Jonio Film Festival

From 22 to 26 November, the large territory of Cassano all'Ionio will host the 2025 edition of JFF | Jonio Film Festival – Calabria International Award, the cultural and cinematographic event supported by the Calabria Film Commission Foundation and organised by the Italian Film Institute, with artistic direction by Giuseppe Panebianco and operational direction by Glauce Valdini.

JFF 2025 confirms itself as an event characterised by tradition and strong innovation, presenting itself as an inclusive and high-quality event, capable of engaging different target audiences and significantly enhancing the extraordinary host territory. The rich programme of events, international competitions, reviews, exhibitions and educational activities, which is completely free of charge, takes place at the Teatro Concistrè in Cassano all'Ionio. 

It kicks off on 22 November at 8 p.m. with one of the most eagerly awaited moments of JFF, the Calabria International Award, a prestigious award given each year to distinguished Italian and international personalities. Among the award-winning guests are actress and director Claudia Gerini and director Giorgio Verdelli, who will present a preview of Rino Gaetano: Sempre più blu, actor and voice actor Pasquale Anselmo, Italian voice of Nicolas Cage, among others, Medusa Film director Paolo Orlando, and international director and producer Michela Scolari, who will present her The Greatest Work of Art, a fascinating and evocative work in which the protagonist Claudia Gerini evokes the myth of Marilyn Monroe, dressed by fashion designer Anton Giulio Grande, Giacomo Triglia with Brunori Sas. Il tempo delle noci and Rai TG1 journalist Leonardo Metalli.

JFF 2025 pays tribute to Claudia Cardinale, the recently deceased icon of Italian cinema, through a series of cultural initiatives, an exhibition and a tribute organised in collaboration with the CSC - Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, which will culminate on Wednesday 26 November with the screening of Luchino Visconti's Il Gattopardo.

The JFF programme presents over 40 works in the Official Selection, divided into different thematic sections. These include Spazio Calabria, a showcase reserved for productions shot and made in the region; a series of activities dedicated to local students, with an international animation competition, a contest dedicated to international short films and a competition dedicated to feature films; around 1,000 primary and secondary school students are involved in the activities. The programme includes a selection of international works and a Green thematic area dedicated to the most current environmental issues, the DocuLives – True Stories. Real Lives. preview series, and a competition dedicated to the best international productions. On 25 November, JFF 2025 has also planned cultural activities dedicated to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, with the participation of institutions and schools.

The programme includes numerous special events dedicated to the discovery and promotion of the extraordinary territory in which the Sibari Archaeological Park is open to the public.