VerticalMovie 2026 festival returns to Rome

The VerticalMovie 2026 international festival, dedicated to vertical format videos and short films, will take place at the Casa del Cinema in Rome from Tuesday, September 29 to Thursday, October 1. Founded in 2018 by Salvatore Marino, the ninth edition of the festival features an expanded program including masterclasses, screenings, and awards.

New for this year is the ‘VerticalTalent Powered by Canon’ section, a practical training program for emerging creatives. Five selected filmmakers produced works using Canon EOS C50 equipment following specialized masterclasses. The festival also includes thematic competition categories such as Vertical Voices (human rights and equality), Vertical Open, Vertical Green (environment), and Vertical AI.

Additionally, the festival is expanding into series production. One notable project among the VerticalTalent winners is a 24-episode vertical drama written and directed by Franco Bertini and produced by Pier Giorgio Bellocchio.