Matera Film Festival 2025: Growing numbers, young audiences, tangible local impact.
The sixth edition of the Matera Film Festival (November 7–16, 2025, with a pre-opening on November 2) ended with great success, transforming the City of Stones into an international laboratory of cinema, ideas, and cultural experimentation for eleven days. This edition confirmed a path of constant growth: increased attendance, broad international participation, strong audience involvement, and a significant impact on the local area.
The festival has established itself as a strategic cultural event for Matera, thanks to its ability to attract visitors during a traditionally less touristy period. Many spectators came from outside the region, staying an average of five nights in the city: a figure that contributes to increasing overnight stays and supporting the local economy. The revenue generated by hospitality, catering, transport, and the organizational machine itself creates a significant multiplier effect.
The numbers for the 2025 edition
– Approximately 10,000 spectators
– 120 screenings
– 62 works selected from 27 countries
– 42 meetings with the public
– Over 300 accreditations among professionals, schools, and the press
The masterclasses, panels dedicated to audiovisual media, previews, and special events recorded record attendance. The experiment with two screening rooms and multiple locations proved successful, expanding and diversifying participation.
Young audiences and education
Among the most significant results was the increase in young audiences. Morning screenings and educational activities involved schools from all over Italy and Poland; PCTO training programs, volunteering, and workshops dedicated to cinema professions consolidated the link with the younger generation. Many young authors found space in the selection with their first and second works, experimental short films, and independent productions.
Confirming the structural investment in emerging skills, during the festival, memoranda of understanding were signed with the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari and the Nelson Mandela Institute to enhance training and professional development courses linked to the Festival.
The 2025 winners
– Best Documentary: Fratelli di Culla by Alessandro Piva
– Special Mention Documentary: Kickoff by Roser Corella and Stefano Obino
– Best Feature Film: Le città di pianura by Francesco Sossai
– Special Mention Feature Film: When the Walnut Leaves Turns Yellow by Mehmet Ali Konar
– Best Short Film: The Surrogate Girl by Onur Guler
– Special Mention Short Film: Playing God by Matteo Burani
– Audience Award: La valle dei sorrisi by Paolo Strippoli
Special awards went to Alissa Jung (Balena Giuliana), Amanda Strong (Air Canada – Matera Award), and the Honorary Award was given to Terry Gilliam. Arisa was also awarded for her single Nuvole, along with Paolo Orlando, Marianna Fontana, Claudio Bisio, Riccardo Milani, Fabio Massimo Capogrosso, and Yoshitaka Amano, who received the Giuliana d’Argento Award.
Guests and special events
Yoshitaka Amano opened the festival with a masterclass and a retrospective of his works, culminating in a restored screening of Mamoru Oshii’s Angel’s Egg.
Terry Gilliam celebrated 50 years of Monty Python and the Holy Grail with the audience as part of the Fantastico Medioevo project in collaboration with the Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation.
Gabriele Mainetti was the protagonist of a complete retrospective, accompanied by critic Maurizio Di Rienzo.
Comics, pop culture, and educational programs
The section Eroi per Casa (Heroes for Home), created with Lucca Comics & Games and Mondo TV, strengthened the dialogue between Matera and the language of comics, thanks also to Manlio Castagna’s documentary I Love Lucca Comics & Games.
The Matera Edu program involved students of all ages with workshops, screenings, editorial presentations, the Book Trailer Film Festival, and the Giffoni in a Day format, with episodes of La Porta Aperta, L’isola degli Smemorati, and Grisù.
National and international collaborations
With Rai Fiction, the festival celebrated 30 years of Un posto al sole with the preview of two episodes.
The Focus Italia section, curated by Domenico Dinoia, promoted dialogue between national film professionals and showcased productions from Basilicata.
Focus Mediterraneo awarded Nicolò Govoni for his humanitarian commitment with Still I Rise.
Literature, industry, and territory
Book presentations with Emanuele Salce and Andrea Pergolari, Chiara Francini, Maurizio De Giovanni, and Maurizio Cusano expanded the cultural offering.
On the industry side, the festival hosted the LED – Leader Esercenti Donne (Women Exhibitors Leaders) project, the NEXT FRAME forum (with Basilicata Creativa, Lucana Film Commission, and CNA Matera), and a panel dedicated to film tourism, which is strategic for promoting the region as a film set and cultural destination.
A driving force for Matera and the Mediterranean
The Matera Film Festival continues to be a driving force for cultural, tourist, and economic development: it strengthens the community, stimulates innovation, and positions Matera as a Mediterranean crossroads. The new memorandum of understanding with the Tétouan Mediterranean Film Festival is significant, opening up new international routes.
The date has already been set: November 7–15, 2026, with the aim of expanding collaborations with Japan, strengthening the Mediterranean Focus, industry programs, and projects dedicated to young people.
Production, sponsors, and partners
The Matera Film Festival is produced by the associations Making Off and Plongée.
It is organized in collaboration with Hotel Sant’Angelo, a reference point for artists and talent.
The festival enjoys the High Patronage of the European Parliament (for the second consecutive year) and the patronage of:
Basilicata Region, Province of Matera, Municipality of Matera, APT Basilicata, Murgia Materana Park Authority, Lucana Film Commission, University of Basilicata, University Institute of European Sciences.
In collaboration with: National Museums of Matera – Palazzo Lanfranchi, Matera-Basilicata 2019 Foundation, Progetto Fantastico Medioevo.
Green Partner: ARPA Basilicata.
Main Partners: Hotel Sant’Angelo, Maldarizzi, Primo Sole, 19ª Buca.
Official Partners: Domar, Fineco Basilicata.
Special Partners: Lucca Comics & Games, Giffoni Experience, Mondo TV Group.
Official Media Partners: RAI, RAI Basilicata.
Official Radio: RAI Radio 2.
(Followed by numerous hospitality, food, school, and cultural partners, listed here in full.)
For information
materafilmfest@gmail.com
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