From June 10th to 14th the 72nd edition of the festival brings previews to Sicily, guests
international and a program that intertwines the big screen, TV series, history of the
cinema and territory.
.
From June 10 to 14, 2026, Sicily will once again be one of the centers of international cinema. The
72nd edition of the Taormina Film Fest confirms the link between the Ionian city and the great
screen, bringing screenings, meetings and previews between the Ancient Theatre, the Palace of
Congresses and the Cinema House. Italian Traditions dedicates space to an event that
It is not only a film festival, but also a way to rediscover the island as
place of culture and stories to tell.
The festival arrives at this edition with a history spanning over seventy years. Born in the second
post-war and grew up between worldliness, auteur cinema and great previews, he built in
time a particular identity: not that of an event closed inside the rooms, but of a
event capable of transforming the landscape into part of the experience. The Ancient Theatre,
with the cavea overlooking the sea and Mount Etna, it remains the strongest symbol of this vocation.
The artistic direction is entrusted to Tiziana Rocca, while the organization is curated by the
Taormina Arte Sicilia Foundation, with the support of regional and national institutions. The
The program is divided into an international competition, out of competition, and special events at the Theatre
Antico and a section dedicated to short films, designed to give space to works related to the
Sicily and the enhancement of the territory.
The event will open with the Italian preview of the first episode of the third season of
House of the Dragon, one of the most anticipated television titles of the year. The presence of the series
confirms the expansion of the festival to contemporary audiovisual languages, at a time
in which the boundary between cinema, platforms and TV series is increasingly fluid. The review chooses thus
to dialogue with the international public without renouncing one’s identity: that of a
historic event capable of looking to the present and the transformations of industry.
The 2026 program alternates previews, tributes and meetings with protagonists of Italian cinema
and foreigner. Announced guests include Helen Mirren, Russell Crowe, Jane Campion,
Franco Nero, Giancarlo Giannini, Clive Owen, Fernanda Torres, Emile Hirsch, Connie
Nielsen, Scott Eastwood, Micaela Ramazzotti, Miriam Leone, Michele Placido,
Alessandro Preziosi and many others. The international jury is chaired by Jane Campion and
includes, among others, Holly Hunter, Pietro Castellitto, Sue Kroll, Francine Maisler,
Miyako Bellizzi and Akinola Davies Jr.
Among the most anticipated moments are the riconoscimenti alla carriera e gli incontri pubblici. Helen
Mirren e Giancarlo Giannini riceveranno il Lifetime Achievement Award, mentre Russell
Crowe will be the protagonist of a meeting with the students and the world premiere of Bear
Country, action thriller directed by Derrick Borte. The festival also dedicates space to tributes,
with titles such as Bellissima by Luchino Visconti, Piano Lessons by Jane Campion, Happiness of
Micaela Ramazzotti and Brunello the Gentle Visionary, a documentary by Giuseppe Tornatore
dedicated to Brunello Cucinelli.
The presence of Giuseppe Tornatore introduces one of the most interesting threads of the edition:
the relationship between cinema, Italian identity and cultural promotion. The Sicilian appointment
It doesn’t just host movies and celebrities, but becomes a place where the big screen engages in dialogue
with cultural craftsmanship, with business, with music and with the history of entertainment
Italian. Alongside the projections, in fact, the programme includes conversations, panels and
moments dedicated to broader themes, such as the role of women in audiovisual, the
sustainability, the valorization of the territory and support for new voices. In this direction
the short films section is also included, which looks at Sicily not as simple
background, but as a narrative space, offering visibility to emerging authors, productions
independent and shorter narrative forms.
The Taormina Film Fest 2026 therefore moves on multiple levels. On the one hand there is the charm of the event,
with the red carpet, evenings at the Teatro Antico and international guests. On the other there is one
deeper cultural dimension, linked to the ability of cinema to create connections between
different places, generations and gazes. It is this balance that makes the manifestation different
from many other festivals: the city not only serves as a framework, but also enters into the story.
