The Ferrara Film Festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary and looks to the future with a clear vision: to bring merit, quality storytelling, and the power of creativity back to the forefront. From September 20th to 28th, the Este city will transform into an international crossroads of cinema, culture, and society, hosting an event that weaves together big names, contemporary reflections, and new voices to be discovered.
Joining founder Maximilian Law is Claudia Conte, the new artistic co-director, who summarizes the spirit of the 2025 edition: “Cinema must rediscover courage, responsibility, and depth. It must unite, not divide”—a call that stands against the ideological logics that, in some major international festivals, seem to prevail over the artistic value of the works. In Ferrara, however, the watchword is meritocracy.
A PROGRAM RICH WITH BIG NAMES AND NEW TALENTS
The festival will feature the participation of major figures from the international and Italian film scene. Among the most anticipated guests are:
- Kabir Bedi, who will receive a special award for the 50th anniversary of the iconic Sandokan
- Paul Haggis, two-time Oscar winner, honored for Crash
- Dario Argento, celebrated for the cult classic Deep Red (Profondo Rosso)
- Ron Jones, renowned composer for Star Trek and Family Guy
- Italian artists such as Stefania Rocca, Giorgio Pasotti, Cristiana Capotondi, Federico Moccia, Mariano Rigillo, Volfango De Biasi, Neja, and Danny Mendez
Prominent figures from the world of production and cultural institutions will also participate, including Gabriella Buontempo (Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia), Benedetto Habib (Indiana Production), Andrea Iervolino, Angelo Argento (Cultura Italiae), Roberto Stabile (Cinecittà), and Elisabetta Sgarbi.
A FESTIVAL THAT SPEAKS TO SOCIETY
The Ferrara Film Festival also reaffirms itself as an event with a strong social commitment. In collaboration with the Fondazione Francesca Rava, which has been working for the rights of children in need for 25 years, the festival champions a cinema that is not only entertainment but also a tool for reflection and solidarity.
Among the most powerful moments will be the screening of the documentary Ukraine Under Fire by Jordan Campbell, organized with Domus Europa and introduced by Senator Marco Scurria, as a sign of closeness to a people who resist.
BETWEEN CINEMA, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
Numerous institutional representatives are expected to attend:
- Federico Mollicone, President of the Chamber of Deputies’ Culture Commission
- The Hon. Gimmi Cangiano
- Paola Frassinetti, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Education and Merit
- Emanuele Prisco, Undersecretary to the Ministry of the Interior
- Martina Semenzato, President of the parliamentary commission of inquiry on femicide
Their presence testifies to the growing link between the world of cinema and institutions, with a view to shared responsibility.
MAKING SPACE FOR YOUTH AND THE FUTURE OF CINEMA
In addition to celebrating the great names of the past, this edition gives space to the promising young talents of cinema: emerging writers and directors who will offer new perspectives, ideas, and languages. Their works will be featured alongside those of the masters, in an intergenerational dialogue that will enrich the audience’s experience.
“Ferrara aims to be a home open to those who believe in dialogue and respect for differences,” Claudia Conte emphasizes again. “This edition does not only look to the past but intends to offer a meritocratic platform, free from ideological labels, to give new life to the future of cinema.”
By combining tradition and innovation, artistic excellence and social commitment, the Ferrara Film Festival confirms its status as one of the most vital and inclusive cultural events on the Italian scene, capable of restoring cinema’s role as a bridge between cultures, generations, and ideas.
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