Milano Film Festival

Overview

The Milano Film Festival is Milan's most adventurous film festival. Founded in 1996 and held annually in September, the festival presents formally innovative international and Italian independent cinema in Italy's most cosmopolitan city.

Milan's identity as Italy's fashion, design, and financial capital gives the festival a distinctive urban sophistication. The city's large creative industries population -- designers, architects, photographers, and advertising professionals -- provides an audience for innovative cinema that appreciates formal ambition alongside commercial savvy.

The festival has developed a reputation for programming emerging international directors before they achieve wider recognition and for championing Italian independent filmmaking that would otherwise struggle for attention alongside mainstream Italian commercial cinema.

Key Sections

• International Competition -- formally innovative films competing for jury prizes
• Italian Cinema -- new Italian independent productions
• Short Film Competition -- Italian and international short films
• Retrospectives -- programs honoring adventurous filmmakers
• Special Events -- industry events and premieres

What Filmmakers Should Know

Milano Film Festival accepts open submissions. The festival is receptive to formally adventurous and visually sophisticated work. For Italian independent filmmakers, Milan provides an important alternative platform to the Rome and Turin festivals.

Major Awards

• Grand Prix -- Best Film
• Best Italian Film
• Audience Award

Festival History

Milano Film Festival was founded in 1996 and has operated continuously, building a community around innovative cinema in Italy's most internationally connected city.

See Also

For Italian cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.