International Sport Film Festival 2026 – 5th Edition

The International Sport Film Festival (ISFF) returns in 2026 for its fifth edition, continuing its journey at the intersection of sport, cinema, and international storytelling in the city of Castellammare di Stabia (Italy).

Over the years, ISFF has steadily grown into a recognized meeting point for filmmakers working with sports-related stories from around the world. What began as a curated showcase has gradually evolved into a shared space where filmmakers, creators, and professionals come together not only to present their work, but also to experience films side by side, exchange perspectives, and build meaningful connections.

The 2026 edition reflects this natural evolution. Alongside screenings and awards, ISFF will place a stronger focus on moments of encounter and dialogue among international participants. Selected days at the heart of the festival will be dedicated to professional exchange, creating an environment where filmmakers can meet, watch films together, and engage in conversation in a focused and welcoming setting.

To support international participation and simplify logistics for guests traveling from abroad, these activities will be concentrated within a limited number of days, allowing participants to make the most of their time at the festival.

As always, ISFF remains rooted in its local context while opening itself to an international community of storytellers who share a common interest in the cultural, social, and human dimensions of sport.

The full program, schedule, and further details will be announced in the coming weeks. We look forward to welcoming filmmakers from around the world to Castellammare di Stabia for a meaningful and engaging fifth edition of the International Sport Film Festival.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS & PRIZES

The International Sport Film Festival 2026 celebrates outstanding sports storytelling from around the world, honoring creativity, originality, and the social and cultural power of sport across different formats and perspectives.

BEST SPORTS STORY
The main award of the festival, presented to the film that best represents the spirit of ISFF through a powerful and compelling sports story, recognized for its narrative strength, emotional impact, and its ability to connect sport with broader human and social themes.

BEST NARRATIVE FILM
Awarded to the most engaging sports-related fiction film, regardless of length, recognized for strong storytelling, originality, and character development.

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Presented to the documentary that most effectively captures the essence of sport, offering meaningful insight into athletes, communities, or sporting cultures.

BEST DIRECTOR
Recognizing a director whose vision, leadership, and creative choices significantly elevate the quality and impact of a sports-related project.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Celebrating excellence in visual storytelling and the ability to convey the energy, emotion, and aesthetics of sport through outstanding cinematography.

BEST SERIES
Honoring the best episodic sports-related work produced for television or digital platforms, where sport plays a central role across multiple episodes.

BEST STUDENT WORK
Dedicated to emerging filmmakers, this award recognizes outstanding sports-related projects created by students, highlighting fresh perspectives and new talent.

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO
Awarded to the most impactful short-form sports video created specifically for social media platforms, recognizing creativity, storytelling effectiveness, and audience engagement.

BEST AI PROJECT
Awarded to a sports-related project that makes significant and creative use of artificial intelligence as part of the storytelling or production process, recognizing originality and artistic vision.

BREAKING BARRIERS AWARD
Dedicated to films that address themes of inclusion, diversity, equality, and social challenges through sport, celebrating stories of resilience, empowerment, and positive change.

Rules & Terms

RULES & TERMS

The International Sport Film Festival (ISFF) is open to sports-themed works completed between 2025 and 2026.
All genres, formats, and styles are eligible, provided that sport plays a central role in the narrative or subject matter.

Eligible works include documentary films, fiction films, animated films, TV and digital series, educational and instructional films, as well as digital and online productions, including social media videos.

All entries must be submitted exclusively through the official FilmFreeway platform and must complete the required submission fee.
There is no limit to the number of works that each participant may submit.

SUBTITLES
Subtitles are mandatory for all selected films and must follow these guidelines:

Films in Italian must include English subtitles.
Films in English must include Italian subtitles.
Films in any other language must include Italian subtitles.

All required subtitles must be rendered directly into the video (burnt-in subtitles).

If the required subtitles are not available at the time of selection, filmmakers may submit the subtitles they have in any language, provided they are delivered as a separate subtitle file (.srt or compatible format).
In such cases, ISFF will evaluate the material and may handle translation or adaptation if necessary.

Each submission must include a film summary with logline and synopsis (in English or Italian), high-resolution JPEG images authorized for promotional use, a trailer (maximum length: 3 minutes) when available, and a director’s biography and filmography including key credits.

All submitted works will be reviewed by the festival’s selection committee.
Selected projects will be included in the official program and will compete in the award categories of ISFF 2026.

All submission deadlines, notification dates, and event dates are those published on the official FilmFreeway page and shall be considered final.

For theatrical screenings in cinema venues, selected films must be provided in DCP format.
If a DCP is not immediately available, selected participants will be contacted to discuss technical requirements and screening options.

By submitting a project, participants grant ISFF the right to use excerpts, still images, and trailers for promotional purposes, to screen the work during the festival and related promotional events, and to include excerpts in promotional materials for future editions of the festival.
These rights are granted exclusively for non-commercial promotional use.

By submitting a project, participants confirm that they hold all necessary rights to the submitted material and accept full legal responsibility for its content.
ISFF assumes no liability for copyright or intellectual property violations.

Any legal disputes shall be governed by Italian law, with jurisdiction assigned to the courts of Torre Annunziata (Italy).
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kathryn McClain

    Excellent communication with the team. Very well organized and responsive.

    January 2026
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  • Red Star Production

    A great film festival organized by highly passionate and dedicated people. Thank you for selecting our film QUARSHIE, and thank you for the prize of Best Narrative Film at this year's edition. We are deeply honored and grateful, especially considering the fantastic selection of films that screened at the ISSF this year. We extend our sincerest best wishes for the continued success of the festival and hope to return with future projects.

    December 2025
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  • Greg Crompton

    It was so great to be part of the festival. Ciro and the team were well-organized, kind, and responsive. And spending time in Southern Italy was a treat. Would certainly come back and screen our films there.

    December 2025
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  • Matthew Conrad

    The quality of the films was really high. Communication with Ciro was really good. I wish we could have attended but the travel costs were too high. I would love to attend in person in the future. I can see this festival really growing and being successful.

    December 2024
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  • Remi POTISEK

    GREAT GREAT FESTIVAL !!!!! And thanks for the award of the best narrative film !

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Rémi, for your wonderful review and for being part of this year’s festival!

    Your film, in addition to being part of the regular screenings schedule, was also shown in all six morning sessions organized for local schools. It received an incredible response from both students and teachers, who truly appreciated the story and its impact.

    Congratulations once again on the award for Best Narrative Film! We look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.