The 21st Rome Film Festival will be held from 13 October in the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome till 25 October 2026. The festival will open with 2026 Italian comedy drama film The Noise of New Things by Paolo Genovese. Javier Bardem, and Tessa Ross will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award. Bardem will receive the award from Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino.
Ema Stokholma, a DJ, host, actress, writer and singer, will host the opening of the festival on 13 October in Sala Sinopoli of the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone.
Festival overview This section sums up the main things taking place during the festival:
Programme presentation The press conference to present the programme will take place on 25 September 2026, at 11:30 AM in the Sala Santa Cecilia at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone.
Poster
The official poster of the festival celebtates Italian actress Monica Vitti, with a photograph taken by Sergio Strizzi on the set of Michelangelo Antonioni's 1962 romantic drama film, L'Eclisse. In the photograph, Vitti is surrounded by rigid geometric shapes that are found in the EUR district.
Jury The jury will give awards for best film, best director, best screenplay, best actress, best actor, and also present the grand jury prize. They will also choose a special jury prize, picked by the jury president and the other members from the remaining categories. Progressive Cinema Competition Award Jan Komasa, Polish filmmaker, Jury President
Alice Braga, Brazilian actress and producer Saja Kilani, Jordanian, Palestinian and Canadian actress and poet Carlos Marqués-Marcet, Spanish director, screenwriter and editor Alessio Rigo de Righi, Italian-American director and screenwriter Best Documentary Award Roberto Minervini, Italian film director, screenwriter, photographer, and music producer, Jury President Andrea Queralt, Spanish producer Jessica Sarah Rinland, Argentine-British director
Poste Italiane best debut film award Ludovica Rampoldi, Italian screenwriter and director, Jury President Pauline Loquès, French director Corneliu Porumboiu, Romanian director, screenwriter, producer
Events
Beauty and Quirkness: A Tribute to Goffredo Fofi Goffredo Fofi was an Italian essayist, activist, journalist and film, literary and theatre critic.
In his memory, eleven films that Goffredo cared for deeply, the same ones he picked for his radio show, which later became a book, are presented again through his own voice and through the voices of the people who knew him well. These include his friends, collaborators, and those who felt connected to his free‑thinking, knowledgeable, and brave spirit: Anna Antonelli, Maurizio Braucci, Pietro Marcello, Paolo Mereghetti, Davide Minotti, Emiliano Morreale, Francesco Munzi, Lorenzo Pavolini, Georgette Ranucci, Alice Rohrwacher, and Dario Zonta.
Masterclasses 16 October: Paweł Pawlikowski, Polish director 18 October: Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Spanish director, screenwriter, and producer
Official sections The complete lineup for the edition was presented on 25 September 2026. It includes the world premiere of Bille August's Me, You and Alexandre Castagnetti’s The Phantom of the Opera, a modern adaptation of the novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux.
Three new titles were added to the lineup on 1 October 2026.
Opening film
Il rumore delle cose nuove starring Emanuela Fanelli, Claudia Pandolfi, and Vittoria Puccini, a comedy drama film was selected as the opening film of the festival.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies) The Noise of New Things Il rumore delle cose nuove Paolo Genovese Italy
Progressive Cinema Competition - Visions for the World of Tomorrow
This section consists of 18 titles.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)AshesDiego LunaMexico, Spain Brianza Simone Catania Italy, Switzerland,Closure Michał Marczak PolandCongo BoyRafiki FarialaCentral African Republic, France, Democratic Republic of the Congo, ItalyDuaBlerta BasholliKosovo, Switzerland, FranceEurotrashFrauke Finsterwalder Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Fruit Gathering သစ်သီးခူး Aung Phyoe Myanmar, Czech Republic, France The GuestGæsten Mads Mengel Denmark Happy DaysGiorni felici Susanna Nicchiarelli Italy, Belgium I Love Boosters Boots Riley United StatesI See Buildings Fall Like Lightning Clio Barnard United Kingdom, France, United States The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd Tim Blake Nelson United States Mustang Kasia Smutniak Italy Saints Sants Skateboarding Is Not for GirlsСкејтањето не е за девојчиња Dina Duma North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia, CroatiaUlya Viestur KairishLatvia, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania Voila c'est fini Gustave Kervern France Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep البارح العين ما نامت Rakan Mayasi Belgium, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
Freestyle It is a non-competitive section of free-format and free-style titles, divided into the Film, Arts and Series categories.
Films
English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies) 7 Anniversaries 7 anniversari Sabrina Iannucci Italy, Portugal Cambogia Valerio Lundini Italy Faith Paul Andrew Williams United Kingdom
Arts
English title Original title Director(s) Production countr y(ies) The Modigliani Affair Luca Rea Italy
Series
English title Original title Director(s) Production country y(ies) 177 Days 177 Giorni. Il rapimento di Farouk Kassam Carlo Carlei Italy All's Fair Ryan Murphy United States Cagnàz: Rimini in Crime Alessandro Roja Italy ChiaroScuro Jan Maria Michelini Italy Melania Rea Stefano Mordini Italy
Grand public
English title Original title Director(s) Production country y(ies) A Dangerous Game Karine Silla France The DebutJesse Eisenberg United States De Gaulle: RésistanceAntonin Baudry France, BelgiumDesireMichela Cescon Italy ElsinoreSimon StoneUnited KingdomThe Evening in RomeEnrico Vanzina Italy Everyone's HourStefania Rocca Italy Ghost Song Geister Fatih Akin GermanyI'm Crazy Nicola Prosatore Italy I Play Rocky Peter Farrelly United StatesIt Went Like ThisGianni Zanasi Italy, Spain, AlbaniaJust an illusionÉric Toledano and Olivier Nakache France Klara and the Sun Taika Waititi United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand Me, You Bille August Italy, FranceMinistry of LoveGiacomo Ciarrapico, Luca Vendruscolo Italy The Noise of New Things Il rumore delle cose nuove Paolo Genovese ItalyThe Phantom of the OperaAlexandre Castagnetti France The Profile of the OtherFrancesco Bruni Italy A Quiet Family FuneralMassimiliano Bruno Italy The Rome EightHannu Salonen Germany, SlovakiaThe Roses of MarrakeshGinevra Elkann Italy Se domani non torno Paola Randi Italy A Talent for Murder Anton Corbijn United Kingdom, ItalyYou, Me, UsDaniele Luchetti Italy Violette Changer l'eau des fleurs Jean-Pierre Jeunet France, ItalyWhalefall Brian Duffield United States
Best of 2026
English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies) The Beloved Rodrigo Sorogoyen Spain, France (CdO)Marie Clémentine DusabejamboRwanda, Gabon, France, Norway, Ivory CoastFatherlandPaweł PawlikowskiPoland, France, Italy, GermanyFjordCristian Mungiu Romania, Norway, Denmark, Finland, France, Sweden Hope 호프 Na Hong-jin South Korea Javier Calvo and Javier AmbrossiSpain, FranceA Man of His TimeEmmanuel MarreBelgium, FranceMinotaurAndrey ZvyagintsevFrance, Latvia, Germany Nina Roza Geneviève Dulude-De Celles Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, ItalyThe Only Living Pickpocket in New York (Closing film) Noah Segan United StatesOrange-Flavoured WeddingChristophe HonoréFrance Special screenings
Two titles were added to the section Claudia Gerini's Ricordati ragazza and Ludovico Boccianti's Kintsugi … e sono la mia opera, on 1 October 2026.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country y(ies)The Match Juan Cabral and Santiago FrancoArgentina Ricordati ragazza Claudia Gerini Italy Kintsugi… e sono la mia opera Ludovico Boccianti Italy
History of cinema It is a non-competitive section for exploring the history of Italian and international cinema, including restored versions of films and tributes. Documentaries English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)Alien Vs. Ciro Ciro Ippolito Italy
Restorations
English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)Billy Liar John Schlesinger United Kingdom Boogie Nights Paul Thomas Anderson United StatesThe Eclipse Michelangelo Antonioni Italy Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Leos Carax Italy
Special events A Tribute to Brunello Rondi Brunello Rondi was an Italian screenwriter and film director.
English title Original title Director(s) Cast The Flowers of St. Francis Francesco, giullare di Dio Roberto Rossellini Italy
A Tribute to Gillo Pontecorvo Gillo Pontecorvo was an Italian filmmaker associated with the political cinema movement of the 1960s and '70s.
English title Original title Director(s) Cast The Battle of Algiers La battaglia di Algeri Gillo Pontecorvo Italy, Algeria
A Tribute to Jacques Perrin Jacques Perrin was a French actor and film producer.
English title Original title Director(s) Cast The Young Girls of Rochefort Les Demoiselles de Rochefor Jacques Demy France Cinema Paradiso Océans Giuseppe Tornatore France, Italy Oceans Nuovo Cinema Paradiso Jacques Perrin France, Spain
Tribute to Tessa Ross – Industry Lifetime Achievement Award Tessa Ross, English film producer and executive.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country(ies)Billy Elliot Stephen Daldry United KingdomIn Bruges Martin McDonagh United Kingdom, United States The Lobster Yorgos Lanthimos Greece, France, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom Shame Steve McQueen United Kingdom The Zone of Interest Jonathan Glazer United Kingdom, United States, Poland
Alice nella città
The autonomous parallel section Alice nella città unfolding within Rome Film Fest dedicated to younger generations. 24th edition will run from 13 October to 25. Out of 12 films in the International Competition, six are debut features.
Opening film
Wildwood, Travis Knight, United States Competition The Accompanist, Zach Woods, United States Bad Beast, Bàrbara Farré, Spain Big Girls Don’t Cry, Paloma Schneideman, New Zealand Butterfly Jam, Kantemir Balagov, France Everytime, Sandra Wollner, Austria, Germany Extra Geography, Molly Manners, United Kingdom Gabin, Maxence Voiseux, France, Germany, Switzerland Iron Boy, Louis Clichy, France, Belgium La Gradiva, Marine Atlan, France, Italy The Meltdown, Manuela Martelli, Chile, United States, Spain, Mexico Selfie – Lato B, Agostino Ferrente, Italy We Are Aliens, Kohei Kadowaki, Japan, France
Out of competition
Se domani non torno by Paola Randi, Italy
Panorama Italia – Out of Competition Se ami qualcuno dillo, Marco Bonini Parla con me by Sophie Chiarell Carmelo – Dalla porta di Dozier alla porta del Notorious, Corrado Rizza Un altro giorno insieme, Alessandro Guida L’elisir d’amore, Andrea Brusa
Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award Javier Bardem, Spanish actor
Julianne Moore, American actress
Industry Lifetime Achievement Award
Tessa Ross, English film producer and executive
Banca Ifis Music Award Starting from the 21st edition, a new prize called the Banca Ifis Music Award will be presented by Banca Ifis in partnership with the Rome Cinema Foundation and the Rome Music Foundation. Composer Nicola Piovani is the first person to receive this award. Nicola Piovani, Italian composer of contemporary classical music and film, television, and theatrical scores
Gillo Pontecorvo Award From this edition another award in memory of the Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo on the twentieth anniversary of his death will be presented by his son Marco Pontecorvo. Emmanuel Marre's A Man of His Time will be the first awardee. A Man of His Time by Emmanuel Marre
Progressive Lifetime Achievement Award
Anthony Ippolito, American actor
Alice nella città