after January 1, 2025 will be considered for the 2026 edition.

5. Language: Films not in English, Spanish, French, or Italian must be submitted with English subtitles. Selected films will be required to provide Italian-subtitled versions for public screenings.


SHORT FILM SUBMISSION RULES

- Eligibility Criteria -

1. Duration: Films must have a maximum duration of 30 minutes.

2. Production Countries: Films must have been produced in Canada, Mexico, the United States, or the Caribbean; films from other countries will only be considered if the director is from the countries already mentioned.

3. Premiere Status: Priority will be given to films that have not yet had an Italian premiere.

4. Production Year: Only films produced after January 1 2025 will be considered.

- Submission Process -

1. Opening Date: Submissions open on April 1, 2026.

2. Deadline: The submission deadline is September 30, 2026. The early bird deadline is May 31, 2026, while the regular deadline is August 15, 2026.

- Technical Requirements (Feature Films) -

1. Format: All selected feature films must be delivered in DCP (Digital Cinema Package), compliant with D-Cinema SMPTE standards.

2. Resolution: 2K (2048 × 1080) or 4K (4096 × 2160) resolution is required.

3. Audio: 5.1 surround sound preferred; stereo (L/R) accepted as fallback.

4. Subtitles: All non-Italian language films must have Italian subtitles burned in or provided in a separate XML/SRT file.

5. Frame rate: Recommended frame rate is 24 fps.

- Technical Requirements (short films) -

1. Resolution: Minimum recommended resolution is Full HD (1920 x 1080).

2. Video Codec: Apple ProRes 422HQ or Apple ProRes 444 / H264 or H265 (minimum bitrate
20Mbps).

3. Video Container: .mov or .mp4

4. Audio: If possible, provide audio in uncompressed .wav format, 24bit - 48kHz, 3.0 or 5.1 channels preferred or Stereo audio.

5. Recommended frame-rate is 24 fps.


- Language and Subtitles -

There must be no subtitles printed on the file: a dialogue list must be provided in English or Spanish or French in .srt (the frame-rate must match with the film sent).

- Additional Materials -

Promotional Materials: Please send at least three high-resolution images of the work, any promotional material, posters, director’s photo, and biography.

- Rights and Permissions (short films) -

1. Ownership: The director/distribution submitting the work must hold the rights to the film and any accompanying material. By submitting a film, the director/institution certifies that all images and soundtracks used are either original or authorized by the rights holder.
2. Permissions: By submitting, the director/distribution authorizes the festival to promote the work, organize one single screening and use excerpts or promotional material without infringing on copyrights. Only the winning short will have a second screening within the festival.

- Legal Responsibilities -

1. Compliance: The director/distribution must ensure that the submitted work does not violate the rights of any individual or entity. This includes ensuring that no content in the film infringes on copyright, privacy, or any other legal rights.

2. Liability: The director/distribution agrees to indemnify the festival and its organizers against any legal claims or disputes arising from the submitted work.

SELECTION AND AWARDS

1. Selection: Films selected for the festival will be notified via email. Selected films must provide a high-quality digital copy for screening.

2. Awards: Winners will receive a prestigious physical award crafted from ceramic by renowned Faenza-based ceramicist Andrea Salvatori. The exposure and recognition from NOAM can lead to opportunities for distribution in Italy.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Changes: The festival reserves the right to make changes to the rules and regulations without prior notice.

2. Agreement: By submitting a film, the applicant agrees to all terms and conditions outlined above.