Cinema, series, and photography take over the city
From June 3rd to 8th, 2025, Milan will host the very first edition of the Milano Film Fest under the artistic direction of Claudio Santamaria, an urban event blending cinema, TV series, photography, and contemporary culture. The festival has a widespread and participatory soul, involving local communities, cultural spaces, and symbolic city landmarks—thanks also to a public call launched in April. While the Piccolo Teatro di Milano will serve as the festival’s home base, the program will spread throughout Brera, turning iconic venues such as Casa degli Artisti, Cinema Anteo, and Castello Sforzesco into stages for screenings, talks, and exhibitions.
The opening night on June 3rd at the Piccolo Teatro will feature Luc Besson’s June & John, his “secret” film shot with an iPhone during lockdown.
The festival will include two international competitions (feature and short films), a section for premieres, and special focuses on TV series (marking the return of the Serial Awards) and photography, as well as retrospectives and public talks.
There will be plenty of must-see events across Brera:
Casa degli Artisti
📍Via Tommaso da Cazzaniga, Corso Garibaldi, 89/A
A cultural hub in the heart of Brera, Casa degli Artisti will host a large part of the festival’s photography program, featuring group exhibitions, talks with international photographers and curators, and open workshops. Staying true to the venue’s spirit, the events will explore the dialogue between imagery, storytelling, and the contemporary urban landscape. A special retrospective will also highlight iconic film sets shot in Milan.
Cinema Anteo
📍Piazza XXV Aprile, 8
A pillar of Milan’s auteur cinema scene, Cinema Anteo will be one of the main venues for the international feature and short film competition. Audiences will discover new voices in independent cinema and attend Italian premieres of selected works. Several screenings will be followed by Q&As and discussions with the filmmakers.
Castello Sforzesco
📍Piazza Castello
A monumental and symbolic location, the Castello Sforzesco will host open-air evening events, special screenings, and live music. The music program, curated by Manuel Agnelli and his creative lab “Germi,” will bring the castle courtyard to life, blending live music, cinema, and community engagement.
A dedicated section on “Cinema and Industry” is also expected, with talks for industry professionals and in-depth discussions on the future of the audiovisual sector in Italy.
From its very first edition, Milano Film Fest presents itself as an inclusive cultural platform. To view the full and updated event program and to purchase tickets, visit the official website: https://www.milanofilmfest.it/
