The Rieti and Sabina Film Festival was founded in 2018, with its first edition hosted at the historic Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti. Organised by the Associazione Culturale Fotonica, the festival brings together cinema and the cultural promotion of the territory, creating opportunities for established professionals and emerging talents to meet and collaborate: directors, screenwriters, actors, musicians and authors from Italy and many other countries.

The programme explores different forms of audiovisual storytelling, including fiction, short films, feature films, documentaries and animated films.

Since its beginnings, the festival has combined the promotion of cinema with a particular focus on social issues. Its connection with 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, has become one of the event’s defining features over the years. In 2024, the festival was hosted at Europa Experience – David Sassoli as part of an event dedicated to the different forms of gender-based violence.

Over the years, the Rieti and Sabina Film Festival has received institutional patronage and recognition. For the 2026 edition, it was granted the Cultural Patronage of NUOVO IMAIE, confirming its commitment to promoting cinema and supporting artistic talent.