Since 2021, in the heart of San Frediano and other locations across Florence, Sentiero Film Factory has been a festival dedicated to promoting young filmmakers and independent cinema, with a special focus on short films, feature films, and first and second works. Now in its fifth edition, the festival continues to grow, offering a unique experience for both audiences and industry professionals.

Over ten days of exclusive screenings, featuring more than 40 international titles, including national and world premieres, accompanied by special guests from around the world. A rich program of workshops, masterclasses, artistic residencies, and a dedicated space for young people and children.

A key event for emerging cinema, where directors, professionals, and film enthusiasts come together for talks, literary meetings, and many other immersive experiences in the world of cinema.

【SHORT FILM COMPETITION aka SENTIERO FILM FESTIVAL】
・Best Short Movie (750 € artistic contribution* and trophy)
・Best Director (trophy)
・Best Cinematography (trophy)
・Best Performance (trophy)
・Best Screenplay (trophy)
・Best Editing (trophy)
・“Luciano Del Sette Award” for Best Soundtrack (trophy)
・“Sentiero Award” honorable mention (trophy)
・Audience Award (trophy)

【STUDENTS SHORT FILM COMPETITION aka SENTIERO FILM SCHOOL】
・Best Student Short Movie (WeShort Award)

【SCRIPT COMPETITION aka SENTIERO FILM PITCH】
・Best Screenplay or Project (750 € artistic contribution* and trophy)
・“Writing Monkeys Award” (trophy)

【MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION aka MUSIC IN SHORT】
・ "Erriquez (Bandabardò) Award Best Music Video (300 € artistic contribution* and trophy)

【DEBUT or SECOND FEATURE FILMS aka FUORI SENTIERO】
・ “Fuori Sentiero Award” honorable mention (trophy)

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*Cash prizes are given in the form of a contribution to the proposing artist. The prize, net of taxes, will be cleared within 60 days after the award ceremony.

1. ORGANIZATION AND PROMOTION
SENTIERO FILM FACTORY is organized by Black Oaks Pictures and Materiali Sonori Cinema. For its communication channels, the festival can use the images of the selected films for: catalog of the festival, flyers, press review, website, social network, etc.
An extract of less than 30 seconds of the selected short films will be used in social networks, websites or video monitors for the promotion of the event.
The acceptance of the terms & rules of the festival implies the acceptance of these rules

2. DATE AND DURATION
The 5th edition of SENTIERO FILM FACTORY will be in Florence, in SEPTEMBER 2025.

3. SECTIONS OF THE FESTIVAL
The Festival has five sections:
• #SENTIEROFILMFEST: international short films competition
• #SENTIEROFILMSCHOOL: short films competition for film school students
• #SENTIEROFILMPITCH: Italian short movie scripts competition
• #SENTIEROFILMMUSIC: music and experimental videos competition
• #FUORISENTIERO: debut or second feature films competition

4. THE COMPETITIONS
-> SHORT MOVIES COMPETITIONS: SENTIERO FILM FEST, SCHOOL and MUSIC:
These sections are open to short films of any genre, maximum running time 30 minutes (credits included), made after January 1, 2022.
The owners of the short movies must send the materials requested in article 5 by June 1, 2025. In case of selection, the file for the screening (not less than HD) must reach the Festival no later than AUGUST 10, 2025.
The selection is carried out by and at the sole discretion of the Festival's Artistic Direction, who is also in charge of the honorable mention “Sentiero Award”.

The Festival Direction and its collaborators will nominate a Jury of qualified professionals - directors, actors, journalists, film critics, producers, distributors,
for the awarding of the following prizes:
Best Short Movie (750 € artistic contribution), Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Performance, Best Screenplay, “Luciano Del Sette Award" for Best Soundtrack, Best Student Short Film, Best Music Video (300 € artistic contribution).

-> SENTIERO FILM PITCH
This section is open to original Short scripts by Italian screenwriters still looking for a production. The authors must send the materials requested in article 5 by JUNE 1, 2025.

The selection of the scripts is carried out by and at the discretion of the Festival's Artistic Direction. The authors of the selected screenplays will be invited to pitch their projects during the Festival. The authors cannot exempt themselves from this presentation under penalty of exclusion from the Festival.
The Festival Direction will nominate a Jury of qualified professionals - directors, journalists, film critics, producers, distributors - for the awarding of the following prizes: Best Screenplay or Project (750 € artistic contribution) and “Writing Monkeys Award”.

-> FUORI SENTIERO
This section is open to debut or second feature films of any genre, made after January 1, 2022. The owners of the movies must send the materials requested in article 5 by June 1, 2025.
In case of selection, the file for the screening (not less than HD) must reach the Festival no later than AUGUST 10, 2025.
The selection is carried out by and at the sole discretion of the Festival's Artistic Direction, who is also in charge of the honorable mention "Fuori Sentiero Award".

5. APPLICATION MATERIALS
All submissions to the festival must be accompanied by the following materials:
-> SENTIERO FILM FESTIVAL, SENTIERO FILM SCHOOL, SENTIERO FILM MUSIC, FUORI SENTIERO:
FilmFreeway entry form properly filled (under penalty of exclusion from the competition)
Fill the credits related to Director, Producer, Screenwriter, DOP, Costume Designer, Set Designer, Editor, Composer and Sound Designer on FilmFreeway
Screener link - VIMEO is recommended - available on FilmFreeway

-> SENTIERO FILM PITCH
FilmFreeway entry form properly filled (under penalty of exclusion from the competition);
Synopsis (max 1 page)
Script (max 20 pages)
Additional material (e.g. moodboard) optional

6. SELECTED FILMS/PROJECTS AND AWARD CEREMONIES
Selected FILMS from all the competition sections must send supplementary material when contacted by the festival management. All films will be screened during SENTIERO FILM FACTORY screening events in Florence.

For the competition SENTIERO FILM PITCH, 10 SCRIPTS will be selected. The authors will be invited to present their work during a live Pitch session of 10 minutes each. A jury of Screenwriters, Producers, Distributors, Directors will assign the award.
In order to access the award, participation at the Live Pitch is mandatory. The festival will offer each author a Pitch Training Session right before the Live Pitch event.

The Award Ceremony will take place in Florence during the Festival.

7. FILM SCREENINGS
The calendar and times of the screenings are decided by the Festival Artistic Direction, which will publish a general catalog of the works presented once the selection and call are closed.
The selected works will be screened in a compatible format as per regulation.

8. COLLATERAL EVENTS
The submitted films (excluding those included in the Fuori Sentiero section) can be used by the organization for collateral events and screenings, always under the Sentiero Film label. The rights holders agree to participate in these events without having anything to claim from the organization, only and exclusively for a first screening. For any subsequent screenings, the organization will have to contact the rights holders and agree on a screening fee. The organization must communicate the date and place of the screening to the rights holders.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Livia Sisi

    Una settimana di incontri, masterclass, proiezioni organizzati da una squadra affiatata e appassionata. Sentiero Film
    Factory è questo e molto altro. Un'occasione per scoprire cortometraggi da tutto il mondo, per presentare e far crescere il proprio progetto, per favorire l'incontro e lo scambio di idee tra professionisti dell'audiovisivo.
    Un grosso ringraziamento a tutto lo staff per averci accolto e per aver premiato la nostra sceneggiatura!

    September 2024
  • Uno dei pochi festival in Italia che permette ai selezionati di pitchare il proprio progetto di cortometraggio davanti a dei produttori e distributori. Un ringraziamento ai ragazzi che lo organizzano con passione da ormai tre edizioni, gentili e accoglienti!
    Grazie mille e ad maiora!

    September 2023
  • Alessandra Salvoldi

    Un bellissimo festival, organizzato da veri amanti del cinema, con ottime e concrete possibilità di networking e incontri e panel stimolanti e di qualità. La comunicazione e l'organizzazione è stata impeccabile.
    Grazie anche della giornata di pitch e del graditissimo premio!

    September 2023
  • Great festival and very good experience. Although we couldn't attend in person, our short film "The Bathtub" won the award for the best performance by Abel Folk. Very good communication and great organization.

    October 2022
  • Tommaso Trombetta

    SFF è molto più di un semplice festival. Alle proiezioni si affiancano numerose attività, tra pitch, laboratori, incontri e masterclass. Il tutto in un ambiente amichevole e in delle location fantastiche. Un'ottima occasione per conoscere nuove persone e confrontarsi. Grazie agli organizzatori per la passione che ci mettono, spero davvero di tornare ancora.

    October 2022