The Ferrara Film Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary and looks to the future with a clear vision: to put merit, the quality of stories, and the power of creativity back at the center. From September 20 to 28, the city of Ferrara 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 discover.
Joining founder Maximilian Law is Claudia Conte, the new co-artistic director, who summarizes the spirit of the 2025 edition:
“Cinema must rediscover courage, responsibility, and depth. It must unite, not divide” – a call that opposes the ideological trends that seem to prevail over artistic value at some major international festivals. In Ferrara, meritocracy is the watchword.
A PROGRAM RICH IN BIG NAMES AND NEW TALENTS
The festival will feature important figures from the international and Italian film scenes. Among the most anticipated guests:
• Kabir Bedi, who will receive a special recognition for the 50th anniversary of the iconic Sandokan
• Paul Haggis, two-time Academy Award winner, honored for Crash
• Ron Jones, renowned composer for Star Trek and Family Guy
• Italian artists including Stefania Rocca, Giorgio Pasotti, Cristiana Capotondi, Federico Moccia, Mariano Rigillo, Volfango De Biasi, Neja, and Danny Mendez
There will also be appearances by leading figures from production and cultural institutions, 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 confirms its strong social commitment. In collaboration with the Francesca Rava Foundation, active for 25 years supporting the rights of disadvantaged children, the festival promotes cinema not only as entertainment but as a tool for reflection and solidarity.
One of the most powerful moments will be the screening of the documentary Ukraine Under Fire by Jordan Campbell, produced with Domus Europa and introduced by Senator Marco Scurria, as a sign of solidarity with a resilient people.
BETWEEN CINEMA, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
Numerous institutional presences are expected:
• Federico Mollicone, President of the Culture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies
• Hon. Gimmi Cangiano
• Paola Frassinetti, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education and Merit
• Emanuele Prisco, Undersecretary at the Ministry of the Interior
• Martina Semenzato, President of the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission on Femicide
Their participation testifies to the growing connection between the world of cinema and institutions, in a spirit of shared responsibility.
SPACE FOR YOUNG TALENTS AND THE FUTURE OF CINEMA
Besides celebrating great names of the past, this edition gives room to young cinema promises: emerging authors and directors offering fresh perspectives, ideas, and languages. Their works will stand alongside those of masters in an intergenerational dialogue that will enrich the audience’s experience.
“Ferrara wants to be an open home for those who believe in dialogue and respect for differences,” Claudia Conte emphasizes. “This edition does not only look to the past but aims 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 itself as one of the most vital and inclusive cultural events in Italy, capable of restoring cinema’s role as a bridge between cultures, generations, and ideas.