In Casacalenda, a small village nestled in the hilly landscape of Molise, the MoliseCinema Film Festival was born, an event that has now become a must-see for lovers of auteur cinema and professionals in the sector. Now in its 22nd edition in 2024, the festival is confirmed as one of the most significant cultural events in southern Italy, capable of combining artistic quality, audience participation and rootedness in the territory.
The festival includes a film competition that is divided into four competitive sections: international short films, Italian short films, Italian documentaries, and feature films (first and second works). This is a festival that has already helped to highlight many young Italian and foreign talents.
But MoliseCinema is much more than a competition: it is a rich and dynamic cultural container. Alongside the competing screenings, the festival offers special events, retrospectives, workshops, book presentations, exhibitions, meetings with the protagonists of cinema and live performances, transforming Casacalenda into a true outdoor cultural center for an entire week of summer.
Since its inception, MoliseCinema has set itself the goal of promoting new Italian and international cinema, with a focus on innovative works and emerging languages, especially in the short film and documentary formats. The Festival has already hosted hundreds of directors, actors and producers, helping to grow an increasingly passionate and aware community of spectators.
Its importance is recognized not only by the public, but also by the press and institutions, which support it as one of the most vibrant and recognized cultural realities in southern Italy. Confirming its international vocation, MoliseCinema has formed partnerships with other festivals, including the Adriatic Festival Network and COOPMED, encouraging the exchange of works and the creation of a Mediterranean network of independent cinema.
With the “Shooting Molise” section, the festival actively promotes the region as a location for film and audiovisual productions, highlighting landscapes, villages and unseen vistas. Throughout the year, the association also organizes activities in schools, reviews and meetings to cultivate a widespread and participatory film culture.