by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Interviews: Maurizio Di Rienzo -con-director of ShorTS international film festival, Antonio Giacomin – curator of the ShorTS Immersive section, Francesco Capellotto – curator of ShorTS Comics Marathon
The 27th edition of the ShorTS International Film Festival opens 27 June with an ambitious program that highlights the diversity and evolving language of short-form cinema.
Over eight days, the festival will present 12 international short films across seven competitive sections, bringing filmmakers and audiences together to explore a wide range of storytelling approaches and cinematic styles.
At the heart of the festival is Maremetraggio, the event’s flagship competition, featuring 45 short films from around the world. The lineup includes five documentary works recognized by the European Film Academy, underscoring the festival’s connection to some of the most acclaimed productions on the European short-film circuit.
Among this year’s innovations is an expanded version of ShorTS Immersive, the festival’s section dedicated to emerging technologies and new forms of storytelling. For the first time, audiences will be able to influence the narrative through their own decisions, allowing stories to unfold interactively based on viewers’ choices.
The festival will also honor three prominent figures from the Italian film industry. Awards will be presented to actors Giuseppe Battiston and Saul Nanni, as well as filmmaker Andrea De Sica, in recognition of their contributions to contemporary cinema.
The event will conclude on July 4 with a focus on neighboring Slovenia, reflecting the region’s long-standing cultural ties across borders. Following the awards ceremony at Trieste’s Giardino Pubblico, audiences will have the opportunity to view five Slovenian productions selected for the closing program.
Founded in 2000, the ShorTS International Film Festival has become one of Italy’s leading showcases for short-form filmmaking, offering a platform for emerging talent while introducing audiences to new voices and experimental approaches from across the globe.
