Over the years, the Festival has welcomed an incredible array of talented actors and actresses. Among the most famous names to have attended the event are cinema legends such as Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlton Heston, Audrey Hepburn and Richard Burton. More recently, the Festival has hosted stars such as Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Colin Firth, Monica Bellucci, John Malkovich and Richard Gere.

The presence of these great performers has helped to consolidate the Festival's reputation as one of the world's most prestigious film destinations.

Rules & Terms

The 72nd Taormina Film Festival will take place from Wednesday, June 10 to Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The Festival is divided into four sections:
• International Feature Film Competition
• Out of Competition
• Special Events at the Ancient Theatre
• Short Film Competition

FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
Feature fiction films completed after October 1, 2025, are eligible for selection for the competition.
A maximum of 10 titles will be admitted.
Only films presented as Italian premieres will be accepted.

SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Short films shot and completed after October 1, 2025, are eligible for the competition. Unreleased short films shot in Sicily and promoting the local territory may be admitted to the competition. The Selection Committee may exceptionally admit short films of significant cultural impact and with a strong message, shot outside Sicily during the same period.
The Festival Directorate will appoint an international jury responsible for awarding the following prizes:
• Best Film Award
• Best Director Award
• Best Actress Award
• Best Actor Award

OUT OF COMPETITION
Feature films and/or documentaries and/or short films completed after October 1, 2025, may participate in the Out of Competition section. Works that have already been screened in any form in Italy are not eligible.
A maximum of 20 titles will be admitted.
SUBMISSION OF WORKS (Competition and Out of Competition)

Submitting works requires payment of a registration fee:
• €10 for short films and/or documentaries
• €20 for feature films

Applications to the Festival must be submitted through the FilmFreeway platform.
Rights holders wishing to participate in the Festival, in any section, must send a streaming link starting from March 15 and no later than May 25, 2026.
For works admitted to the Festival, the Selection Committee will decide in which section the participating film will be included.

COPIES
Only for invited works, the Festival will request complete documentation and will provide a list of the materials required for screening and communication purposes.
Foreign films will be presented in their original language with Italian subtitles. For films spoken in a language other than English, producers are invited to provide a copy subtitled in English.
All shipping costs for the films shall be borne by the submitters.