i-Fest - International Film Festival

From 4 to 14 September 2025, Castrovillari will be transformed into a veritable 'Festival City' with the latest edition of i-Fest - International Film Festival, an event that combines cinema, art and culture in one of the most evocative settings in southern Italy, between the historic centre and the Pollino National Park. The festival pays tribute to one of the greatest icons of Italian cinema: Stefania Sandrelli, featured on the official poster and celebrated with two exclusive exhibitions hosted at the Teatro Vittoria.

The beating heart of the event is the Orizzonti International Contest, with 146 titles selected from over 2,500 entries from 70 countries, including feature films, short films, documentaries and animations, many of which have already won awards or been presented at major festivals around the world. The screenings will be evaluated both by the Technical Jury, chaired by Giancarlo Zappoli, and by the public, students and inmates of the C. C. 'Rosetta Sisca', with a view to inclusion and participation. The programme also offers 12 thematic reviews ranging from 'Eye on Venice' to 'Orient Express', as well as retrospectives dedicated to the great masters of cinema.

The gala evenings at the Castello Aragonese will see stars such as Lina Sastri, Lunetta Savino, Peter Greenaway, Thomas Vinterberg and many other international guests take to the stage. They will be presented with special awards created by master goldsmiths Michele Affidato and Stefano Marino.