The FERRARA FILM FESTIVAL is one of the most popular film festivals in Italy and stands out as the fastest-growing one in the country. It's a global film competition that drew in more than 30,000 attendees during its latest edition, culminating in the Golden Dragon Awards Ceremony. The event encompasses movie-themed collateral events, masterclasses, and entertainment shows.

The festival is hosted in the northern Italian City of FERRARA, a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The Ferrara Film Festival is an "IMDB Qualifier Festival" and "World CineX" eligible.

The Ferrara Film Festival, in just 8 editions, had big movie premieres in its competition, attended by major Italian and international movie stars, as well as world-famous directors, such as GIANCARLO GIANNINI, DANNY GLOVER, EDOARDO LEO, JEREMY PIVEN, STEVEN BAUER, KEVIN REYNOLDS, NASTASSJA KINSKI, MARTINA STELLA, BILLE AUGUST, ALESSANDRO HABER, STEFANO FRESI, JANE ALEXANDER, CRISTIANA DELL'ANNA, MANUELA ARCURI and many more.

FILM CATEGORIES - IMPORTANT INFO:
At the Ferrara Film Festival all the selected films will be divided in specific categories by our Organization. Our categories reflect the global nature and relevance of our festival. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? When you submit your film, all you have to do is to choose between “Feature Film”, “Short Film” and “Documentary” then, IF YOUR FILM IS SELECTED, we'll independently put your film in the more specific category.

Here below the detailed categories of FERRARA FILM FESTIVAL:

FEATURE FILMS:
"Premiere Event"
"Premiere Autore"
"Premiere Docu"

SHORT FILMS:
"Short Event"
"Short Autore"

9º GOLDEN DRAGON AWARDS
Ferrara, Italy - Teatro Nuovo
Saturday September 28, 2024

The awards of the Ferrara Film Festival are called Golden Dragons and they recall the legend and mythological figure of the dragon killed by St. George, which is the Patron Saint of Ferrara. For each edition of the Ferrara Film Festival 7 main judges and other 2 separate commissions will be assigned to choose the award winners in all categories. The Main Jury is assigned to judge the feature films and documentaries, while the other 2 Juries are assigned to judge, respectively, the two remaining short films categories. On top of it, special Career Achievement Golden Dragon Awards will be dedicated and given to prestigious personalities in the film Industry.

FILM CATEGORIES EXPLANATION
The motion pictures, both feature and short films, of a more commercial nature will be included in the category called PREMIERE EVENT, while those of a more authorial nature will be included in the category called PREMIERE AUTORE and the documentaries will fall into the PREMIERE DOCU category. The classic retrospective screenings program category will be called RETRO.

Explore our festival on www.ferrarafilmfestival.com

The awards of the Ferrara Film Festival are called GOLDEN DRAGONS, which recall the legend and mythological figure of the Dragon killed by St. George (the Patron Saint of Ferrara).

For each edition of the Ferrara Film Festival 7 judges will be assigned to choose the award winners in all categories.

NOTE: Special Career Achievement Awards will be dedicated and given to prestigious personalities in the Film Industry.

The “Golden Dragon” awards will be assigned in the following categories:

FEATURE FILMS:
• Best Premiere Event
• Best Premiere Autore
• Best Premiere Docu
• Best Director in a Feature Film
• Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film
• Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film
• Best Soundtrack in a Feature Film

SHORT FILMS
• Best Short Film Event
• Best Short Film Autore
• Best Director in a Short Film

Further info on www.ferrarafilmfestival.com

Feature Films (minimum runtime 60 minutes)
Short Films (maximum runtime 30 minutes)
• The Ferrara Film Festival does NOT pay any fees to screen any movies in our program. If you submit your film, you agree to this term.
• All films must be, at least, Italian premieres. Some exceptions are applied if a film is selected in another MAJOR film festival in Italy prior to Ferrara Film Festival (international festivals are OK). We work on a "case by case" methodology.
• Films but must NOT have a public distribution (theatrical, streaming, online) prior to the current edition of Ferrara Film Festival. ​
• Each film can be any genre and from anywhere in the World.
• Films are accepted if they are completed not earlier than one year before the current festival edition.

If you are a filmmaker from the Italian region Emilia-Romagna you have a 50% discount on your submission fee. For inquiries please write to: submissions@ferrarafilmfestival.com

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Elodie Lorquet

    Un grand merci pour l'accueil qui nous a été réservé au 8ème festival de Ferrare. Nous en garderons des souvenirs inoubliables! Nous avons découvert grâce à ce festival une ville italienne formidable et des gens adorables. Les films sélectionnés étaient d'un grand niveau artistique. Bravo à toute l'équipe du festival et à bientôt! De la part de toute l'équipe du court-métrage Gnothi Seauton.

    October 2023
  • Randy Borruso

    The Ferrara Film Festival is a grand, important event that envelops the beautiful city of Ferrara. We have been selected twice, our second time winning us the Golden Dragon Award for Best Short Film. The films are screened in the extraordinary Teatro Nuovo, a breathtaking, enormous venue. Words can't describe how it feels to see your film in that theatre. All festival staff were wonderful to us, offering any assistance and following through 100%. Festival events occur in the evening, so days are free for trips to Venice, Florence, Rome, Turin, all easily gotten to by train. Ferrara Film Festival is a classy, fancy, extravagant, and loving experience. After two years in a row, we can proudly state this festival feels like home. A sexy home.

    October 2023
  • GIUSEPPE GANDINI

    Fantastic festival! In my loved town... Great Experience

    October 2023
  • Clenet Verdi-Rose

    Radici film was so pleased with the Excellence of the Ferrara Film Festival ! Maximillian and his staff were very cordial and polite. The theatre venue and town are hidden treasures to add the film enriching experience. Highly Recommend!

    October 2023
  • Robert Haufrecht

    Although my film was part of the festival, I just couldn't get there. Sounds like a great location and a great festival. They were very helpful and inviting. Maybe next year!

    September 2022