Festival Del Cinema Di Cefalù (5)

Фестиваль начинается: 04 Октябрь 2026      Фестиваль заканчивается: 31 Декабрь 2026

Founded in 2015 thanks to the commitment of Mario Macaluso, who conceived, designed, and created it, the Cefalù Film Festival was born as an opportunity for encounter and dialogue with the art of cinema. Until 2019, the event was known as the “Cefalù Film Festival.” Since 2021, the festival has changed its name, becoming the “Festival del Cinema di Cefalù.”

Festival venue: Hotel Sea Palace Cefalù. A prestigious location that has hosted numerous film casts, including those of Indiana Jones 5, The White Lotus 2, I Leoni di Sicilia, and Succede anche nelle migliori famiglie. The Hotel Sea Palace is also home to the famous beach club, known worldwide, where scenes from The White Lotus 2 were filmed. A place that brings together beauty, history, and cinema, creating the ideal setting for this international event.

The “Film and Book of Peace Award” is the most prestigious recognition of the Cefalù Film Festival, awarded to the best film in competition. The director who wins the “Film and Book of Peace Award” will be dedicated a special book retracing their life, their cinematic career, and their commitment to spreading the values of peace and solidarity. The book will explore not only their artistic achievements, but also the personal and professional journey that led to the creation of works that promote understanding, tolerance, and unity among people.
Sicily Award
The Sicily Award is a special recognition given to the best film that celebrates and represents Sicilian identity. This award is dedicated to works that tell stories connected to Sicilian culture, traditions, and society, exploring the beauty, history, and challenges of the island. The award aims to highlight cinema that, through its narrative, conveys the essence of Sicily, its land, its people, and its cultural roots, contributing to the dissemination and promotion of Sicilian culture in the international film landscape.
Comedy Film Award
The Comedy Film Award is given to the best comedy film in competition, rewarding works that entertain and amuse with originality and freshness. This award celebrates the power of comedy as a means to address light themes, but also as a tool to explore social dynamics, relationships, and everyday challenges in an entertaining and intelligent way. The awarded film must stand out for its ability to make the audience smile, but also for its originality and for the quality of its writing, direction, and performances.
Student Award
The Student Award is granted in the form of a certificate of excellence to 20 students who have participated in short or feature films produced by Italian schools. This recognition celebrates the commitment, creativity, and passion of students in the field of cinema, rewarding those who, through their artistic and technical contribution, have enriched school film projects. The award aims to highlight the importance of youth participation in the world of cinema and to encourage young talents to continue their educational and professional path in the film industry. The students who receive this certificate will be included in the publication “School and Cinema,” which will be presented during the Festival taking place from October 4 to December 31, 2026.
School Award
The School Award is granted in the form of a certificate of excellence to 20 Italian schools that have produced short or feature films of artistic, cultural, and social value. This recognition celebrates the creative and educational work of schools that, through cinema, address relevant themes and promote positive values. The awarded projects stand out for their ability to raise awareness on social, cultural, or educational issues, encouraging reflection and dialogue among younger generations. The School Award is an incentive for schools to continue using cinematic language as a teaching, educational, and cultural development tool, rewarding the commitment of students and teachers in creating meaningful works. The schools that receive this certificate will be included in the publication “School and Cinema,” which will be presented during the Festival taking place from October 4 to December 31, 2026.
The “City of Pollina Award” (€500) is granted to a Sicilian actor or actress who stands out for their performance in a film participating in the Cefalù Film Festival 2026. This award aims to recognize the talent, passion, and dedication that Sicilian artists bring to the big screen, as well as the important contribution they make to enhancing cinema and film culture in the region.
The “Pippo Fatta Award” (€500) is granted to a director, actor, or actress who, through their talent and commitment, significantly contributes to giving voice and visibility to the theme of disability in the cinematic landscape with a film participating in the Cefalù Film Festival 2026.
The “Gianfilippo D’Anna Award” (€500) is granted to the school that, with a student project participating in the Cefalù Film Festival 2026, addresses highly relevant and current social issues, significantly contributing to raising awareness and fostering understanding among younger generations.
The “School and Cinema Award” will be assigned to three film projects produced by Italian schools, with the aim of encouraging youth participation in cinema and raising awareness of social, cultural, and artistic issues. Each year, the Cefalù Film Festival will select and award three distinct projects, one for each level of education, with particular attention to production quality, creativity, and educational impact.
The Best Academy Film Award will be assigned to the best film produced by students from film institutes and film academies. This award aims to celebrate the commitment, creativity, and innovation of young directors in training, offering them a prestigious platform to emerge and share their talent with a wider audience.
The Best Academy Docufilm Award will be assigned to the best documentary produced by students from film institutes, film academies, or professional training courses. This award aims to celebrate the commitment and passion of young directors who, during their academic path, succeed in creating meaningful works in the documentary genre.
The “Earth Day Award” will be assigned to the best documentary addressing environmental issues, with the aim of raising awareness and encouraging change toward greater ecological consciousness and active commitment to protecting our planet. This award focuses on film projects that explore crucial environmental issues such as climate change, conservation of natural resources, biodiversity, sustainability, and the fight against pollution.
The “Solidarity Award” will be assigned to the best film addressing the theme of bullying, with the aim of raising awareness about this serious social issue affecting thousands of young people and adults worldwide. Bullying, in its various forms—physical, psychological, and online—continues to have a devastating impact on victims, deeply affecting their self-esteem, psychological well-being, and, in many cases, their future.
The “Women Award” will be assigned to the best film addressing the theme of women, highlighting their evolution, daily challenges, and rights that are still often denied or underestimated. This award aims to celebrate and recognize films that explore the female figure in all its facets: from stories of empowerment and the fight for equality, to the representation of the difficulties and discrimination women face in various social, cultural, and economic contexts.
The “Hope Award” will be assigned to the best film addressing religious themes, with a particular focus on stories that explore faith, spirituality, and human values connected to religion. This award aims to celebrate works that approach religion not only as a system of beliefs, but also as a source of reflection, growth, and hope for individuals and society.
The “Cefalù Film Festival Award” is a special recognition that will be assigned to the best film made by a young director. This award celebrates innovation, creativity, and emerging talent in the film landscape, highlighting works by directors who enter the world of cinema with an original vision and fresh storytelling. The goal is to support and promote new talents, offering them a prestigious showcase and encouraging them to continue their creative journey. The winning film will be selected by the jury based on its originality, its ability to communicate with the audience, and its overall quality, from concept to execution, in order to reward the best projects created by those who, with courage and passion, are beginning their careers in cinema.
The “Best Docufilm Award” will be assigned to the Italian documentary that stands out for its artistic quality, depth of content, and emotional impact. This recognition celebrates works that tell meaningful stories, exploring social, cultural, historical, or environmental themes with an original and engaging approach. The aim of the award is to enhance the work of Italian directors in the documentary field, rewarding the ability to portray reality in an authentic, impactful way that stimulates deep reflection in the audience. The winning documentary will be selected by the jury based on its ability to combine cinematic technique, thematic research, and emotional impact.
Foreign Short Film Award
The Foreign Short Film Award is assigned to the best international short film in competition. This award celebrates cinematic excellence in short format, recognizing works from around the world that stand out for originality, creativity, and emotional impact. The awarded short film must be able to tell a complete and evocative story within a limited time, demonstrating a strong capacity for narrative synthesis and artistic expression. The award highlights the importance of short films as a cinematic form capable of conveying powerful and thought-provoking messages, while promoting intercultural dialogue and the dissemination of diverse global film traditions.
The Best Foreign Film Award is assigned to the best feature film produced outside Italy, selected for its artistic, cultural, and thematic excellence. This award celebrates international cinema and recognizes films that, despite originating from different contexts, are able to address universal themes and tell stories that resonate with a global audience.
The “Peace Journalist Award” will be assigned to the journalist who, during 2026, has distinguished themselves through their commitment and actions in favor of peace, justice, and the promotion of human rights. This award celebrates journalists who, with courage and determination, use their writing or voice to raise awareness on crucial issues such as armed conflicts, human rights violations, and social injustices, actively contributing to building a more just and peaceful world.
The Mediterranean Environment Award will be assigned to security and defense forces that have distinguished themselves for their commitment to environmental protection. This recognition celebrates the efforts of armed forces and police forces that have stood out in activities supporting ecological protection, safeguarding territories, and preserving natural resources. An award that highlights the importance of collaboration between institutions to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Art. 1: Submissions to the Cefalù Film Festival 2026 take place from April 15, 2026 to June 15, 2026.

Art. 2: For the 2026 edition of the Cefalù Film Festival, the following may compete:

Italian films produced after December 31, 2023
Foreign films produced after March 31, 2023 and subtitled in Italian

Art. 3: The Director participating in the Cefalù Film Festival 2026:

May participate with only one film
Must submit the film on the Festhome platform
Must indicate the production date of the film
Must include their biography
Must include the film synopsis
Must include their phone number
Must include a valid and active email address
Must choose the awards for which they wish to compete

Art. 4: The Director participating in the Cefalù Film Festival must indicate at the time of submission which awards they intend to compete for.

Art. 5: The Director participating in the Cefalù Film Festival at the time of submission must:

a. Confirm that they are not participating in other events, showcases, or film festivals held in Cefalù during 2026.

b. Indicate whether they are willing to collaborate with other directors participating in the 2026 edition of the Festival to create a collective project dedicated to Peace.

c. Indicate whether they wish to participate in the film showcase that will take place on the MyMovie platform during the 2026 edition of the Festival.

d. Indicate whether they are available to participate in the “Behind the scenes” section of the Festival by sending a docufilm that tells the behind-the-scenes story of their production.
Indicate whether they intend to participate in the online film showcase on MyMovie.

Art. 6: Participants in the Cefalù Film Festival 2026 undertake to:

Comply with the official Festival regulations.
Regularly consult the official website: https://festivalcinemacefalu.it/
Frequently monitor the email used for submission for updates and important communications.
Avoid requesting information already available on the official Festival website.
Not request information through the Festival’s social media pages.
Send only the material requested by the Festival.
Respond promptly to emails sent by the Festival, especially those containing the wording: “Reply to this message within 10 days”.

Art. 7: The Cefalù Film Festival:

Does not provide any contribution for travel and accommodation expenses.
Awards prizes and special recognitions in person.
Does not send prizes or trophies to award winners.
Sends diplomas and certificates by email, upon request from interested parties, to be made from December 1 to December 15, 2026 by writing to info@festivalcinemacefalu.it

Art. 8: The selections and the awarding of prizes and recognitions at the Cefalù Film Festival are carried out by the Festival Jury, composed of 793 cinema experts operating worldwide.

Art. 9: The Cefalù Film Festival awards the following prizes:
*. Best Director Award
*. Best Actress Award
*. Best Actor Award
*. Best Italian Film Award
*. Best Foreign Film Award
*. Best Animated Film Award
*. Best Screenplay Award
*. Best Original Score Award