Messina International Film Festival revives after 71 years, opening night honors Ninni Panzera

The Messina International Film Festival, one of Italy's oldest film events, returned to its original venue, the renovated Parco in Fiera – Agorà dello Stretto, for the first time since its debut in 1955. The festival runs from 26 July to 1 August and the opening evening is dedicated to the memory of local cultural figure Ninni Panzera, who recently passed away. Panzera will receive the posthumous “Regina del Peloro” career award.

Oscar‑winning director Giuseppe Tornatore, a close friend of Panzera, will attend the opening ceremony. The event, supported by the Messina municipality and the Messina Foundation for Culture, is organized by 8 Road Film and the cultural association ARB, with artistic direction by Francesco Cannavà. International guests include Polish director Jan Komasa, who will present his film *Good Boy*, and Italian filmmaker Roberta Torre. The program features five feature‑film competition entries, a selection of Italian shorts, and two thematic focuses on Palestine and Iran. Masterclasses on television series and cinema‑women’s rights are also scheduled.