All about the 21^st edition of Festa del Cinema di Roma

The 21^st edition of the Rome Film Festival, produced by the Fondazione Cinema Per Roma, will take place between October 13 and 25 at Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, with one of the world’s largest red carpets.

Beyond the Auditorium, the Rome Film Fest will occur in multiple locations across the city of Rome, including the Casa del Cinema in Villa Borghese, the MAXXI, Teatro Olimpico ACEA, Cinema Giulio Cesare, Teatro Palladium, Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo, Teatro Ateneo, and even the Fiumicino Airport Terminal 1, where passengers will get the chance to participate in an immersive experience of Italian cinema.

The official image

Every year, the Festa del Cinema di Roma chooses one historic image to pay homage to cinematic icons. In 2026, the official image depicts late Italian actress Monica Vitti as photographed by Sergio Strizzi on the set of Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Eclisse (1962). Vitti, who would have turned 95 this year, is depicted with a stern look amid stiff geometric shapes, typical of the EUR district.

The Festival will dedicate a photo exhibit to Strizzi as well as the premiere of Terrific Sergio, a documentary on the photographer’s life produced by his daughters, Vanessa and Melissa Strizzi.

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Locations, programme and awards 

55 countries are participating in the 21^st edition of the Festa del Cinema di Roma. The official selection of the Rome Film Festival 2026 consists of the following sections:

• Progressive Cinema Competition – Visions for Tomorrow’s World
  An international competition featuring fiction films, documentaries, and animated films.
• Freestyle
  A non-competitive section showcasing works of free format and style, including series, music videos, films, and video art.
• Grand Public
  A non-competitive section dedicated to mainstream cinema.
• Special Screenings
  A non-competitive section.
• Best of 2026
  A non-competitive section featuring films from other international festivals, considered among the best of the season.
• History of Cinema
  A non-competitive section focusing on classic films in restored versions, tributes, and a deeper exploration of the history of Italian and international cinema.

Alongside the film program, there will be exhibits, masterclasses, events, and a section dedicated to public discussions.

The Awards of Rome Film Festival 2026

This year, 18 films will contend in the Progressive Cinema Competition. A jury of cinematographers and professionals of the arts will assign the following awards:

• Best Film
• Grand Jury Prize
• Best Director
• Best Screenplay
• Best Actress
• Best Actor
• Special Jury Prize, selected by the President of the Jury in various categories

Poste Italiane, main partner of Rome Film Fest, will assign the Poste Italiane Debut Award to one of 14 eligible films from the categories of Freestyle Film and Progressive Cinema.

For the third year, RFF will also assign a Best Documentary Award to one of 14 documentaries from the categories of Special Screenings and Progressive Cinema.

Lastly, the general public gets to select the winner of the Terna Audience Award, named after the festival’s official sponsor, by voting for their favorite film through a QR code.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This year, the Rome Film Festival is honoring Javier Bardem with a Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed by Academy Award winning director Paolo Sorrentino.

Bardem won an Academy Award for No Country For Old Men (2007) and starred in dozens of films and tv series, with over 80 acting credits under his belt. His newest, El Ser Querido, directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen and critically acclaimed at Cannes Film Festival, will be screened in the category of Best of 2026.

Opening Film

The opening film of Rome Film Festival 2026 will be Il Rumore delle Cose Nuove (The Noise of New Things) directed by Paolo Genovesi, starring Emanuela Fanelli, Edoardo Pesce, Claudia Pandolfi, Lino Musella, Stefano Accorsi, Vittoria Puccini, Claudio Santamaria, Edoardo Vitalone, and Rolando Ravello. The story follows three couples who are brought together by an unexpected event, which will break their inertia and light the spark of something new.

Official Selection

Here are the 18 films competing in the Progressive Cinema Competition:

• Brianza directed by Simone Catania
• Ceniza en la boca (Ashes) directed by Diego Luna
• Closure directed by Michał Marczak
• Congo Boy directed by Rafiki Fariala
• Dua directed by Blerta Basholli
• Eurotrash directed by Frauke Finsterwalder
• Gæsten (The Guest) di Mads Mengel
• Giorni felici directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli
• I Love Boosters directed by Boots Riley
• I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning directed by Clio Barnard
• The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd directed by Tim Blake Nelson
• Mustang directed by Kasia Smutniak
• Sants directed by Mikel Gurrea
• Skejtanjeto ne e za devojčinja (Skateboarding Is Not for Girls) directed by Dina Duma
• Thit-Thee Khu (Fruit Gathering) directed by Aung Phyoe
• Uļa (Ulya) directed by Viesturs Kairišs
• Voilà, c’est fini directed by Gustave Kervern
• Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep directed by Rakan Mayasi.

Dozens of other films and will be screened in the various categories, many of which star world-renowned artists who will be in attendance. Read the full list of screenings here on the Rome Film Festival official website here.

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How to participate in Rome Film Festival 2026

Cinema would be nothing without its greatest stakeholder: the audience. The general public is invited to participate in the festival, and tickets sell fast. Pre-sale starts on October 7 at 11am at https://romacinemafest.boxol.it or you can purchase tickets directly at the box office of Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone. Ticket prices vary between €6 and €30.

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21^st Rome Film Festival

From October 13 – October 25

Main Venue

Auditorium Parco della Musica

Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30

Other Venues

MAXXI
Via Guido Reni 4/A

Casa Del Cinema
Largo Marcello Mastroianni 1

Cinema Giulio Cesare
Viale Giulio Cesare 229

Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo
Lungotevere Castello 50

Teatro Olimpico Acea
Piazza Gentile da Fabriano 17

Teatro Palladium
Piazza Bartolomeo Romano 8

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The iconic Tiramisù dessert becomes a treat for all senses as customers experience its preparation live.

If you’re in need of a pick-me-up as you promenade the alleys of Trastevere, or if you’re craving an affordable post-meal dessert, you can’t go wrong with the refreshing tiramisù offerings of this charming store located on Via San Francesco A Ripa, just off Viale Trastevere: Merisù. 

Here, tiramisù is more than a sweet treat, it’s a ritual. Every single portion is prepared on the spot: you get to watch – via mirror – as the lovely staff of Merisù perform the Tiramishow® behind the counter and assemble one of the best tiramisù in Rome, live.

You experience tiramisù through all senses: smell the aroma of artisanal coffee, brewed in a Neapolitan moka, as it soaks the crunchy savoiardi biscuits, the basis for the dessert. Watch as a fluffy layer of mascarpone cream provides the sweet texture, ennobled by cocoa and the toppings of your choice. 

Here, you get to pick between a dozen different enticing flavors. Apart from the Tradizionale, the original tiramisù recipe which you must try at least once, there are versions with various creams and toppings to choose from, including strawberries, pistachio, Nutella, and Oreo. The signature Merisù blends the mascarpone cream with Marsala liqueur-infused eggnog, while the Romano is made with Gentilini biscuits instead of the classic savoiardi. There is even a salty option: Ti Porto Al Cinema with popcorn and salted caramel (no coffee in this one!). Plus, for variety, a different special is added to the menu every month. 

Inclusivity is at the forefront here, and Merisù has a treat for everyone: customers can ask for a decaf version, as well as lactose free, vegan, and gluten-free tiramisù. Most options come in three sizes. 

Merisù is celebrating its 10th anniversary by launching their official coffee blend: Merisù – Italian Espresso Blend, in collaboration with F.lli Bonacchi Caffè of Terroir. The blend creates a powerful coffee and gives that unmistakable aroma to every spoonful of your tiramisù. 

The Merisù brand was founded in 2016 by Neapolitan entrepreneur Antonio Zullo; the name itself honors and celebrates the memory of the women in his family and their tiramisù-making tradition. A decade into this delicious adventure, Merisù has become a franchise, with branches opening in other countries: Spain, Poland, and even overseas to the United States. Merisù is exporting not just an iconic dessert, but a way for people to experience a piece of Italian culture abroad. 

The success of Merisù is a testament to the power of authenticity. The entertaining Tiramishow® displays the genuine ingredients and simple gestures that Italian families have used to make homemade tiramisù for generations, without too many frills. It’s an ode to simplicity, to the magic of tradition, while the various flavors add creative twists to a beloved classic.

Here at the original store in Trastevere, the welcoming smiles of the Merisù staff will make you instantly feel at home as soon as you walk in – whether you sit down or stand to take your tiramisù to go – as if you were watching a friend prepare your dessert in their kitchen. Warmth exudes from the eyes of Paola, the store manager, who has been here for nearly a decade and treats each tiramisù with the same care as if she was making it for her family. 

Experience the magic of tiramisù at the Trastevere store, or take it to go if you’re in a rush. You can even order Merisù online via Deliveroo, although you would be missing out on the Tiramishow®. 

Tiramisù aficionados can also purchase Merisù gadgets and their coffee blend, to carry this memory with them long after they’ve left Rome. 

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A Genuine Roman Wine Bar Near Piazza Navona

Rome’s city center may be a chaotic maze of touristy joints, but a few authentic strongholds still resist and do so proudly; in the case of Enoteca Il Piccolo, open in Via del Governo Vecchio just behind Piazza Navona since 1980, tradition still thrives.

Il Piccolo is a cozy wine bar offering around 150 wines for every palate and level. Many wines are Italian, but many others are produced abroad, including in France, Spain, Slovenia, and Georgia. Wines can be had by the glass (€6-€15) or by the bottle (€20-€300), and the vast menu truly offers various tiers of accessibility depending on what one wants to drink.

In the past decade, Il Piccolo has started serving artisanal wines, mostly natural wines and some organic. Some cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for non-wine drinkers. From 6:00pm, you can accompany your drink of choice with cold tapas (€3-€10), like sandwiches, bruschette or sharing boards. Almost all the fresh produce on the menu is grown in Latium, in an effort to promote local producers and sustainability.

Informal and genuine, Il Piccolo is a place for everyone, a haunt that both locals and tourists can appreciate, with a diverse clientele that encompasses the now elderly regulars that have been frequenting it for decades and the local youth who’s just come of age, plus every age in between. Il Piccolo is more than an excellent winebar, it’s a melting pot and a strategic meeting place. A fan fact is that there is one table that has been booked by the same friend group every day for years… that’s the epitome of a place worth returning to.

True to its name, Enoteca Il Piccolo doesn’t take up too much space: the indoor section can seat 10 lucky drinkers, while the outdoors can accommodate roughly 40, so reserving a table is a good idea; you can only do so via phone and at least one day before, they don’t accept reservations through social media. Small but welcoming: if you show up without a reservation, the staff will try their best to accommodate you; you can get in line for the next available table or even consume standing.

Amid the chaos of the area where anarchy reigns supreme and “ciao bella, something to eat or drink?” is repeated thousands of times per day to unsuspecting tourists, you won’t have to look farther than Enoteca Il Piccolo for a sacred oasis of authentic Roman hospitality. The cozy indoor has maintained the same style it had when the place first opened in the 80s, with original decorations that keep the place authentic and down to earth. No frills or artifice are needed to spice things up, because Il Piccolo doesn’t need an Instagrammable glamorous look or to follow new trends to maintain a strong identity. It’s the heart that counts and sets this winebar apart from countless others.

Riccardo Davoli, manager and sommelier, son of Il Piccolo’s founder, Giancarlo, claims that the key to their success is their authenticity, which stems not necessarily from good wine, but from the very people that make Il Piccolo, including the staff and the clientele, above anything else. Their goal is to foster a convivial environment, a place where people can truly enjoy each other’s company with around a bottle of wine and great snacks.

The recipe behind Enoteca Il Piccolo is straightforward: drinking well in a place that you can call home.

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The world’s best cocktails, all at a splendid open-air festival

Welcome summer with Cocktails In The City, an iconic cocktail festival where the world’s best mixologists, brands, and bars meet music and creativity in Rome. 

After ten successful editions in London, Cocktails In The City takes advantage of the unique blend of Italian hospitality and lands in Rome in its first iteration in continental Europe on May 15-17, 2026. Three days dedicated to the art of mixology against the most magical of backdrops: Rome’s Botanical Gardens, in the heart of Trastevere. 

For an entire weekend, the splendid Orto Botanico di Roma will become an oasis of mixology and host a dozen pop up bars (and much more), in an immersive event that is the place to be not only for mixology experts, but for all cocktail enjoyers in the Eternal City. 

Live music, a silent disco, a lounge area, activities, workshops, and an exceptional food and drink offer will make this urban festival unforgettable. 

Drinks and food at Cocktails In The City Roma

An exclusive selection of pop-up bars showcasing the best of the mixology scene. These bars and bartenders will bring their signature cocktails and new creations:

• Aleph Hotel by Hilton / Organics by Red Bull
• Banana Republic / Espolon
• Blind Pig / Oyster Gin
• Botanist Bar
• Ceralacca / 16.20 & Sibillini Spirits
• Depero (Rieti) / Orsini Drink & Mezcaleros
• Nucleo Bar / Brown Forman
• Led Dragon / Campari
• Rino Montesacro / Aperol
• Smile / Molinari
• Van Station / Amaretto Adriatico
• Zest / Etsu Gin

What festival would it be without some outstanding pop-up food trucks? Five options by Punto Mobile Food Agency, each with their own strong identity, accommodating all palates and preferences.

• Pret a Polpett (meatballs)
• Malandrino (burgers)
• Foodisfaction (pinsa & finger food)
• Gyoza Express (Asian food)
• Annuccia (desserts)

Masterclasses, Music & Activities at Cocktails In The City Roma

Immersed in the serene Botanical Gardens, the festival is the perfect place to unwind and have fun with social activities, or to lounge, lulled by nature, and enjoy great music as you sip on signature drinks. 

Cocktails In The City is a space to enjoy mixology but also to learn more about its art, with workshops and masterclasses held by mixology geniuses open to all participants.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday:

• Flor de Cana workshop
• Makeyougreen workshop
• Ice Carving workshop with Dolomiti Ice
• Espresso Martini workshop by Altamura Vodka & Amaro Kyma

Participants will also be able to enjoy a Yoga masterclass with Mimosa Achtner (Oltre Pilates) on Saturday, May 16.

Music is the cherry on top of the upcoming urban festival, with DJ sets and live performances. Plus, a silent disco available every night, powered by Red Bull! On Friday, May 15, Nelson and Cool3ra will have their DJ sets. On Saturday, May 16, Hallix will perform live, Naomi and Funk Pope will have their DJ sets. On Sunday, May 17, Post Office will host an event and Jack Daniel’s will perform live. 

INSPIRATION
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Times & Tickets for Cocktails In The City Roma

The urban festival Cocktails In The City Roma will take place at Orto Botanico in Trastevere (Largo Cristina di Svezia 23A), between 5PM and 11:30PM on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, and between 4PM and 11:30PM on Sunday, May 17. For all nights, the last entry is at 10PM, and the last drinks will be served at 10:30PM.

Daily tickets are €20 and each ticket comes with a complimentary drink. All subsequent drinks are €10 each. 

Get your tickets in advance here and receive an exclusive gadget with your online purchase. 

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Con il caldo estivo torna la voglia di fare bagni e nuotate o semplicemente rilassarsi al sole senza uscire dalla città. Ecco una lista di piscine a Roma.

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Located in Piazza Albania (Aventino), this carefully designed restaurant offers an intimate experience reminiscent of the inside of a Japanese home.

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Neighborhoods of Rome: Ostiense is transforming into one of the most dynamic places to live like a local in the Eternal City, Rome.

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Ostiense is turning into one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in terms of gastronomic proposals in Rome.

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New life has begun to bloom over the last couple of years in the up-and-coming Ostiense neighborhood, thanks to the many fresh restaurants, bars and clubs opening in the area.

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Discover Finger’s Roma, the Brazilian-Japanese fusion restaurant that will let lose yourself in a myriad of mingling flavors.

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If you're unsure on where to drink in Trastevere, check out our selection of the best bars in Rome's Trastevere neighbourhood.

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Rome’s Trastevere neighbourhood is a shopping paradise. Here are some of the best shops and boutiques in Rome's Trastevere.

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Where to eat in Rome's Trastevere. Here you will find a complete list of the best restaurants in the iconic Trastevere district of Rome.

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American citizens living or studying in Italy can vote in the upcoming US presidential elections – here is how.

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Rome's Capitoline Museums hosts the first monographic exhibition dedicated to Fidia, the greatest Greek sculptor of the classical age.

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Cugino is the cafe and bar brought to you by The Hoxton Rome. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, aperitivo, smartworking and much more.

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