Rules & Terms
Sicily On Screen is born under the sun of Sicily, where cinema comes to life. The festival celebrates the Sicilian territory as a crossroads of stories, visions, and international talents.
Mission
Our objective is to highlight talented filmmakers from Sicily and from all over the world, fostering opportunities for meeting and dialogue among professionals in the sector. In this way, the aim is to create a bridge between Sicilian and international filmmakers, capable of encouraging creative collaborations and enhancing the Sicilian territory through cinema. The festival offers filmmakers the possibility to present their works to a wide and qualified audience.
Every month, the festival jury will select up to three winners for the main categories, reserving the possibility of awarding recognitions also in additional categories. The monthly winners will be automatically considered for the annual selection. The winners of the annual edition will be invited to participate in the final event, which will take place on July 10, 2026, in an exclusive location in Sicily, communicated via email to participants. The event will also include free masterclasses with industry professionals.
Festival Structure
All submitted films are viewed by the jury.
The selected films obtain the status of “Official Selection” of the month.
By the 7th of each month, the monthly winners of the main categories are announced.
Monthly winners are sent digital format prizes via email.
Monthly winners automatically access the final selection for annual awards. Annual winners will also have the possibility to upload their works on a VOD platform and will be invited to the final event, during which the selected films will be screened and awarded with a symbolic recognition.
Participants not selected may submit their works again in the following months.
Awards
Monthly winners will receive via email a downloadable and printable digital certificate + laurel. Annual winners will also receive a trophy, delivered during the award ceremony.
Main Categories
Best Sicilian Director
Best International Director
Best Film Set in Sicily
Additional Categories
Best Animation; Best Documentary; Best Web/TV Series; Best Mobile Short Film; Best Music Video; Best Feature Film; Best Direction; Best Actor; Best Actress; Best Original Screenplay; Best Editing; etc.
Rules
Participation
The festival is open to filmmakers of any age and nationality. Works of any genre may participate. Films that do not comply with the rules will not be selected. Submission fees are non-refundable. It is possible to register in an additional category only after selecting a main category. Submissions are open until the 2nd day of the following month. Results will be announced by the 7th day.Technical Requirements
Films must have a duration between 0 and 80 minutes (including credits) and be in the original language with subtitles in Italian or English. In special cases, films without subtitles may also be evaluated.
It is possible to submit the same film in multiple editions, provided it has not already been a finalist or winner. Multiple submissions from the same author are accepted.
Main Categories – Requirements
Best Sicilian Director: reserved for filmmakers residing in or originally from Sicily.
Best International Director: open to filmmakers from all over the world.
Best Film Set in Sicily: for works filmed or set in Sicily that enhance the territory.
Rights
Participants authorize the festival to screen the works during the event and to use excerpts, images, and promotional materials for festival communication. The submitted materials may be used for promotional, educational, and awareness purposes.
The rights of the works remain with their respective authors, who may request their removal from the platforms at any time. Participants guarantee that they own all rights related to images, music, and content present in the works. The festival does not provide financial compensation for participation.Acceptance of the Rules
Participation in the festival implies full acceptance of these rules. The organization reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the festival, as well as to update rules, awards, categories, dates, and location due to force majeure. The festival also reserves the right not to assign one or more awards if the qualitative level is deemed inadequate.
Evaluation Process
The evaluation of the works viewed by the jury and the organization will be based on: quality of screenplay, direction, acting, production, originality, technical quality, cinematography, sound design, editing, set design.
For further information, contact the festival organization through official channels.
Where It Happens
Via Badia, 9.
95123, Catania (Italy)
When
10 July 2026
Contacts
sicilyonscreen@gmail.com