Giffoni Film Festival (July 17-25, 2026 Valle Piana), Italy
The myth of Icarus lies at the heart of the visual identity for the 56th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival, scheduled from July 17 to 25, 2026, in Giffoni Valle Piana, in the heart of Campania. Artistic director Luca Apolito has chosen the archetypal figure of one who dares to fly beyond the known to embody this year’s theme: “The Impossible Things”. A white figure with wings spread wide against a red field, with scattered feathers hinting at the risk inherent in every leap toward the impossible. Not merely a symbol of falling, then, but above all of courage: the courage of new generations called upon to imagine what does not yet exist.
Founded in 1971 by Claudio Gubitosi and organized by the Ente Autonomo Giffoni Experience, a non-profit association co-financed by the Campania Regional Government and the Italian Ministry of Culture, the festival is today recognized as the world’s most prestigious international film festival dedicated to young audiences. What makes Giffoni truly unique is its jury: 4,500 young people from over 40 countries and more than 400 Italian cities, towns and villages gather each year at the Cittadella del Cinema to watch, discuss and vote on the films in competition, in a process that places the critical and cultural development of new generations at its core. Over the years, Giffoni’s blue carpet has welcomed guests of the caliber of Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere.
The 56th edition introduces a significant new direction: sport and food become central thematic pillars of the program. On the sports front, the festival has assembled a roster of guests and sport ambassadors who will meet with the jurors in a participatory format structured around three moments: screenings of audiovisual content with a sporting theme, a large outdoor arena featuring activations across different disciplines, and dialogue sessions with local and national sports associations.
The international dimension remains one of Giffoni’s defining characteristics. With delegations from over 40 countries, the festival has over the years built a global network of co-productions and events in Brazil, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Spain, Croatia and Poland, collaborating with leading institutions such as the Doha Film Institute. Also continuing is Italia Experience, a project co-founded with the Ministry of Culture – General Directorate for Cinema and Audiovisual, which has already engaged thousands of young people across Europe in the promotion of Italian film culture.
For updates on program, guests and events, visit the official website: en.giffoni.it
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The myth of Icarus lies at the heart of the visual identity for the 56th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival, scheduled from July 17 to 25, 2026, in Giffoni Valle Piana, in the heart of Campania. Artistic director Luca Apolito has chosen the archetypal figure of one who dares to fly beyond the known to embody this year’s theme: “The Impossible Things”. A white figure with wings spread wide against a red field, with scattered feathers hinting at the risk inherent in every leap toward the impossible. Not merely a symbol of falling, then, but above all of courage: the courage of new generations called upon to imagine what does not yet exist.
Founded in 1971 by Claudio Gubitosi and organized by the Ente Autonomo Giffoni Experience, a non-profit association co-financed by the Campania Regional Government and the Italian Ministry of Culture, the festival is today recognized as the world’s most prestigious international film festival dedicated to young audiences. What makes Giffoni truly unique is its jury: 4,500 young people from over 40 countries and more than 400 Italian cities, towns and villages gather each year at the Cittadella del Cinema to watch, discuss and vote on the films in competition, in a process that places the critical and cultural development of new generations at its core. Over the years, Giffoni’s blue carpet has welcomed guests of the caliber of Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere.
The 56th edition introduces a significant new direction: sport and food become central thematic pillars of the program. On the sports front, the festival has assembled a roster of guests and sport ambassadors who will meet with the jurors in a participatory format structured around three moments: screenings of audiovisual content with a sporting theme, a large outdoor arena featuring activations across different disciplines, and dialogue sessions with local and national sports associations.
The international dimension remains one of Giffoni’s defining characteristics. With delegations from over 40 countries, the festival has over the years built a global network of co-productions and events in Brazil, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Spain, Croatia and Poland, collaborating with leading institutions such as the Doha Film Institute. Also continuing is Italia Experience, a project co-founded with the Ministry of Culture – General Directorate for Cinema and Audiovisual, which has already engaged thousands of young people across Europe in the promotion of Italian film culture.
For updates on program, guests and events, visit the official website: en.giffoni.it
Share:
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