LIVE EVENT

La vita è bella

Life is beautiful! Welcome to Verona, which proudly hosts, once again in its 6th edition, some of the finest short films from around the world in the magical region of Veneto.

This year, our programming team celebrates this new edition under the theme Life is Beautiful—an invitation to open our eyes wide and, through the big screen, rediscover the beauty that surrounds us. To look around and notice those small details that inspire reflection and remind us to appreciate what we sometimes overlook.

For the sixth consecutive year, we present one of the most extensive short film selections on the circuit, curated for the vibrant audience of Veneto and for film lovers from around the world who join us to experience the best of cinema.

Curated in eight chapters, La vita è bella becomes an exploration of the emotions we experience in our daily lives: innocence, bravery, adrenaline, love, truth, joy, pride, and freedom.

We invite you to explore documentaries, experimental films, comedy, drama, animation, horror, and music films by both international and local filmmakers, while proudly showcasing a new wave of creators and students who have distinguished themselves with their work and are making their debut on the big screen.

Now, sit back, open your eyes, and discover the very best of cinema.

Enjoy Verona 2026.

With warmth,
The Programming Team

INNOCENCE

Friday, June 12 | 11.30 hs.

THE SPECTACLE, Bálint Kenyeres, France / Hungary
ATTOCK, Awais Gohar, Pakistan
BABY BOY, Michael Anthony Carter, United States
SHUTTERSPEED, Jasper De Maeseneer, Belgium
BIRD BOY, Izak Berman, Netherlands
HOMETIME, Jonathan Lambert, Ireland
MANIA, Malu Alves, Brazil
POLLIWOG, Julia Skala, Germany
BENCH, Francesco Marzoli, Switzerland

BRAVERY

Friday, June 12 | 14.45 hs.

J.J., Adam Dietrich, Elliott Gilbert, United States
MARTA, Matteo Quarta, Italy
RESTER, Kay van der Valk, Netherlands
I FELT I HAD TO BE HERE, Sara Selmer Moland, Norway
HORIZON, Alessio Panarese, Italy
THOSE WHO MOVE, Stephanie Ricci, Brazil
IN THE BOX, Francesca Staasch, Italy
MONSIEUR FIGARO, Sarah Benhammou-Lionnard, France

ADRENALINE

Friday, June 12 | 18.15 hs.

THE PRIEST’S DILEMMA, Maureen Payne-Hahner, Denmark
COYOTES, Said Zagha, France / Jordan / Palestine / United Kingdom
VULTURES, Dian Weys, France / South Africa
NIGHTSHIFT, Rove Roveto, Ines Corina Michelena, United States
FAMILY SUNDAY, Gerardo Del Razo, Mexico
THE LAST DRAFT, Nicholas Guilak, United States
FIRESTARTER, Marc Schiesser, Germany
THE MUSICAL SPIDER, Henry Moore Selder, Sweden
CRUMBS, Marco Scannicchio, Italy

LOVE

Saturday, June 13 | 11.30 hs.

PAS VRAIMENT ORDINAIRE, Gil Henry, United States
UNCONDITIONAL, Maite Lucia Valero, Spain
WORLD’S BEST DAD…SOMETIMES, Julia Benczak, Austria
MOSH, Portlynn Tagavi, United States
BARE, Marc-Antoine Kelertas, Canada / Italy
SUISIDE FISH, Tenej Devidović, Slovenia
BACK IN BABY’S ARMS, Jackson Giuricich, United States
THE COCKROACH AND THE ANT, Marco La Ferrara, Italy

TRUTH

Saturday, June 13 | 14.45 hs.

CARMELA, Vicente Mallols, Spain
THE WHISTLE, Greg Franklin, United States
PLAYING GOD, Matteo Burani, Italy
HOMO HOMINI LUPUS, Lorenzo Bentivogli, Italy
POPLARS, Tommaso Rabuffetti, Italy
A SHORT SEA, Matteo Gamannossi, Riccardo Cocumarolo, Italy
OCNO, Fabio D’Agnano, Italy
THE LETTER, Oliver Würffell, Germany
MEASURE OF LIFE, Berkay Sarıtaş, Turkey
PEACEFUL PROTEST, Toma, Slovenia
I WANTED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE, James Pellerito, United States
GEORGE SKEGGS: THIS IS ME!, Dmitry Zhukov, United States
CHUÑO Y MOTE, Isabella Mancioli, Italy
CASA MIA VENEZIA, Marco Tribelhorn, Switzerland
ZAGARA MIELE E SALE, Just Maria Maria, Italy
FRAGILE, Lucas Buchholz, Bernd Brink, Germany

JOY

Saturday, June 13 | 18.15 hs.

THE FUNERAL REHEARSAL, Ronald Zuidinga, Netherlands
BROKEN DAWN, Hae-0h Park, South Korea
MANGO, Joan Iyiola, France / United Kingdom
MAIN MAN, John de Menil, United States
FENCED, Richey Beckett, United States
APPLAUSE, Marie Andrée Lemaire, United Kingdom
CANDY BAR, Nash Edgerton, Australia
BULB, Guy Taylor, United Kingdom
FUNNY SNAILS, Dragana Stanković, Slovenia
FILM FOR SONGS: THE GREAT BOOK OF NATURE, Michele Ducci, Italy
INTERLUDE, Chris Elder, Australia
DON’T MEAN TO HURT YOU, André Abrantes, Portugal
ADE – TRECDALIS AMZIAUS / KRUVIO NULIS, Karolis Labutis, Lithuania
NOT INVINCIBLE, Tyson Kaup, United States
UNDERTAKING – LIENZOS, Memo Matthews, Mexico

PRIDE

Sunday, June 14 | 11.30 hs.

BEYOND SILENCE, Marnie Blok, Netherlands
WOMEN’S CLUB, Anđelina Petrović, Slovenia
AFTER WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LIBRARY, Syra McCarthy, United States
SǒN, Micha Volders, Belgium
WETBOY, Yentl Vlachos, Netherlands
TAPAGE, Joséphine Madinier, France
ORIGIN, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, France

FREEDOM

Sunday, June 13 | 14.45 hs.

SORROW DOESN’T SLEEP AT NIGHT, Josefina Montino, Martín André, Chile
IT’S YOU. BABY YOU., Maciej Zdrojewski, Poland
WELCOME TO THE SKYLINE, Oona Olivia O’Hagan, Denmark
MUTED, Gergana Nikolova, Bulgaria
THE OLDEST, Cathlin McCullough, United States
CORA, Alice Prosser, Austria
DON’T FORGET TO SMILE, David Dulev, North Macedonia
EVERYDAY, John Pentassuglia, Italy
I AM MOVING, Diego Clericuzio, Italy
SALTA (JUMP), Sara Giannella, Italy