Ischia Film Festival 2026: International cinema showcased amidst history and unique landscapes.

The Ischia Film Festival returns to illuminate the international film scene in the evocative setting of the Aragonese Castle, from June 27 to July 4, 2026. Now in its 24th edition, the festival confirms its mission to explore the relationship between cinema, landscape, and territorial identity, offering audiences a unique perspective on stories that span the globe.

Directed by Michelangelo Messina and organized by the Art-Movie Third Sector Organization, the event features a selection of 66 works from 33 nations, chosen from over 500 submissions from more than 50 countries. The official competition features 32 films, including 27 premieres, divided into feature films, short films, and a special section dedicated to human rights and denied places, called "Location Denied." Additionally, the online section "Borders" enriches the program with works not included in competition.

Screenings alternate with morning masterclasses at the "La Colombaia" villa, creating an ongoing dialogue between viewing, education, and direct interaction with the filmmakers. Among the most anticipated films are "Era" by Vincenzo Marra, featuring Maurizio Casagrande and Giovanni Esposito; "The God of Love" by Francesco Lagi, starring Isabella Ragonese; "Antartica – Almost a Fairy Tale" by Lucia Calamaro; and "The Tasters" by Silvio Soldini, which tells the story of the women who tasted food intended for Hitler during World War II.

The festival pays tribute to two great figures of the Italian artistic scene: the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Silvio Soldini, a renowned director who has sensitively captured human fragility, while the Ischia Film Award will go to Lello Arena, an actor and writer who has left an indelible mark on Italian theater and television.

The partnership with "Italy for Movies," the national portal dedicated to film locations and incentives, has been renewed. The portal will award the Best Italian Executive Production. Among the new features is the debut of the "Salvatore Lauro" Award, dedicated to productions that choose Ischia as a set, confirming the inextricable link between cinema and the region.

Looking to the future, the festival announces a new section dedicated to sailing in film, which will debut in the 25th edition in 2027, thus expanding the dialogue between image, landscape, and travel. The Ischia Film Festival continues to be a benchmark for cinema that narrates places and communities, supported by important institutional bodies and sponsored by the Municipalities of Ischia and Forio.