Tropea Film Festival

Amidst the alleys of the historic centre and the unmistakable profile of Santa Maria dell'Isola, one of the most eagerly awaited events is back: the third edition of the Tropea Film Festival, conceived and directed by Emanuele Bertucci, is preparing to transform the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea into a diffuse stage of cinema, culture and contemporary visions.

Growing in popularity and participation, the festival has established itself as an innovative space on the national scene, where new technologies, homages to great tradition and experimentation meet sea, beauty and art.

The 2025 edition is dedicated to the great Ugo Tognazzi, 35 years after his death. The “Ugo di Noi” retrospective, scheduled for the night screenings, and a photographic exhibition set up at Palazzo Santa Chiara, celebrate the genius and irony of one of the best-loved faces of Italian cinema. The official poster, in Italian comedy style, collects his most iconic roles in a collage.

Over 100 works already registered from all over the world via FilmFreeway - including shorts, feature films and productions made with artificial intelligence - will be in competition until 16 August 2025. The prizes, awarded by three expert juries, will be signed by master goldsmith Michele Affidato and will depict the Scoglio di Santa Maria dell'Isola. Among the novelties is the collaboration with WeShort, which will award the WeShort Awards Best Short Film with an international distribution contract. There are also great expectations for the special project ‘A short film for the Festival’: five youth troupes will make short films shot entirely in Tropea, which will be screened during the final evening.

A symbolic event of the 2025 edition will be the inauguration of the city's first permanent cinema, strongly desired by the artistic director. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place during the festival, in the presence of a special guest. Screenings, talks, concerts, meetings with directors and actors will animate symbolic places in the city: from the Antico Sedile dei Nobili to the Affaccio Raf Vallone, from Piazza Cannone to Palazzo Santa Chiara. The protagonists of the David di Donatello 2025 are expected, as well as an exceptional godmother and godfather for an edition under the banner of balance and sharing.