From October 13 to 25, 2026, Rome will transform into a giant open-air movie theater. The event is the 21st Rome Film Festival, a special edition celebrating two decades of masterpieces. The heart of the festival will, as always, bethe “Ennio Morricone” Auditorium Parco della Musica, but many other venues throughout the city will host screenings, discussions, and side events.
In total, the Rome Film Festival will offer film enthusiasts twelve days to experience cinema up close: from big stars on the red carpet to small independent gems.
The Rome Film Festival: Cinema Experienced as a Protagonist
The Rome Film Festival is not an event reserved for industry professionals, but a celebration designed for anyone who loves cinema and wants an experience that’s a little different from the usual.
In fact, you can catch world premieres before the films hit theaters, attend Q&As with directors and actors, explore retrospectives and restored classics, and stroll down the red carpets (even just to watch—no VIP invitation needed!).
In short, the Rome Film Festival is the perfect opportunity if you’re in Rome during these dates and want to do something unique that combines entertainment, culture, and a touch of glamour.
The themes of the 21st edition of the Rome Film Festival
Every festival has its central theme, and the 2026 edition is no exception. The 21st edition of the Rome Film Festival presents a program that spans different genres and styles: from auteur cinema to documentaries, from debut films to TV series. Among the themes featured across multiple sections are music and sports, with films dedicated, among others, to Jovanotti, Mano Negra, and tennis player Billie Jean King.
The focus on new voices in cinema continues: the Progressive Cinema – Visions for Tomorrow’s World competition brings together 18 international films. The Best Debut Film Award is also scheduled, as well as—for the second year—the Best Documentary Award.
And there will be no shortage of tributes to the history of cinema: the Festival honors Gillo Pontecorvo with an award named after him and a restored screening of *The Battle of Algiers*; the program also includes tributes to Jacques Perrin and other special sections dedicated to the great names of the seventh art. The official image for this year’s edition, meanwhile, pays homage to Monica Vitti on the set of *L’eclisse*.
The Most Anticipated Films in Competition
If you enjoy discovering new films, the Progressive Cinema competition is the section you’ll want to keep an eye on. Among the titles that have already piqued the press’s curiosity are:
- *Brianza* by Simone Catania, inspired by a true story and set during the 2009 economic crisis;
- *Ceniza en la boca* (Ashes) by Diego Luna, the story of Lucila, a young Mexican woman grappling with migration between Mexico and Spain;
- *Giorni Felici* by Susanna Nicchiarelli, starring Carlotta Gamba and Riccardo Scamarcio;
- *Congo Boy* by Rafiki Fariala, a debut feature filmed in the Central African Republic, France, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Italy;
- *I Love Boosters* by Boots Riley, starring Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Demi Moore;
- *Mustang* by Kasia Smutniak, a documentary selected for the award dedicated to documentary cinema.
The competition features 18 films in the running, with plenty of room for emerging directors and stories that speak to the present.
Out-of-Competition Premieres
Among the titles in the Grand Public section is *Il rumore delle cose nuove* by Paolo Genovese, the film that opened the festival, starring Emanuela Fanelli, Stefano Accorsi, Vittoria Puccini, and Claudia Pandolfi. Also in this section are *The Debut* by Jesse Eisenberg, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti; *Elsinore*, starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman; and *A Talent for Murder*, starring Helen Mirren.
In the “Best of 2026” section, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s *El ser querido*, starring Javier Bardem, is on the program: the film, which premiered at Cannes, will also serve as an opportunity to present the actor with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The guests and juries of the 2026 Rome Film Festival
A film festival wouldn’t be complete without the stars. In 2065, we’ll see Javier Bardem and Julianne Moore on the red carpet, both recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Bardem will receive his award from Paolo Sorrentino during the screening of *El ser querido*; Moore’s will be presented by Jesse Eisenberg during the screening of *The Debut*. British producer Tessa Ross, meanwhile, will receive the Industry Lifetime Achievement Award.
The jury for the Progressive Cinema competition is chaired by director Jan Komasa, joined by Alice Braga, Saja Kilani, Carlos Marques-Marcet, and Alessio Rigo de Righi. The award for Best Documentary will be presented by a jury led by Roberto Minervini; the jury for Best Debut Film is chaired by Ludovica Rampoldi.
Artistic Director Paola Malanga described the 2026 edition as follows:
How to attend the Rome Film Festival: tickets and prices
Want to choose a screening or a discussion? Here’s the practical information you need to attend the Festival, which runs through October 25:
- Advance ticket sales began on October 7 at 11 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at Boxol or at the ticket offices designated for the various theaters;
- Prices vary depending on the venue and event: they start at €6 at the Casa del Cinema and go up to €30 for some screenings in the Sala Sinopoli;
- Discounts and special rates are available; some activities and screenings are free, subject to availability.
If you’ve already picked a film, check availability and reserve your seat. The complete schedule of events and screenings is available online on the festival’s official website.
At the 2026 Rome Film Festival, the best seats go fast!
