Annecy Cinéma Italien

Annecy Cinéma Italien: More Than Forty Years of Transalpine Passion

Founded in 1983, Annecy Cinéma Italien was born from the geographical and cultural proximity between Annecy and Italy, whose border is only a few dozen kilometers away. This festival, one of the oldest and most respected dedicated to Italian cinema outside the Peninsula, has, over the decades, built a strong link between Italian filmmakers and the French public.

Each year, the festival offers a rigorous selection of contemporary Italian films — feature films, documentaries, short films — accompanied by retrospectives, tributes, and meetings with directors, actors, and producers. This program makes Annecy a privileged place to discover new voices in Italian cinema, even before their release in French theaters.

A Window Open to Contemporary Italian Cinema

The festival is distinguished by its ability to uncover talent and present films that do not always benefit from distribution in France. Many directors who are now recognized — Matteo Garrone, Paolo Sorrentino, Alice Rohrwacher, Nanni Moretti — have been screened in Annecy before achieving international acclaim. The festival awards several prizes that contribute to the visibility of the winning films.

Retrospectives and Tributes

Beyond the competition, Annecy Cinéma Italien offers each edition thematic retrospectives and tributes to great figures of Italian cinema — directors, actors, cinematographers, composers — offering the public a dive into the history of Transalpine cinema, from the golden age of neorealism to the most contemporary productions.

A Friendly and Cinephile Festival

Annecy Cinéma Italien cultivates a warm and intimate atmosphere, fostering direct exchanges between the public and filmmakers. Post-screening Q&As, round tables, and debates allow for authentic dialogue about cinema. The festival attracts a loyal audience of Francophile and Italophile cinephiles, as well as curious individuals drawn by the quality of the programming.

The event is supported by the City of Annecy, the Department of Haute-Savoie, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the CNC. It constitutes a cultural link between the two sides of the Alps.