Biografilm Festival turns the spotlight—or rather, the microphones—on an essential protagonist of contemporary storytelling: the podcast. And it does so with an entirely new voice.
The Biografilm Podcast Award is born: a prize dedicated to original podcasts that tell stories of lives and experiences through the evocative power of voice, sound, and imagination. Curated by Biografilm Festival with the consultancy of writer and podcaster Jadel Andreetto, the project aims to create an award that captures and enhances a rapidly evolving narrative form—one that builds worlds, generates visions, and fosters deep connections with listeners.
Developed in dialogue with Bio to B – Industry Days | Drama, the Biografilm Podcast Award takes its place at the heart of the Festival as a meeting ground for creativity, industry, and new storytelling formats. It strengthens the connection between cinema and audio storytelling, celebrating two distinct yet increasingly interconnected languages. Because today, stories are not only watched: they are listened to, experienced, and lived.
On Monday, June 8, 2026, at the Biografilm Hera Theatre | PopUp Cinema Arlecchino in Bologna, the Festival will transform into a vibrant stage dedicated to podcasting. The evening event will feature live listening sessions, talks, special guests, and performances, culminating in the final award ceremony. The winners will be selected by a jury of industry professionals from among the submitted projects, offering visibility and recognition to the most innovative and compelling voices of the contemporary landscape.
The Biografilm Podcast Award is more than a prize: it is an invitation to discover and acknowledge podcasting as one of the most dynamic territories of storytelling—a free, accessible, and deeply creative space where stories come to life through listening and become shared experiences.
A new chapter for Biografilm—or perhaps we should say, a new episode in a Festival where stories find a home and new voices to tell them. Because every life is a story. And every story deserves to be heard.
HOW IT WORKS
The call is open to authors, creatives, collectives, production companies, and creative organizations of legal age, with no nationality restrictions, who have created or developed original podcasts focused on life stories.
Both released and unreleased podcasts are eligible, provided they meet the following requirements:
they must be original podcasts;
they must focus on life stories, biographies, personal experiences, or real-life narratives centered on human journeys;
they must consist of at least three episodes;
they must have been produced after January 1, 2025;
all rights must be fully cleared, including rights related to the use of the work and any audio or musical सामग्री included;
they must be submitted by individuals or entities who legally hold the rights required to enter the call.
To apply, applicants must complete the dedicated online form at the following link.
The deadline for submissions is strictly set for 5:00 PM on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Up to 8 podcasts will be selected for the official selection of the Biografilm Podcast Award 2026. The selected podcasts will be featured during the event on June 8, 2026, in Bologna, where they will be presented to the audience, industry professionals, and the award jury.
THE JURY
For an award like the Biografilm Podcast Award — the showcase we have chosen to dedicate, starting this year, to a storytelling format in full evolution — we could only call upon a jury with expertise in telling stories in all their forms.
MILLEALICE
MilleAlice is a singer-songwriter whose project stems from the need to tell her story in depth, while preserving the many facets that define her. She is currently releasing her debut album, divided into three acts: the first act, NASCERE, was released on April 10, and will be followed by the other two by autumn.
OLIMPIA PERONI
Content creator, educator, and storyteller. On social media, she explores contemporary issues through stories from around the world.
ALESSANDRO REDAELLI
Director, screenwriter, and content creator. He directed Funeralopolis (screened at Biografilm and DOK Leipzig), Game of the Year (Best Film at Biografilm 2021), and Positivə, a documentary marking 40 years of HIV in Italy. He is also an author for Ale della Giusta, Head of Content at GameCvlt — a media brand focused on video games — and a film creator on TikTok and Instagram.
