From August 3 to 9, 2026, the grounds of Villa Cattolica – Museo Guttuso will host the 12th edition of “Animaphix – New Contemporary Languages ​​Film Festival.” Held under the patronage of the Municipality of Bagheria, the festival opens on August 3 at 9:00 PM with official remarks from Bagheria Mayor Filippo Maria Tripoli, followed by a presentation of short films created as part of the *National Cinema for Schools Plan* (promoted by MiC and MIM) for the *Animaphix Audiovisual Memories* project. The evening continues with a tribute to Marjane Satrapi, featuring a special screening of *Persepolis* at 10:00 PM. The festival program includes: International Competition: 31 short films from 18 countries (15 national and 3 international premieres) across the Animated Painting, AniDOC, National, and Experimental sections, screening from August 5 to 8 at the Arena Guttuso.
Focus on Segundo de Chomón: The “El cine de la fantasía” section, produced in collaboration with the Filmoteca de Catalunya and the Instituto Cervantes in Palermo, presents 21 works in a video-installation format. A meeting with Rosa Cardona Arnau of the Filmoteca de Catalunya is scheduled for Thursday, August 6.
Judging and Awards: An international jury will award the section prizes, the Giannalberto Bendazzi Award for Best Italian Film, and the Grand Prix. Rounding out the honors are the “Pescatore di Suoni” (Sound Fisherman) award for sound design, the Audience Award, and the Youth Jury’s selections.

“The festival serves as a cornerstone of Villa Cattolica’s summer programming, placing Bagheria at the heart of an international exchange network within the realm of auteur animation,” states Mayor Filippo Maria Tripoli. “Initiatives like this showcase the city’s venues and engage the local community, starting with the young students participating in educational projects.”

“Animaphix proves itself to be an event that successfully blends experimentation with visual languages ​​and the promotion of Villa Cattolica’s museum heritage. Features such as historical retrospectives—like the spotlight on Segundo de Chomón, organized in partnership with international institutions—and a focus on themes of identity and rights enrich the local cultural landscape for both residents and visitors,” says Daniele Vella, Councilor for Culture.

“As the director and founder of Animaphix, I have always believed that a festival should leave a legacy that extends beyond the event dates themselves. Its true value lies in its ability to foster connections, encourage participation, engage new generations, and transform culture into a tool for dialogue, inclusion, and shared growth. Bringing artist-driven films and creators from around the world to our local area broadens the audience’s horizons, stimulates critical thinking, and promotes exchange across generations, artistic languages, and cultures,” explains Rosalba Colla, director and founder of the Animaphix New Contemporary Languages ​​Film Festival. She adds, “For twelve years, Animaphix has consistently built this path, establishing itself as a key player in the sector thanks to a network of partnerships with prestigious national and international institutions and the ongoing cultural planning that ensures the festival’s sustainability. These represent the festival’s most profound cultural and social impacts, alongside the enhancement of the local area, the strengthening of its appeal, and tangible benefits for the local economy.” “This is the vision that continues to guide Animaphix and its dialogue with the community and local institutions, whom I thank for their support.”

The complete festival program is attached at the bottom of the article:
https://bagheria-api.municipiumapp.it/s3/448/allegati/programma-animaphix2026.pdf.