SEPTEMBER // 4-5-6 // '26
MILAN SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL
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WHO WE ARE
MILAN SHORTS is one of Italy’s most dynamic and distinctive platforms for contemporary short films. Positioned at the crossroads of independent cinema and pop-cultural innovation, it brings together filmmakers, artists, and audiences from across the globe in a space where artistic freedom meets editorial precision. The festival curates a bold selection of short films—both Italian and international—that reflect the diversity, urgency, and experimentation of today’s cinematic landscape.
Held annually in Milan in collaboration with Fuoricinema, and hosted at prestigious venues like Anteo Palazzo del Cinema and the BAM – Biblioteca degli Alberi, the festival is more than a screening event: it’s a multidisciplinary experience blending screenings, thematic talks, live podcasts, and networking spaces for emerging talent and established professionals alike.
The festival places a strong focus on debut works, socially engaged storytelling, and cross-genre innovation, promoting access, inclusion, and dialogue between audiences and creators. Its editorial approach favors immersive programming, where each screening block becomes part of a larger narrative experience—one that bridges cinema, thought, and contemporary culture.
Milan Shorts supports not only visibility but concrete growth opportunities for young auteurs. It also pioneers distribution incentives, educational partnerships, and live public conversations with some of Italy’s most celebrated voices in cinema and culture.
It’s not just a festival—it’s a cultural engine. A place where new voices are amplified, boundaries are redefined, and the short form is celebrated as a powerful tool for expression and reinvention.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Luigi D'Angelo
Founder & President
chiara D'ONORIO de meo
Commercial Director & Coordinator
cristian negretto
Founder & Vice-President
GIANNI RUSSO
Artistic Director
THE COMMON GOAL WITH FUORICINEMA
Each year, MILAN SHORTS collaborates with FUORICINEMA to present a continuous, thoughtfully curated program that spans the entire day.
FUORICINEMA is a unique cultural marathon born from the desire to collect and share life experiences, aspirations, and reflections linked to cinema, entertainment, culture, and information — turning them into a shared heritage. Set in the heart of Milan, it brings together artists from film, music, and the performing arts, engaging directly with the public in conversations moderated by journalists and presenters. Conceived by Cristiana Mainardi and Cristiana Capotondi, and produced by Fuoricinema Srl, Associazione Visione Milano, Corriere della Sera, and Anteo, in collaboration with BAM – Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano, a project by the Riccardo Catella Foundation, and supported by IBM Studios Milano, Fuoricinema has featured renowned guests such as Matteo Garrone, Marco Bellocchio, Micaela Ramazzotti, Antonio Albanese, Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo, Silvio Soldini, Gabriele Salvatores, Diego Abatantuono, Paola Cortellesi, Alessandro Borghi, Paolo Virzì, Roberto Vecchioni, Luciano Ligabue, Fiorella Mannoia, Gianni Canova, Margherita Buy, Lella Costa, and many others.
The partnership between Milan Shorts and Fuoricinema ensures a more intelligent, coherent, and inclusive structure — one that fully responds to the needs of both communities while reinforcing the value of shared storytelling.
THE FESTIVAL DAYS
Throughout the mornings and early afternoons, Milan Shorts delivers a carefully curated, evolving program that blends screenings, live discussions, and public encounters—designed to foster a vibrant exchange between new voices in cinema and established industry professionals. Held annually at the Anteo Palazzo del Cinema in the heart of Milan, the festival stands out for its ability to rethink its format each year, proposing a contemporary and forward-looking editorial vision that responds to the shifting landscape of short filmmaking.
Past editions have featured award-winning directors, emerging talents, composers, actors, and producers in a dynamic lineup of screenings, active panels on urgent topics, educational sessions led by international experts, and roundtables that encourage real-time dialogue between creators and audiences. A hallmark of the festival is The Meet Bridge, a recurring format where young filmmakers engage directly with well-known figures from the film world in an informal, accessible setting.
Looking ahead, the festival continues to expand its scope, investing in cross-generational dialogue, thematic experimentation, and formats that combine professional development with public engagement. Each edition builds on the previous one with the goal of nurturing a community that’s diverse, open, and grounded in artistic integrity. The full program—different every year—is announced shortly before the event through official channels, reflecting the festival’s ongoing commitment to relevance, accessibility, and the discovery of bold, independent voices.
AWARDS & COMPETITION
The Milan Shorts Film Festival hosts a highly selective international competition featuring only 12 short films, screened at the prestigious Anteo Palazzo del Cinema in Milan. The selection is divided into two sections: the Main Competition (8 titles), which includes accomplished works that stand out for artistic clarity, narrative coherence, and technical precision; and the NextGen section (4 titles), reserved for emerging filmmakers, debut works, or experimental projects that challenge conventional formats or address urgent social themes. All selected films are automatically considered for six official awards: Best Short Film, Best NextGen Short Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and the Best Screenplay. The curation emphasizes quality over quantity, seeking projects that reflect a strong authorial voice, relevance to contemporary discourse, and innovation in language or form. All winners will automatically join the Milan Shorts Academy, a growing network of past awardees from which eight figures are selected each year to form the official jury.
JURY BOARD - ´25 - MEET THE ACADEMY MEMBERS
ALEXANDRA PATER
Screenwriter // Director // Fcition
Alexandra Pater is a Romanian screenwriter and director known for her visually rich, emotionally charged, and stylistically distinctive storytelling. She made her directorial debut in 2020 with Loyal Copy, a short film she wrote, directed, and produced, exploring identity and representation in the digital age. In 2022, she followed with Bad Wings. She is working to different scripts for international cinema. Her short was officially selected at the first edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
NICOLA GARZETTI
Screenwriter // Director // Fiction // Fashion
Nicola Garzetti began his career in the world of fashion by signing various fashion videos for Armani, Replay, Pinko, Shiseido and Bulgari. Since 2016 he has collaborated with Grazia Italia, creating editorial videos with the celebrities protagonists of the magazine’s cover story. This collaboration continues today. Since 2017 he has been teaching cinematographic languages in the fashion school of IED in Milan. He produced and directed Mèmori in 2023, and Celestiale, his new short film. His short won the ‘BEST SCREENPLAY’ award at the first edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
TEYMOUR TEHRANI
Director // Fiction
Teymour Tehrani is a German-Iranian filmmaker who works as a screenplay writer, director and producer. He received education on the MA at the Northern Film School – Leeds Backet University (UK), FAMU (CZ), Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg (Ludwigsburg, GER) and was awarded a scholarship to the UCLA (USA). Since, Teymour Tehrani has worked on both commercials and feature films. His last film Anieté, and the Sky will be there was acknowledged around the world, as a valuable European contribution to the Black Lives Matter movement. His short won the ‘BEST DIRECTOR’ award at the first edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
ELEONORA GIOVANARDI
Actress
Eleonora Giovanardi began working in theatre immediately, standing out at the Piccolo Teatro with Donna Rosita Nubile, for which she was nominated for the Golden Graal Award in 2011. That same year, she co-founded TAP Ensemble – Teatro d’Arte Popolare. On screen, she gained recognition with the web series Status, which earned her international awards, and later established herself in cinema with Quo vado? and Natale a Londra. Her television career includes roles in Non Uccidere and Lea – Un nuovo giorno, alongside an ongoing commitment to contemporary theatre and civic engagement through the Amleta collective. Her short won the ‘BEST ACTRESS’ award at the second edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
CARLO DE TOGNI
Producer // Director // Animation
Since 2023 Carlo De Togni has passionately led Mondo Novo (www.mondonovo.ai), an independent atelier devoted to uncovering and narrating artistic heritage in novel ways. He fervently explores the dynamic interplay between traditional arts and generative artificial intelligence, crafting stories that resonate and inspire. His short was officially selected at the first edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
LOUIS F. LARROUTURROU
Director // Art Director // Fiction // Commercials
Louis‑Ferdinand Larrouturou is a French Art Director, Photographer, and Filmmaker celebrated for his evocative visual storytelling. A graduate in Art Direction, he seamlessly integrates his refined photographic eye into cinematic form. His debut film, Eden (2024), is a delicate psychological exploration of memory and dissociation, rendered in poetic imagery that lingers beyond its frame. With a practice grounded in both still and moving visuals, Louis‑Ferdinand brings a sensibility to the festival table that bridges mood, memory, and cinematic lyricism. His short was officially selected at the second edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
EDOARDO PURGATORI
Actor
Edoardo Purgatori is an Italian actor celebrated for his depth across theatre, film, and television. Born in Rome in 1989 and trained at the German School of Rome and Oxford School of Drama, he emerged in celebrated TV dramas like Un medico in famiglia and Le fate ignoranti and on the big screen in To Rome with Love, Freaks Out, La dea fortuna, Siccità, Romantiche, and Flaminia. His short won the ‘BEST ACTOR’ award at the second edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
CARLA MASSOLINI
Screenwriter // Director // Fiction // Fashion
Carla Massolini is a Director and Writer based in Berlin, Germany. She started working into the fashion and art field, where she had the opportunity to work for a wide spectrum of international clients from boutique size to global scale. Carla is focusing on emotional narratives in both commercials and fiction. Her goal is to tell a story from a completely cinematographic perspective, seeking to print a certain emotional burden to not only capture the attention and engagement of the viewers, but also that they identify from an affective level with every story. Her short was officially selected at the first edition of Milan Shorts Film Festival.
A BIG FAMILY
Beyond the competition, the festival identifies itself above all as an inclusive space, aiming to create a COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS united by a single passion: cinema. Follow us on Instagram (@milanshortsfilmfestival) and be part of that! Don’t forget to follow Fuoricinema (@_fuoricinema_), too!
AND A GROUNDBREAKING APPROACH
The Milan Shorts highlights not only the selected projects. Throughout the course of the year, some of the projects that submit to us will be promoted through photos, trailers and interviews through our social pages. We are close to the artists, concretely, trying to support your work in the best way possible and offering discounts with our festival partners.
WELCOME TO CIP – THE HOME OF INDIE FILMMAKERS
Cinema Indie People (CIP) is the official parallel section of Milan Shorts Film Festival, designed to spotlight the best low-budget short films (under €20,000) from around the world. More than a competition, CIP is a platform that offers real visibility and access to the indie film scene through screenings, networking, and promotion. Our mission is to support authentic and independent voices that often remain unseen in the traditional festival circuit.
WHAT IS CIP?
CIP breaks away from the conventional structure of film festivals. It gives space to emerging and underrepresented filmmakers through curated social media promotion, interviews, personalized feedback, artist talks, networking events, distribution support, and masterclasses. It’s not just a competition—it’s a year-round support system for indie artists.
HOW IT WORKS – COMPETITION & SCREENINGS
Selected films officially enter one of three competition sections: Italian Section (Best CIP Italian Short Film), International Section (Best CIP International Short Film), and Debut Section (Best CIP Debut Short Film), open to first-time directors.
The three winning short films will be officially screened as part of the Milan Shorts Film Festival, joining the curated program at the iconic Anteo Palazzo del Cinema in the heart of Milan, Italy.
The winners will be announced a few weeks before the event to allow for proper promotion and coordination with the festival team.
All submitted films must have a maximum runtime of 30 minutes (including credits), a completion date after January 1, 2024, and a budget under €20,000. Premiere status is not required. Each submission receives a notification within 72 hours.
CIP FOR SCRIPTWRITERS – SCREENWRITING SECTION
CIP also welcomes short film scripts, with a dedicated space for screenwriters who want to share their voice before their story reaches the screen. The Screenwriting Section includes the Best CIP Short Script Award, which will be officially presented during the awards ceremony of the Milan Shorts Film Festival.
THE WORLD OF CINEMA INDIE
CIP was created to bring together diverse voices across the independent film spectrum. Whether you’re working with minimal resources or bold ideas, CIP aims to unite indie filmmakers, foster inspiration, and build lasting creative connections. It’s a place for stories that matter, told without compromise.
THE CIP // MILAN SHORTS FAMILY
In partnership with Milan Shorts, CIP offers ongoing opportunities throughout the year via newsletters, collaborations, and special events. Submission fees are kept accessible to ensure openness and inclusivity. Winners of the three official CIP sections are invited to attend Milan Shorts for free, with full access to all festival activities, panels, and networking sessions alongside the MSFF guests.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US
Writer
MSFF, a very well organised festival with a very professional team! I had a pleasant experience and had a great time. Thank you for enjoying my documentary and for putting me in touch with interesting and very nice people! I will always follow you now that I know you, thanks again <3
Documentarist
Un team di giovani ragazzi che ha organizzato un Festival con estrema competenza, professionalità e cortesia. Felice di essere stata con loro e onorata del loro gratificante giudizio. Parteciperò sicuramente alla prossima edizione.
Writer
Great festival with actual screenings: you can see the people organizing it are passionate about their “job”!
Writer
I can't thank you enough for organizing such a film festival. Your dedication, passion, and commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience were evident in every aspect of the event. This festival is an opportunity for all filmmakers and Enthusiasts of Cinema. I eagerly look forward to attending future editions of your film festival and witnessing the magic unfold again.
Writer / Director
Milan Shorts is a wonderful Festival. The communication was great and the selection of shorts was very diverse. The team puts a lot of effort in honoring each movie they select. They are fast and very responsive in their communication and they work a lot on promoting each movie. It's a genuine and respectful festival that focuses on the love of movies from all genres and nations. We are extremely pleased to have been part of their adventures and they are at the top of our festival list for the next movie we submit.
Director
The Milan Shorts team has been super supporting in the weeks prior to the festival and during the event of July 28th. They communicated the event brilliantly on social media and were always willingly to give any sort of feedback on the short films. They accomplished to create a sense of family and collaboration between all the contestants and creatives, and made sure all the shorts in the various categories had a moment to shine during the live event. I'm so grateful "Latte" got its recognition from such passionate people. Can't wait to see what's in store for the next seasons and keep in touch! I wish you all the very best 🙂
Director
We participated in the first edition of the MSFF, the organizers were incredibly welcoming and they really cared for the all the participants and their project. Really happy to receive the honorable mention for our Doc. Hope to see you soon in the next editions!
Journalist / Documentarist
What an absolute EPIC gala at the Colosseo Teatro in Milan. As a new comer the MSFF has been a dream team - helping me along the way.
Director
The people behind the Milan Shorts Film Festival are incredibly supporting, kind, considerate, and passionate about truly independent international filmmaking. Each step of the way, their communication was clear, consistent, and always wrapped in kindness and care. They have a strong social media presence, and worked hard to make sure every accepted film had their moment to shine. I can't thank this festival enough for taking a chance on our little film. I know this will be a festival to watch for years to come! Excellent job! A sincere Thank You!! We will be submitting our future work here for consideration. 🙂
Writer / Director
High-quality events, friendly responses, and quick responses I'm touched every time, and thank you. This festival will definitely develop further.
Writer / Director
PARTNERS & COLLABORATIONS
MAGIC AND AMAZING FILM FESTIVAL. The level of this Festival Is really hight. Incredibile communication and hospitality. Thanks for believe in my script and for the award It means a lot to me. See you soon with love