Blog: Film festivals

The 14th edition 2023 of the Palena Film Festival invites you to submit your short film, animation or music video.

The Palena Film Festival is a four-day competition that will take place in Palena (CH) - Italy from 10th to 12th August 2023.
The prize-giving night will take place at the Aventino Theatre “Ettore Maria Margadonna” in Palena, on 12th August 2023 (21:00 local time).

Founded in 2008 by the cultural association of Palena (Associazione Culturale Palenese) and recognized as one of the most important short film festivals in the world, the Palena Film Festival (previously kwown as “Premio Cinematografico Palena” since its inception nine years ago) has received over 10500 short films, animations and music videos from more than 125 countries of all 5 continents through the years in the past nine editions.

The Palena Film Festival is open to any director and/or screenwriter together with their own, recently made productions of all kind of styles and subjects.

Each director can submit short films, animations or music videos (entry fee for each project).

The running time of the films must not exceed 40 minutes (opening and closing credits included).

The deadline for submitting entries is 30th June 2023 (23:59 local time).

The admission fee is fixed to €20.00 (EUR) for each project.

The Palena Film Festival celebrates two eminent representatives of the community of Palena: the Italian screenwriter Ettore Maria Margadonna (received Academy nomination and Nastro d’Argento Italian Film Award; worked in “Bread, Love and Dreams” of Luigi Comencini with Vittorio De Sica and Gina Lollobrigida; “Bread, Love and Jealousy” of Luigi Comencini with Vittorio De Sica and Gina Lollobrigida; “Scandal in Sorrento” of Dino Risi with Vittorio De Sica, Sophia Loren and Tina Pica; “Bread, Love and Andalusia” of Javier Setó with Vittorio De Sica, Carmen Sevilla and Vicente Parra; actor in “The White Sheik” of Federico Fellini with Alberto Sordi and Giulietta Masina) and the American singer and television personality Perry Como (Grammy Award, known for popular songs such as “Magic Moments”, “Papa loves mambo”, “Caterina”, “Here we come a-Caroling”, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas“; worked with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, also known for popular television shows such as “The Perry Como Show” and “The Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall).

Notable features of the festival include:
• over 10500 short films, animations and music videos received

• over 125 countries involved

• all 5 continents involved

• President of the jury is Prof. Marta Fontana

• the jury, nominated by the cultural association of Palena, consists of engineers, artists and representatives of the world of culture, film, performing arts and music.

• past personalities/celebrities attending have included, among the directors: Giuseppe Marco Albano (Nastro d'Argento and David di Donatello Italian Film Awards), Sydney Sibilia (Ciak D'oro and Italian Golden Globe Film Awards; worked in "Smetto quando voglio"), Alessia Scarso (worked in “Italo”), Pierluigi Ferrandini (worked with Sergio Rubini), Piero Messina (worked with Paolo Sorrentino and Juliette Binoche), Floria Sigismondi (MTV Video Music Awards, MTV European Awards and Juno awards; worked with Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Interpol, The White Stripes, David Bowie, Sigur Rós, Sheryl Crow, The Cure, Björk, Muse, Justin Timberlake and Marilyn Manson)

• among the actors: Raoul Bova (Nastro d'Argento and Italian Golden Globe Film Awards), Alessandro Haber (David di Donatello, Nastro d'Argento and Italian Golden Globe Film Awards), Claudia Pandolfi, Ricky Memphis, Jane Alexander, Alessandro Preziosi, Donatella Rettore, Nino Frassica, Giancarlo Magalli, Corrado Oddi, Enzo Salvi, Toni Bertorelli, Sergio Fiorentini, Gabriele Pignotta, Anna Orso, Lindsay Kemp, Michela Andreozzi, Elisabetta Ferracini, Alessandro Borghi, Giancarlo Ratti

• among the artists, musicians and bands in the music videos: Duran Duran, Royksopp, Gnars Barkley, Moby, Rob Thomas, Korn, Modest mouse, Nicky Romero with Nile Rodgers, Offspring, Samuel Beam (Iron and Wine), Subsonica, Nek, Fabio Concato, Dolcenera, Mango with Franco Battiato, Peppino Di Capri, Teatro degli orrori

• among the special guests: Randall Paul (Actor)(worked in "Eyes wide shut" of Stanley Kubrick with Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Sydney Pollack; "Four Weddings and a funeral" of Mike Newell with Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell; “Mission Impossible" of Brian De Palma with Tom Cruise, Jon Voight and Jean Reno; "La Verità sta in cielo" of Roberto Faenza with Riccardo Scamarcio, Maya Sansa and Greta Scarano)Giulia Di Quilio (worked in "The great beauty" of Paolo Sorrentino) In 2018 he is one of the protagonists of the comedy It is not true but I believe it and also enters as guest in the soap opera" soap opera, playing the role of Clara Fiorito. Mauro John Capece (director), Corinna Coroneo (actress), Corrado Oddi (actor), Prof. Gian Piero Consoli (professor of History and Criticism of Cinema at the G. D'Annunzio University of Chieti - Italy), Maurizio Becker (editor in chef of musical magazines "Classic Rock" and “Vinile”) Sharon Salerni (photographer) Celeste Di Febo (Producer FASA), Mila Cantagallo (Journalist Rete 8) Dott.ss Paola Bellarosa (Abruzzo Region)

The Palena Film Festival enhances and promotes Palena, its territory and its cultural vocation which, during the years, has identified itself through this distinctive event.
Local history, heritage and artistic compositions all complement to make the right background to visual and musical means of expression.
The festival also presents a range of special events included film workshops, retrospectives and non-competitive feature films screening that are attended by the whole town, its city authorities, tourists and keen filmgoers.

The Palena Film Festival is promoted by the cultural association of Palena (Associazione Culturale Palenese), the Region of Abruzzo, the Municipality of Palena, Province of Chieti, Chamber of commerce of Chieti and Abruzzo Tourism Promotion.