ITFF 2026: International actress Karla Sofia Gascon receives the World Cinema Ambassador Award

The 15th edition of the International Tour Film Festival concluded at the Cittadella della Musica in Civitavecchia. Organized by Civitafilm under the presidency of Piero Pacchiarotti, with Antonio Flamini as artistic director and Andrea Donato as technical director, the festival once again established itself as a key event for international cinema connected to themes of travel, tourism and culture.

The evening’s leading star and guest of this edition was the renowned international actress Karla Sofia Gascon, who was awarded the ITFF World Cinema Ambassador Award for the intensity of her performances and for her contribution to contemporary cinema through the strength of her personal and professional testimony; she embodies artistic quality, an international presence and strong symbolic value.

The final night featured an impressive institutional lineup: the Mayor of Civitavecchia, Marco Piendibene; the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture, Stefania Tinti; the Councillor for Productive Activities, Tourism, Labour and Personnel, Pietro Alessi; the President of Fondazione Cariciv, Gaetano Starace; and Gabriella Sarracco, President of the Consortium University for Civitavecchia and Honorary President of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Civitavecchia.

The evening was skillfully hosted by actors Alina Person and Simone Gallo. The festival patron, Elisabetta Pellini, was absent due to filming commitments. Miss Civitavecchia Elegance and Miss Cinema assisted with the awards presentation.

The overall winner of the 2026 edition was the feature film Dead Dogs Don’t Bite (2026) by Turkish director Nuri Cihan Ozdogan, which also received the critics’ prize.

The awards ceremony opened with a stirring rendition of “Sebben, crudele,” the famous 1710 aria by Antonio Caldara, sung by soprano Serena Ansidoni. The musical moment was enriched by an original performance titled “Altera Pars,” conceived and choreographed especially for the festival by Antonino Montalbano, a noted performer and choreographer linked to the artistic universe of Stefano Poda, performed by Irene Lo Russo and Lucrezia Pontonio of Collettivo Ties.

Prizes for Italian excellence, curated by excellence coach Luca Papa, were awarded to: Raffaele Giammaria, professional racing driver and senior executive in national and international motorsport; Angela Ciampagna, internationally renowned perfumer and “nose”; and Enos, an Italian excellence and global leader in the design and production of packaging and labeling machinery.

The sold-out venue hosted many distinguished guests welcomed on stage by President Piero Pacchiarotti and Artistic Director Antonio Flamini: from Taiwan, directors Jia-Yee Ong, Shin Chung and Jia Xin Chua; directors Steven Willbur, Luciano Luminelli, Christian Marazziti, Corrado Rizza, Daniele Falleri; international actor José Gigar; Iranian actress Faeghe Shalalvand; actors Paola Lavini, Jonis Bashir, Pietro Romano; costume designer Antonella Balsamo and set designer Luciano Berti; musician and composer Roberto Lobbe Procaccini; Graziano Marraffa, President of the Historical Archive of Italian Cinema; casting director Simona Tartaglia; Franco Mariotti, Vice President of the Cinema Journalists’ Union; Ezio Sina of APIDGE; and digital creators Brazo Crew, Klea Marku and Ilenia Ferruggio.

All winners of the 15th International Tour Film Festival 2026:

• Critics’ Jury Prize and overall winner of the 15th edition of ITFF

DEAD DOGS DON’T BITE SIMONE by Nuri Cihan Ozdogan — Turkey (2026)

• ITFF WORLD CINEMA AMBASSADOR AWARD

Karla Sofia Gascon

• ANIMATION SECTION

SUPERESCOLARES 2 – UNA MENTE SANA by INIGO ECHAVARRI — Spain (2025)

• DOCUMENTARY SECTION

FELLINESQUE – The Eternal Dance of Fellini by Federico Mancuso — Italy (2025)

• FICTION SECTION

The Last Reporter (L’ultimo Reporter) by Michele D’Anca — Italy (2025)

Special Mention: Empathy Rehearsals by Jacopo Cullin — Italy (2026)

• FEATURES SECTION

THE EXTINCTION OF THE HUMAN RACE (L’estinzione della Razza Umana) by Emanuele Aldrovandi — Italy (2025)

• BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

FOLLOWING THE LINE by Jia-Yee Ong — Taiwan (2025)

• STUDENT CHOICE AWARD

FOLLOWING THE LINE by Jia-Yee Ong — Taiwan (2025)

• SHORT IN AI SECTION

The Undelivered Gift by Massimo Ivan Falsetta — Italy (2025)

• TOURISM SECTION

THE LEGACY IN EVERIGESTURE – ROMARIA D’AGONIA by Flavio Cruz — Portugal (2025)

• VERTICAL MOVIE SECTION

SOTT’ACQUA by Robin Lancaster Bisio — United States (2025)

• VIDEO POETRY SECTION

Sulfur by Karen Akerman and Miguel Seabra Lopes — Portugal (2024)

Special Mentions: Black & White by Kovsar Gurban — Azerbaijan (2025), (U)niver(S)e by Giada Scarfiello — Italy (2026)

• ITFF SPECIAL AWARD

Luciano Luminelli, director of the medium-length film “Ultimo Saluto,” together with actors Jonis Bashir, Paola Lavini, costume designer Antonella Balsamo and set designer Luciano Berti.

Corrado Rizza, director of the documentary “Poco Noto - Lettere Dal Palazzo.”

José Gigar, international actor.

• ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONSTITUTION AWARD

“GENERAZIONE 41” by class IV section A/O of the Liceo delle Scienze Umane, social-economic option, of the “Gregorio da Catino” Institute in Poggio Mirteto (RI)

• SPECIAL JURY PLAQUE to the docufilm “UN TUFFO NEL PASSATO. STORIE DI CAMPI E DI FILATOI” by class 3D of the Istituto Comprensivo “Via 4 Novembre” in Cornaredo.

APIDGE 2026 plaque to the docufilm “ADRIANO OLIVETTI. L’UOMO CHE IMMAGINÒ UN’IMPRESA AL SERVIZIO DELL’UOMO” by Leonardo Abbadessa.

The International Tour Film Festival was, as always, a widespread festival held at various city venues (National Archaeological Museum, Teatro Verdi, Fondazione Ca.Ri.Civ, Cittadella della Musica, Spazio Granari Off and Cineteatro Buonarroti) with free admission to all screenings and events. The festival was sponsored by MIC, Regione Lazio, Lazio Crea, Fondazione Cariciv and the Municipality of Civitavecchia, and supported by Enel, Leonori Auto and the historic restaurant Esterina.

Attached are the post-event press release and photos of actress Karla Sofia Gascon, the overall winner and others (high‑resolution photos are available on request). Photo credits: Nicoletta Morici.