The full program for the ninth edition of the Saturnia Film Festival has been announced , the event dedicated to emerging cinema promoted by Aradia Productions, chaired by Antonella Santarelli , and artistically directed by director Alessandro Grande. The festival will take place from Thursday, July 30th to Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, with a special pre-opening on July 24th, confirming its itinerant vocation throughout the Tuscan Maremma, including San Martino sul Fiora, Saturnia, Montemerano, and the Terme di Saturnia.
The program combines screenings, meetings, and special events, spanning the Feature Film Competition and the Short Film Competition. Among the guests is Carolina Cavalli , who will meet the public in Montemerano on Saturday, August 1st, after the screening of her new film, The Kidnapping of Arabella, starring Benedetta Porcaroli and already entered into the official competition. Alongside her, Monica Guerritore will be the star of the evening on July 31st, presenting Anna, a portrait dedicated to Anna Magnani. Completing the feature film selection are Francesco Sossai’s Le città di pianura.
The jury for the Short Film Competition was also announced, chaired by Paolo Orlando ( Medusa Film ) and composed of Francesco Gheghi, Valentina Lodovini, Manuela Rima , and Corrado Azzollini. They will be responsible for awarding prizes to an international selection that includes, among others, Choice by Marko Crnogoroski , Normal by Lara Panah-Izadi , and Rhubarb Rhubarb by Kate McMullen , alongside Italian titles such as Arborea by Letizia Zatti , Arca by Lorenzo Quagliozzi , and Tempi aggiuntive by Matteo Memè. Among the animation selections are Mud by Caterina Salvadori and Mariasole Brusa , Retirement Plan by John Kelly , winner of the 2026 Oscars, and Rukeli by Alessandro Rak.
The Women’s Views section, created in collaboration with Mujeres nel Cinema and the Olympia de Gouges Association, features three short films by female directors focusing on women’s issues : Gente per bene by Irene Girotti, La parola amore non esisteva by Eva Dematté , and Punti nascondenti by Beatrice Baldacci.
The festival is organized by Aradia Productions with the support of public institutions and private partners, including MIC Cinema e Audiovisivo, the Municipality of Manciano, the Fondazione CR Firenze, and Medusa Film as main sponsors.
Source: CineCittà
