EVERYTHING IS READY FOR THE ITALIAN HORROR FANTASY FEST:

Paolo Ruffini opens the official program alongside all the event’s special guests.

Among this year’s awardees is director Federico Zampaglione.

 

After the extraordinary success of the official press conference, held on October 16 in the prestigious Sala Consiliare of Palazzo Valentini, where Maestro Dario Argento received the Medal of the Presidency of the Capitoline Assembly, presented by Hon. Fabrizio Santori, the festival will officially open on Saturday, November 1, at the Casa del Cinema.
The opening ceremony will begin at 3:00 PM, introduced by actor and director Paolo Ruffini.

Also attending is actor and impersonator Dario Ballantini (Striscia la Notizia), star of the first out-of-competition short film directed by his son, Deleo.
This will be followed by the presentation of the new feature co-directed by Dario Almerighi and Lorenzo Lepori, with the trailer "Al Termine del Sole" introduced by Antonio Tentori.

Next on stage will be the stars of the official IHFF25 promo — actresses Mihaela Anisoara, Cecilia C. Maesano Monorchio, and cameo appearances by legendary directors Luigi Cozzi and Sergio Stivaletti.
They will greet the audience before giving the floor to Luigi Parisi ("Sangue Caldo", "Onore e Rispetto", "Il Peccato e la Vergogna"), who will present four short films showcasing his personal vision of horror and fantasy, in a conversation moderated by Emanuele Di Nicola (Nocturno), festival communications manager.

A cult moment will follow with the appearance of Zio Tibia, who will announce the winners of the three main awards: Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, and the Flat Parioli Award — the latter being one of the Festival’s key partners, responsible for all technical coordination.
The three winning films will be screened immediately afterward, followed by a special meeting with directors Claudio Fragasso ("La Casa 5", "Palermo Milano – Solo Andata", "Troll 2"), who will unveil the trailer for his upcoming film "The Devil Among Us", and Dario Germani, who will present an exclusive clip from his latest work "Angelus Tenebrarum".

Out of competition, the debut film La Casa del Sabba by Marco Cerilli, produced by Lu.Pa. Film and Luigi Pastore — the Festival’s creator and artistic director — will be presented.

After a brief performance by action poet Alessandro D’Agostini with his piece "Ombra", the evening will continue with the Awards Ceremony, featuring the Presidents of the Jury of Excellence:
the Manetti Bros. (directors), Fiore Argento (actress), Gianni Paolucci (producer, Halley Pictures), Davide Pulici (Nocturno, media partner), and Antonio Zequila (actor).

The winners will receive the prestigious trophy designed by director and special effects master Sergio Stivaletti, who also created the new Festival logo, graphically realized by illustrator Giorgio Credaro, author of the official poster.

Among the honorees is Academy Award nominee Francesco Costabile, recipient of the “Bruno Mattei Award”, dedicated to the memory of the late director.
Also recognized will be Daria Perrotta, Chief Accountant General of the State, invited by the artistic direction to highlight the cultural value and dignity of Italian genre cinema, supported by the moral patronage of Regione Lazio, Casa del Cinema, Fondazione Cinema per Roma, and SIAE.

Director and musician Federico Zampaglione will also attend the Italian Horror Fantasy Fest.
Following the success of The Well — one of last season’s most intense and disturbing horror films — Zampaglione will receive the Award for Excellence, with the following motivation:

“To director Federico Zampaglione, a true ambassador of Italian horror around the world, whose vision, courage, and talent have renewed the language of fear and brought the genre to new international heights.”

The award will be presented by Festival Director Luigi Pastore during the event.

The Festival will close with the European premiere of the anthology film "The Summoning of Baby Blue", distributed by New Zealand company Black Mandala, official IHFF25 partner.

The night will continue with the closing party at the brand-new Tartarughino, Via Veneto 9 — the Festival’s hospitality partner — together with Cast Cine Bistrot (the Casa del Cinema restaurant), where guests and VIPs can dine at a special festival rate.

Among the technical partners supporting the Italian Horror Fantasy Fest, contributing essential services to its success, are Cooperativa Radio Taxi 3570, Globo Vintage (official radio), Chin8 Neri, Profondo Rosso Store and Dario Argento’s Museum of Horrors, Etiopia Lab, Divina Hairdresser by Sergio Tirletti, and fashion designer Barbara Basciano, who curated the event’s style and elegance.

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