Napoli Film Festival

Overview

The Napoli Film Festival is southern Italy's longest-running competitive film festival. The 26th edition (XXVI) took place in two parts: the main international program ran December 1 to 3, 2025, and the Schermo Napoli regional competition ran December 15 to 17, 2025. The festival is directed by Mario Violini and held at the TEDéR - Teatro del Rimedio, via Flavio Gioia 66, Naples (Metro Line 1, Municipio station, Depretis exit).

The 2025 edition opened with La Fossa delle Marianne (Marianengraben) by Eileen Byrne, a first feature from Luxembourg, Italy, and Austria starring Luna Wedler, who received the Premio Mastroianni at the Venice Film Festival 2025. The opening day also included L'Ultimo Cabaret, a documentary on the history of cabaret featuring Claudio Bisio, Luciana Littizzetto, Enzo Iacchetti, and Paolo Rossi, and C'e un posto nel mondo by Francesco Falaschi with Cristiana Dell'Anna and Paolo Sassanelli.

The festival's international section operates by invitation, with the programming committee selecting films that have premiered at other major festivals. The Schermo Napoli section, now in its 21st edition, is the competitive arm open to regional filmmakers - specifically films by Campania-based directors or films set in Campania. For filmmakers working in southern Italy, Schermo Napoli is one of the few festival platforms dedicated to regional cinema.

Submission Details

The Napoli Film Festival operates two distinct submission pathways.

International Section (Main Festival):

The international program does not run an open submission call. Films are selected by invitation through the artistic direction of Mario Violini and the programming committee. The committee evaluates films that have premiered at other international festivals. Filmmakers or sales agents who want their film considered can contact the festival directly.

Schermo Napoli (Regional Competition):

Schermo Napoli accepts submissions by email for films meeting regional eligibility criteria.

Submission materials required by email:

• Link to the film
• Pressbook (cast/credits, synopsis, director biography)
• Trailer
• Photographs and poster
• Contact email and representative details

The festival notes that due to technical time constraints, the 2025 selection was conducted by invitation rather than through a regular open call. Filmmakers should monitor the official festival website for future edition calls.

Premiere Status Requirements

The international section does not publish formal premiere status requirements, as films are selected by invitation. The Schermo Napoli section requires that films be produced after January 1, 2024, but does not specify a premiere requirement. Films that have had prior public screenings in Naples or elsewhere in Campania may still be eligible for Schermo Napoli, though filmmakers should confirm with the festival directly.

Program Sections

• International Preview Section - invited films screening as Italian or regional premieres, selected from major international festivals. The 2025 program included films from Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, and other European countries
• Schermo Napoli (21st edition) - competitive section for Campania-region filmmakers, including feature films, documentaries, and short films. Films are evaluated by a jury and screened at the TEDéR theater
• Special Events - screenings with attending directors and cast members, including Q&A sessions

What Filmmakers Should Know

The Napoli Film Festival is a smaller-scale operation compared to the major Italian festivals in Venice and Rome. The festival's venue - the TEDéR (Teatro del Rimedio) - is a theater space rather than a traditional cinema, which means screenings use video projection via PC rather than DCP. Filmmakers selected for Schermo Napoli should prepare digital screening files compatible with PC-based projection, not DCPs.

The festival's two-part structure (December 1-3 for the international section, December 15-17 for Schermo Napoli) is unusual. The split scheduling allows the festival to operate with limited venue availability while maintaining both its international and regional programming. Filmmakers attending the festival should plan for two potential trips to Naples if their film is in Schermo Napoli, as the regional section occurs two weeks after the main program.

For international filmmakers, the festival's by-invitation model means there is no open submission process to navigate. The programming committee selects from films that have already premiered at other festivals, which means the Napoli Film Festival functions as a secondary showcase rather than a discovery festival. International filmmakers whose films screen at Venice, Cannes, Berlin, or other A-list festivals should ensure their sales agent or producer includes Napoli in their Italian festival circuit outreach.

For Campania-based filmmakers, Schermo Napoli is the primary competitive opportunity. The regional focus means the competition pool is limited to films from or about Campania, which reduces the number of competing titles but also limits the festival's reach outside the region. The email-based submission process (no FilmFreeway, no online portal) reflects the festival's smaller operational scale. Filmmakers should send complete submission packages and follow up directly if they do not receive confirmation of receipt.

The festival's location in Naples - a city with deep cinematic history from neorealism through contemporary Italian cinema - provides a culturally rich backdrop. The TEDéR theater is located near the Municipio metro station in central Naples, accessible from the city's historic center. The festival's partnership with Commedia Futura, the theater company that operates the TEDéR, represents a cross-disciplinary collaboration between theater and cinema organizations.

Major Awards

Schermo Napoli Competition:

• Best Film - jury prize for the top feature film in the Campania regional competition
• Best Documentary - jury prize for documentaries
• Best Short Film - jury prize for short films

The international preview section does not have a formal competition or jury prizes. Films in this section screen as previews and special events.

Festival History

The Napoli Film Festival was founded in 2000 by Mario Violini, who continues to serve as artistic director. The festival has operated continuously for 26 editions, making it southern Italy's longest-running competitive film festival. The Schermo Napoli section was introduced in 2005 as a dedicated competitive platform for Campania-region filmmakers, and has run for 21 editions as of 2025.

The festival has historically programmed a mix of international preview screenings and regional Italian cinema, with particular attention to southern Italian filmmaking. Naples's cinematic heritage - from the neorealist films shot in the city and surrounding region to the Neapolitan cultural world celebrated by contemporary filmmakers - provides the festival with its programming identity.

The 2025 edition marked a venue change to the TEDéR - Teatro del Rimedio, through a partnership between Mario Violini and Commedia Futura, the theater company directed by Veronica Mazza that opened the TEDéR to cinema programming. Previous editions were held at various venues across Naples.

See Also

Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. Estimate your acceptance probability with the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For festival circuit strategy and planning, see Film Festival Strategy. For understanding the European film market and international sales, see International Film Markets. Visit the official Napoli Film Festival website for current edition details.