38th Torino Film Festival Goes Fully Online with Gender-Equal Competition

The 38th edition of the Torino Film Festival, directed by Stefano Francia di Celle, will take place entirely online from November 20 to 28 on MyMovies due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. Originally planned as a hybrid event with physical screenings, the festival pivoted to a fully digital format after the resurgence of the virus. The competition features 12 films, with an equal number directed by women and men—a deliberate choice to promote gender inclusion. Francia di Celle emphasized that the festival aims for cultural diversity, allowing no more than one film per country. The reduced number of competition titles (12) is intended to allow audiences to watch all films and engage with the jury's decisions. The festival also includes non-competitive sections, such as Stanze di Rol, which lost one film due to distributor decisions. Francia di Celle, who has worked with the festival for years, described this edition as the most exciting challenge of his career. He noted that the festival's audience will likely include loyal cinephiles and new viewers attracted by the online format and diversified subscription options. The key word for this edition is 'inclusion,' reflecting efforts in programming, team management, and accessibility.