From 4th to 9th June, the festival’s second edition returns under the artistic direction of Claudio Santamaria. Guests include Vinicio Capossela, the Filarmonica della Scala, Julian Schnabel, and Valeria Golino.
Milan is preparing to declare its love for the silver screen once again. From 4th to 9th June 2026, the second edition of the Milano Film Fest takes centre stage. This innovative project is conceived and organised by the Fondazione Milano Film Fest – which brings together key local realities such as Il Cinemino, Esterni, Fondazione Dude, and Perimetro – under the artistic direction of actor and director Claudio Santamaria.
This year, the festival forges an even deeper bond with the local area thanks to a prestigious collaboration with the Piccolo Teatro, which will host special events at the Strehler, whilst Milanese streets and neighbourhoods transform into a true open-air set. Supported by the Municipality of Milan – Culture, the Fondazione MFF aims to promote diversity and innovation, offering an experience that embraces the entire community through a rich calendar of “off” events and a dedicated industry section.
Highlights and major unmissable appointments during the six-day event at the Piccolo Teatro Strehler include:
- An Artistic Inauguration with Vinicio Capossela (Thursday 4th June, 21:30) The singer-songwriter will open the festival with the encounter “Sotto il bosco di latte – il cinema al buio di Dylan Thomas” (Under Milk Wood – Dylan Thomas’s Cinema in the Dark). A journey into his new audio drama, capable of evoking the magic of cinema through pure imagination.
- The Collective Energy of HardKoro (Saturday 6th June, 21:30) The pop-up choral singing experience that transforms the audience into the main protagonists. With no auditions or registration required, spectators will sing along with a Maestro to an iconic song revealed only at the very last moment.
- Cinema and Music: An Preview from the Filarmonica della Scala (Sunday 7th June, 19:00) A free preview (booking required) of the documentary “Concerti d’Oriente” (Eastern Concerts), focusing on the orchestra’s Asian tour. The evening will open with an on-stage conversation alongside the renowned Maestro Myung-Whun Chung.
The cultural programme is further enriched by the presence of celebrated director Julian Schnabel and actress Valeria Golino, who will hold a highly anticipated masterclass focusing on the profound relationship linking cinema to the visual arts.
Great attention is also dedicated to the international feature and short film competitions, judged by stellar panels from the contemporary cinematic landscape.
In parallel with the screenings and theatre encounters, the festival invites visitors to discover Milan’s cinematic soul through special urban itineraries lasting approximately two and a half hours, organised in collaboration with Milano Guida.
The route will set off from Piazza Duomo – the set of timeless masterpieces such as Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan), Totò, Peppino e la Malafemmina, and Rocco e i suoi fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers) – before winding its way through Piazza della Scala and the Brera District. The guides will illustrate the city’s role as a production and distribution hub, whilst remembering the many long-lost cinemas that once animated the city. Each itinerary will conclude at the Anteo Palazzo del Cinema with a special talk and themed screenings curated by Milano Film Fest critics.
To discover the full line-up of films in competition, festival venues, and side events, please visit the official website milanofilmfest.it.
