The 2026 edition of the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival was presented in the Sala Anfiteatro della Regione with the traditional parade of Italian and international film stars. This project has been ongoing for nearly fifteen years thanks to the commitment of artistic director Tiziana Rocca. Following the resounding success of the Taormina event, Rocca has arrived in Sardinia, where screenings began a few days ago at the Notorious Cinemas, featuring a wide selection of films, premieres, previews, and a large cast of actors greeting the audience.
In addition to the enthusiast section, with the Cagliari theaters in Piazza L'Unione Sarda packed with film buffs discovering incredibly interesting series and films, audiences will be able to applaud many famous faces from the small and big screen during the final events of the Festival, scheduled from tonight, Thursday, June 25th, until Sunday, the 28th at Forte Village, the Santa Margherita di Pula venue directed by Lorenzo Giannuzzi.
The festival, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Rai Cinema with CEO Paolo Del Brocco, a key figure since its inception, Siae, Imaie, and the Sardinia Region, through calls for proposals from the Department of Tourism, led by Franco Cuccureddu, who spoke at today's meeting, confirms its international vocation thanks to a lineup of guests that includes Hollywood big names, stars of beloved TV series, and some of the most iconic figures in the Italian artistic scene.
Symbolically leading this edition will be Micaela Ramazzotti, ambassador, and Harvey Keitel, honorary president of the festival.
The American actor, who starred in such historic films as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, represents one of the most prestigious presences at the entire event.
Among the most anticipated guests, actor, director, and screenwriter James Franco will receive the Filming Italy Creativity Award and be part of the international jury dedicated to short films.
Great attention is also being paid to the female protagonists: Katherine McNamara, the face of the Shadowhunters series, and Sofia Carson, an actress and singer beloved by the new generations, will be arriving in Sardinia.
And also Erin Moriarty, famous for the worldwide success of The Boys, and Olga Kurylenko, known to the general public for her role as Bond Girl in Quantum of Solace.
They will be joined by award-winning French actress Elsa Zylberstein, president of the short film competition jury, French actress Marina Foïs, and British actress Kate Beckinsale, star of the Underworld saga.
International guests also include Jeremy Piven, Ronn Moss, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Alanah Bloor, Christian Madsen, Oliver Trevena, Samuel Arnold, who rose to fame with the series Emily in Paris, director and screenwriter Sam Levinson, creator of the television phenomenon Euphoria, and British actor Tim Roth, who has starred in some of the most iconic films in contemporary cinema. The Italian presence is equally significant.
Franco Nero will receive the Filming Italy Achievement Award, while Chiara Francini will receive the Creativity Award.
Also eagerly awaited are Sveva Alviti, who will present the film Other Side of Fame and receive the Women Power Award, and Ilenia Pastorelli, one of the most beloved young actresses in the Italian star system, who in just over 10 years has won prestigious awards such as the David di Donatello for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “They Call Me Jeeg,” the Virna Lisi Award from the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, the Kineo Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Benedetta follia” at the 75th Venice Film Festival, and the Bacco Award at the Berlinale.
Other stars include the award-winning Roberto Andò, iconic figures and key figures in the history of Italian cinema Agostina Belli and Barbara De Rossi, the latter with strong ties to Sardinia and a splendid portrayer of Grazia Deledda in Antonio Roich's latest feature film, and many other celebrated figures who will receive Festival awards, including Antonio Catania, Matteo Paolillo, Peppe Iodice, Gabriele Cirilli, Tea Falco, Roberto Lipari, Cristina Chiabotto, Giorgia Palmas, Natasha Stefanenko, Rosa Diletta Rossi, Cristina Marino, Letizia Toni, Mattia Cirilli, and Elisabetta Pellini.
Sardinian actor Giuseppe Ignazio Loi, discovered by the brilliant director Roberto Milani, will also receive one of the Festival's awards. He was chosen to star in "Life Goes This Way," the story of shepherd Ovidio Marras, who, in life, opposed the speculation of multinational cement companies. This work marked the debut of a true revelation, catapulting him from the real-life countryside of Terralba—much to everyone's surprise—to the set of one of last year's most important films, alongside acting giants like Diego Abatantuono and Virginia Raffaele, to name just two of the impressive cast.
The festival also confirms its attention towards young people and dialogue between generations.
Many of the guests will take part in masterclasses and meetings with students from the Academy of Cinema, directed by Cagliari University professor Massimo Arcangeli, who has always been the beating heart of the event.
A unique opportunity to meet industry experts and gain a firsthand understanding of the audiovisual world.
The Music and Cinema festival will also play a central role, with distinguished guests including Romina Power, who will receive the Filming Italy Achievement Music Award, along with Nina Zilli, Chiara Galiazzo, I Jalisse, Massimo Di Cataldo, and Cagliari native Veronica Perseo, a regular guest at the Festival and well-known to the general public for winning the 2019 edition of Tali & Quali, the Saturday night format on Rai 1 hosted by Carlo Conti.
The program features a packed schedule of 70 films and TV series, including previews like Toy Story 5 and Supergirl.
This edition once again focuses on the intersection of culture, entertainment, and education, cementing the Filming Sardegna Festival as one of the most prestigious events of the Italian film year.
Among the many dignitaries in attendance, Barbara De Rossi greeted Unione Sarda readers with a personal and warm video message.
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