Torino Film Festival

Overview

The Torino Film Festival (TFF) is organized by the National Cinema Museum and has FIAPF Competitive Specialised accreditation. The 44th edition runs November 24 through December 2, 2026, for 9 days. The opening ceremony is held at the Teatro Regio in Turin. TFF screens approximately 150 films across its sections and accepts open submissions via FilmFreeway.

TFF has built its identity on films outside the mainstream: noir, horror, thriller, science fiction, and formally adventurous works that tend to be passed over by more prestige-oriented festivals. The festival's programming philosophy centers on cinema's capacity to provoke, disturb, and transform, making it a natural home for transgressive and genre filmmaking.

Principal subsidies come from the Ministry of Culture, the Piedmont Region, the City of Torino, the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, and the CRT Foundation. TFF is a signatory of the 5050x2020 Gender Equality Protocol.

Submission Details

Submissions for the 44th TFF open March 6, 2026, and close September 6, 2026. All submissions are made through FilmFreeway at filmfreeway.com/torinofilmfest.

Submission Fees

Fees increase on August 1, 2026. If a film is not selected, the submission fee is not refunded. A streaming link must be submitted through the FilmFreeway form by September 6, 2026.

Eligibility

Documentaries and feature films are eligible for the main competition. Short films are capped at 30 minutes including credits. No more than two works per author may be submitted.

Key Sections

• International Features Competition: the main competitive section for feature films and documentaries. A jury of at least five members awards prizes.
• Italiana.corti: Italian short films.
• Italiana.doc: Italian documentaries.
• TFFdoc: international documentaries.
• After Hours: genre and midnight programming. The natural home for horror, thriller, and provocative cinema at TFF.
• Onde: experimental and avant-garde works.
• Retrospective: curated historical programs. The 44th edition features a Marilyn Monroe retrospective.

Major Awards

• Best Film Award: top prize in the International Features Competition
• Special Jury Award
• Best Screenplay Award
• Best Actress Award
• Best Actor Award
• Best Italian Short Film
• Best Documentary
• Audience Award

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Genre Filmmakers

The After Hours section is the primary destination for horror, thriller, and provocative cinema at TFF. If your film has been rejected by more mainstream festivals due to genre content, After Hours is programmed with sensibilities similar to Sitges or Fantastic Fest. TFF positions itself as a platform for genre films seeking European exposure after those festivals.

For Italian Filmmakers

TFF is the most significant Italian festival for independent and genre cinema. The Italiana.corti and Italiana.doc sections provide dedicated competitive slots for Italian short films and documentaries. Italian press coverage at TFF influences year-end Italian film prizes, and the festival's November timing places it in the heart of the Italian film awards period.

Premiere Strategy

The International Features Competition requires Italian Premiere status at minimum, with a strong preference for World and International Premieres. Short films require International or European Premiere status. If your film has already screened in Italy, it is not eligible for the Features Competition. If it has already screened internationally, it is not eligible for the short film sections.

Shipping and Insurance

Shipping costs to and from Torino are covered by the entrant, unless other agreements have been made with the Programming Office. Films and videos are covered by an "all damages" insurance policy (including loss and theft) underwritten by the Festival while in their custody, from copy arrival until outbound shipping. In case of misplacement or damage, the Festival Organizers cover the cost of a new copy according to current Italian rates.

Ticket Prices (43rd Edition Reference)

Full ticket: EUR 7.50. Reduced ticket: EUR 5.50. Carnet and TFF Pass pricing is announced closer to each edition. Accreditation applications for the 43rd TFF were accepted through October 31, 2025.

Festival History

TFF was founded in 1982 and has operated continuously since then, building its identity around genre cinema and formal experimentation. The festival is organized by the National Cinema Museum, which also operates the Museo Nazionale del Cinema housed in the Mole Antonelliana. TFF has championed Italian genre cinema and international transgressive filmmaking through decades of cultural change, maintaining a consistent alternative sensibility. The 44th edition in 2026 features a Marilyn Monroe retrospective as its major curated historical program.

See Also

For genre filmmaking strategies, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. Use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator to evaluate whether submitting to TFF makes financial sense for your project. For distribution deal fundamentals, see Distribution Deals Explained.