Cinema, music, photography, and talks across the city: the new Milano Film Fest lights up culture from the center to the outskirts, with premieres, international guests, and free screenings
A vibrant, diverse, and dynamic Milan is the backdrop for the first edition of the Milano Film Fest, a film festival that launches the city’s cultural summer. Running from June 3 to 8, it’s organized by the newly established Fondazione Milano Film Fest – bringing together Il Cinemino, Esterni, Fondazione Dude, and Perimetro – with the support of Comune di Milano Cultura.
There are over 110 films, including premieres and restored cult classics, industry events, and open-air meetups, with artistic direction by Claudio Santamaria.
It’s immersive and inclusive cinema, with a clear vision: reaching communities in every part of the city and sparking “scintille” – or sparks – of culture where you’d least expect them. That’s exactly the name of the section – Scintille – which brings free outdoor cinema to Milan’s nine boroughs, with evening screenings and talks designed to build community bonds through the shared magic of the big screen. Temporary outdoor arenas will spring up in places like Piazza Selinunte, Cortile ERP in via Scaldasole, Anfiteatro Martesana, Giardino delle Culture, BIG – Borgo Intergenerazionale Greco, Villa Scheibler, Giardino Lea Garofalo, Nuovo Armenia, Naviglio Pavese, Villaggio Barona, just to name a few. There will be eighteen informal, free, and accessible screenings (all films will be dubbed in Italian), with titles such as Margini, L’ultima volta che siamo stati bambini, Jannacci – Vengo anch’io, Palazzina Laf, Foto di famiglia, Grazie ragazzi, and more.
Every evening will also feature special guests, including directors and experts, to encourage open and authentic dialogue with the audience.
The festival also includes unusual venues, like the Fuoricinema room at Bollate Prison, with two special nights open to both inmates and the public. On June 4, Paola Randi presents La storia del Frank e della Nina, screened at the last Venice Biennale, while on June 8 a selection of out-of-competition shorts will be shown. Milano Film Fest is also a chance to celebrate the city and its stories: from the tribute to Enzo Jannacci on what would have been his 90th birthday, to the tale of MalaMilano through genre cinema, news, and pop culture (Fernando Di Leo, Manetti bros., Stefano Nazzi), all the way to Milan in the ‘90s, with Spaghetti Funk and the documentary Vai Bello about J-Ax, DJ Jad, and the local hip-hop scene.
The lineup opens with June & John by Luc Besson, filmed entirely on an iPhone, and closes with The Ugly Stepsister by Emilie Blichfeldt, a unique body horror take on the Cinderella story.
Among the special events: the premiere of Mani Nude starring Alessandro Gassman and Francesco Gheghi, the first episodes of season two of Pesci Piccoli by The Jackal, and the documentary Il ragazzo con le Leica, about the great photographer Gianni Berengo Gardin. Live music will take center stage every evening thanks to Germi, the music lab by Manuel Agnelli, while the Industry program at Castello Sforzesco and the film school academy will offer moments of training, exchange, and screenings for professionals and students.
The highlight will be the awards ceremony on June 7 at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano: The Feature Film Jury, which includes James Franco, Margherita Buy, Isabella Ragonese, Francesco Di Leva, and Claudio Giovannesi, will present the Best Film Award, while the Short Film Jury (featuring Valentina Lodovini, Paola Randi, and Luca Bigazzi) will present the Best Short Film Award. The winning films will also receive a sculpture created by Elena Salmistraro, in collaboration with ADI Design Museum. During the evening, the Serial Awards will also be handed out, celebrating the best TV series of the year.
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