THE PORRETTA FILM FESTIVAL submission details

Lights…Camera…Submit! One lucky resident of Memphis Shelby County will win a trip to have their film screened at the prestigious Porretta Film Festival December 6-13, 2025. Bordering Tuscany and in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, in Emilia Romagna, in the district of Bologna, the Porretta Film Festival dates to the 1960s and 1970s, when it was known for its avant-garde films. Reborn in 2002, the Festival today draws on the spirit of the past, and the momentousness of the present, showcasing Italian cinema to the world.

This year for the 2025 Film Festival, The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission/Foundation and the Porretta Film Festival have partnered once again to create an international film exchange! 

Memphis Shelby County filmmakers are invited to submit a recently completed Narrative feature film for this year’s Festival, where the winning feature film selected by a panel of independent judges will be screened before an international audience December 6th through the 13th.

*Your film must have a minimum length of 40 minutes.

*the film must have been shot and completed since july 1, 2023.

*the narrative feature film must have been assisted by the memphis & shelby county film and television commission with a screen credit (or special thanks)

*the majority of the film had to have been shot in shelby county.

*the submitter has to be a legal resident of shelby county in either the director or producer position.

*the crew must have been majority legal residents of shelby county.

*there must be no outstanding bills against the producing company

*Your film must be submitted by the end of the business day september 12th.

Send a link to your film to Hello@filmmemphis.org along with a copy of your current TN Driver’s License or state-issued ID – plus one of these three:  a current MLGW bill, rental agreement, or mortgage statement showing your Memphis Shelby County address.

The submissions will then be judged by independent, diverse local university and college faculty who will announce the film selected for screening september 26th. those filmmakers who were not selected will be notified ahead of time.

Airfare and hotel accommodations will be provided courtesy of Writer/Director/producer Craig Brewer, and the Porretta Film Festival.

For more information, send your questions to: Hello@filmmemphis.org