RIETI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

REGULATIONS
AND SUBMISSION



1st Edition

  1. ORGANIZATION
    The Rieti International Film Festival (RIFF) is organized by REA Film Srl and is supported by public institutions and private sponsors. Its goal is to promote new talents, enhance creativity and social themes, foster dialogue between audiences and filmmakers, and contribute to the cultural growth of the region.

  2. DATE AND DURATION
    The first edition of the Rieti International Film Festival will take place in Rieti from February 18 to 22, 2026. The organization reserves the right to modify the dates if necessary.

  3. FESTIVAL SECTIONS
    The Festival is divided into six sections. Film selection is entrusted to the Artistic Direction, whose decisions are final. All works must have been produced after January 1, 2021.
  • Section “Italian Fiction Short Films Under 35”: works created by Italian filmmakers born after January 1, 1991, of any genre, with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes.
  • Section “Italian Fiction Short Films Over 35”: works created by Italian filmmakers born before January 1, 1991, of any genre, with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes.
  • Section “International Fiction Short Films”: works created by filmmakers of any nationality other than Italian, with no age limits, of any genre, and with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes.
  • Section “Italian and International Animated Short Films”: works created by filmmakers of any nationality, including Italian, with no age limits, of any genre, and with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes.
  • Section “Italian and International AI Short Films”: works created with the aid of artificial intelligence by filmmakers of any nationality, including Italian, with no age limits, of any genre, and with a running time not exceeding 20 minutes.
  • Section “Italian and International Music Videos”: works created by filmmakers of any nationality, including Italian, with no age limits, and with a running time not exceeding 10 minutes.

  1. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
    Film entries for the Festival must be submitted exclusively through the FilmFreeway platform, by following the online procedure available at the following link, no later than February 5, 2026:
    FILMFREEWAY LINK

  1. SELECTED FILMS
    All short films will be viewed by the Festival Management, which will select approximately 10 short films for each competitive section. The management may also choose submitted works for showcases, special events, and “out of competition” screenings held alongside the official competition.
    The authors of the selected films will be contacted by the Festival’s organizing office and must provide the requested materials upon notification of selection, within the deadlines established.
    The selected works will be presented and screened during the days of the event.

  1. SCREENING OF COMPETING FILMS
    The schedule and screening times are determined by the Artistic Direction of the Festival and will be announced once the program is finalized.
    The selected films from all competition sections will be screened during the days of the Rieti International Film Festival at the Multisala Moderno in Rieti.

  1. AWARD CEREMONY
    All prizes will be presented to the winners during the award ceremony, which will take place on the evening of February 22, 2026, at the Multisala Moderno in Rieti.

  1. AWARDS
    The selected films will compete for several awards, assigned by the audience and by the Official Jury composed of professionals from the film industry, appointed by the Festival Management. During the closing night, the winners designated by the juries will be awarded. The Audience Awards will be determined based on votes cast by the audience in the theater. The juries’ decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
  • Best Italian Fiction Short Film – Under 35
  • Best Italian Fiction Short Film – Over 35
  • Best International Fiction Short Film
  • Best International Animated Short Film
  • Best International AI Short Film
  • Best International Music Video
  • Audience Award for each section

The Official Jury will also present the following awards:

  • Best Director
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Editing
  • Best Cinematography
  • Best Leading Actor
  • Best Leading Actress
  • Best Supporting Actor
  • Best Supporting Actress
  • Best Production Design
  • Best Costume Design
  • Best Sound

The Artistic Direction of the Festival reserves the right to modify or add to the awards listed above, as well as to grant special mentions at its discretion.

The winners will be awarded the Rea d’Oro statuette, along with products and services offered by the event’s sponsors and partners.

9. GENERAL RULES
Each author is responsible for the work submitted and for the use of any copyrighted music. Participants authorize the Festival to use their name and address for all purposes related to the event. The information provided in the entry form will be made public in the Festival catalog and on the Festival’s official website.

Participation in the competition implies full acceptance of these regulations.

These regulations are written in both Italian and English. In the event of interpretative discrepancies, the Italian version shall prevail.