International Sport Film Festival (ISFF)

Overview

The International Sport Film Festival (ISFF) is a sports cinema festival based in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy. The 5th edition runs November 23 to 28, 2026 at the Teatro Supercinema. The festival is open to all kinds of film, television, and web audiovisual productions concerning both professional and amateur sport, including documentary, fiction, animation, TV and digital series, educational films, and social media videos.

The festival accepts works completed between 2025 and 2026 in which sport plays a central role in the narrative or subject matter. All genres, formats, and styles are eligible. There is no limit to the number of works each participant may submit.

ISFF is part of a broader international sports film festival ecosystem. A affiliated event, the International Sport Film Festival Slovenia (ISFF Slovenia), runs June 17 to 19, 2026 in Rogaska Slatina. ISFF Slovenia is a FICTS (Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs) member festival, and its winner receives a direct nomination for the FICTS final festival in Milan in November 2026. Filmmakers targeting the FICTS circuit should consider both festivals.

The Italian ISFF in Castellammare di Stabia is the primary edition covered on this page. It has grown over four editions into a meaningful platform for sports cinema in southern Italy, with an annual preview event at Campitello Matese in Molise.

Submission Details

Submissions are handled through FilmFreeway. Key details for the 2026 edition:

Subtitle Requirements

Subtitles are mandatory for all selected films:

• Films in Italian must include English subtitles
• Films in English must include Italian subtitles
• Films in any other language must include Italian subtitles

Required Submission Materials

Each submission must include:

• Film summary with logline and synopsis (in English or Italian)
• High-resolution JPEG images authorized for promotional use
• Trailer (maximum length: 3 minutes) when available
• Director's biography and filmography including key credits

All submitted works are reviewed by the festival's selection committee. Selected projects are included in the official program and compete in the award categories. All submission deadlines, notification dates, and event dates are published on the official FilmFreeway page.

ISFF Slovenia Submission Details (FICTS Affiliated)

For filmmakers targeting the FICTS circuit, ISFF Slovenia offers a separate submission path:

ISFF Slovenia programs 35 to 40 feature and documentary films focused on sports and Olympism. A media program editor selects 10 to 15 sports films for a special broadcast slot, and the winner receives a special media award plus direct nomination for the FICTS final festival in Milan in November 2026.

Programming Categories

The Italian ISFF programs work across the following categories:

• Sports Documentary - documentary films about sports, athletes, and sporting culture
• Sports Fiction - narrative films centered on athletic competition
• Short Films - short-form sports films across all genres
• Animation - animated films with sports themes
• TV and Digital Series - episodic and web-based sports content
• Educational and Instructional - films about sports technique, training, and education
• Social Media Videos - short-form digital content about sport

The festival is open to both professional and amateur sport subjects. Programming encourages meetings and collaboration between creatives and sports industry operators, creating conditions for the comparison and dissemination of messages of sportsmanship, friendship, fair play, and socio-cultural themes.

Festival History

The International Sport Film Festival in Castellammare di Stabia held its first edition in 2022. The festival has grown over four editions, with the 5th edition scheduled for November 23 to 28, 2026 at the Teatro Supercinema. An annual preview event is held at Campitello Matese in Molise.

The festival is part of the broader FICTS (Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs) ecosystem, which includes member festivals worldwide. FICTS is an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee that promotes sports cinema and television globally. The FICTS final festival is held annually in Milan.

ISFF Slovenia, the FICTS-affiliated Slovenian edition, has been running for five editions and is held in Rogaska Slatina. It programs approximately 35 to 40 films and serves as a qualifying festival for the FICTS Milan final.

What Filmmakers Should Know

The Italian ISFF in Castellammare di Stabia is a relatively young festival (first edition 2022) with a broad definition of sports cinema. The acceptance of social media videos, TV series, and educational films alongside traditional documentaries and fiction features makes it one of the most inclusive sports festivals in terms of format. Filmmakers with non-traditional sports content (web series, short social media pieces) have a platform here that most sports festivals do not offer.

The subtitle requirements are strict and specific. Italian films need English subtitles. English films need Italian subtitles. Films in any other language need Italian subtitles. Filmmakers should budget for subtitle preparation before submission, as non-compliant films will not be screened.

The DCP screening format requirement for theatrical screenings is standard for European festivals. Filmmakers whose films are not in DCP should contact the festival to discuss technical requirements and alternative screening options.

For filmmakers seeking FICTS circuit qualification, ISFF Slovenia is the more strategically valuable festival. Winning at ISFF Slovenia provides a direct nomination for the FICTS final in Milan, which is the highest level of sports cinema recognition in the FICTS ecosystem. The Slovenia submission fees are low (EUR 10 to 20) and the eligibility window is generous (films premiered after January 1, 2024).

Neither festival operates a traditional film market or industry marketplace. The industry value comes from connections to sports organizations, FICTS network access, and the media broadcast opportunities that ISFF Slovenia offers. Filmmakers seeking distribution deals should not expect a market presence. Filmmakers seeking sports industry connections and FICTS recognition will find value.

The Italian ISFF's location in Castellammare di Stabia (near Naples) places it in a region with strong sporting traditions and local audience interest. The festival has developed connections with local sports organizations and media, which gives selected films access to regional Italian audiences that larger festivals in Rome or Milan do not specifically cultivate.

See Also

Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. For documentary filmmaking approaches, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For festival strategy guidance, see Film Festival Strategy. Submit through the ISFF Italy FilmFreeway page or visit the official ISFF Italy website. For ISFF Slovenia, visit the official ISFF Slovenia website or submit through FilmFreeway.