Mario Verdone Award
Mario Verdone Award
17 edition
27 Festival del Cinema Europeo - 2026
The five finalists in the competition have been announced: Davide Angiuli for Cattiva strada;
Gabriele Berti, Giovanni Nasta, and Diego Tricarico for Strike - Figli di un’era sbagliata;
Mara Fondacaro for Il primo figlio;
Alberto Palmiero for Tienimi presente;
Tommaso Renzoni for Notte prima degli esami 3.0.
Once again, the European Film Festival (Lecce, November 7–14, 2026) is bringing back one of its most anticipated sections: the "Mario Verdone Award," now in its 17th edition. The Verdone family—Carlo, Luca, and Silvia—will personally present the award in Lecce; named after their father, it honors an Italian filmmaker who has distinguished themselves with a debut feature during the past film season.
The five finalists for this year—selected by Alberto La Monica, Director of the European Film Festival, in collaboration with the board of the Italian Film Journalists' Union (SNGCI) led by Laura Delli Colli—are: Davide Angiuli for *Cattiva strada*; Gabriele Berti, Giovanni Nasta, and Diego Tricarico for *Strike - Figli di un’era sbagliata*; Mara Fondacaro for *Il primo figlio*; Alberto Palmiero for *Tienimi presente*; and Tommaso Renzoni for *Notte prima degli esami 3.0*.
As is the case every year, the winner of the award—established by the Festival in agreement with the Verdone family—will be chosen by Carlo, Luca, and Silvia Verdone themselves, who will present the honor during the event's closing weekend. “Standing once again alongside the European Film Festival for the award dedicated to our father is a deeply moving experience for us. This accolade serves as a bridge between his legacy and that of the young talents who are currently infusing Italian cinema with fresh energy and new perspectives,” note Carlo, Luca, and Silvia Verdone. “Once again, the films in competition showcase a rich diversity of visions, cinematic languages, and sensibilities, reflecting a vibrant young cinema capable of examining the present and portraying it with authenticity and originality. This vitality also makes the jury’s task particularly
stimulating. We thank the European Film Festival and the National Union of Italian Film Journalists for their continued support and promotion of new generations of filmmakers. It is a commitment that resonates deeply with the vision and passion with which our father always viewed cinema and its emerging talents.”
Winners of past editions of the Mario Verdone Award
Previous editions of the Mario Verdone Award were won by: Susanna Nicchiarelli for *Cosmonauta*, Aureliano Amadei for *20 sigarette*, Andrea Segre for *Io sono Li*, Claudio Giovannesi for *Alì ha gli occhi azzurri*, Matteo Oleotto for *Zoran, il mio nipote scemo*, Sebastiano Riso for *Più buio di mezzanotte*, Duccio Chiarini for *Short Skin*, Marco Danieli for *La ragazza del mondo*, Roberto De Paolis for *Cuori puri*, Damiano and Fabio D'Innocenzo for *La terra dell’abbastanza*, Phaim Bhuiyan for *Bangla*, Alice Filippi for *Sul più bello*, and Giulia Louise Steigerwalt for *Settembre*; special recognition went to Gabriele Mainetti for *Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot*, Giacomo Abbruzzese for *Disco Boy*, and Margherita Vicario for *Gloria!*; a special award went to Brando De Sica for *Mimì – Il Principe delle tenebre*; and last year, Greta Scarano won for *La vita da grandi*.
The European Film Festival, conceived and produced by the "Art Promotion" Cultural Association, is realized with the support of the 2021-2027 Revolving Fund under Intervention Line 6.2 ("Enhancement and promotion of culture, creativity, and talent"—a public call aimed at supporting film and audiovisual festivals, showcases, and awards of regional, national, and international significance to be held in the region during the 2025–2027 period, organized by the Puglia Region’s Culture Economy Section) and with contributions from the Ministry of Culture (Directorate General for Cinema) and the Municipality of Lecce. Recognized by the Ministry of Culture as an event of "national interest" and a member of the Italian Film Festivals Association, the European Film Festival is held under the patronage of the Apulia Film Commission and in collaboration with the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, S.N.G.C.I., FIPRESCI, S.N.C.C.I., and the Centro Nazionale del Cortometraggio.