Biografilm 2026’s third day journeys through remarkably diverse worlds and stories: from the intimate family life of Giorgio Bassani to the brutality of the war in Ukraine, from London’s multicultural outskirts to an uneasy America already foreshadowing Trump’s return. A programme that once again confirms the festival’s commitment to exploring the complexity of our present through unique, personal and courageous perspectives.
One of the most anticipated events of the day is the screening of Les filles d’Olfa (Quattro figlie), the extraordinary work by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania. A director whose cinema questions reality and transforms storytelling into an act of civic responsibility, Ben Hania will receive the Celebration of Lives Award 2026 during Biografilm. Her gaze, at once deeply human and politically aware, explores themes of memory, trauma and resilience, blending documentary and fiction with singular expressive power. In Quattro figlie, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, the story of a Tunisian mother and her daughters becomes a powerful reflection on absence, identity and the wounds that run through families and contemporary societies. It is a valuable opportunity to rediscover one of the most authoritative and essential voices in international cinema, recently honoured with the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival for The voice of Hind Rajab. The screening will take place at 8:00 pm at Cinema Modernissimo.
The day begins at 5:00 pm at Cinema Modernissimo with the world premiere of In gran segreto – Un racconto familiare su Giorgio Bassani, a journey through memories, places and testimonies that paints an intimate portrait of the author of Il giardino dei Finzi Contini through the words of his children, Paola and Enrico. At the same time, at Sympò, audiences can attend IWONDERFULL TALKS – IWONDERFULL & The Italian Review: nuove forme di racconto tra cinema e cultura contemporanea, a conversation dedicated to the evolving ways in which culture, cinema and society are narrated today.
At 6:15 pm at Cinema Lumière, A Simple Soldier takes audiences to the frontline of the war between Russia and Ukraine, following Artem Ryzhykov’s transformation from filmmaker to soldier as he defends his country. The film offers an immersive and deeply personal perspective on the human cost of war. Later, at 7:00 pm, also at Cinema Lumière, Everything Works Out (In the End) tells the remarkable story of Katelyn, an iconoclastic figure of American pop culture engaged in a constant process of reinvention through music, boxing, spirituality and self-discovery.
Meanwhile, at 7:00 pm at the Biografilm Hera Theatre Pop Up Cinema Arlecchino, audiences can discover the international premiere of London Boys, an energetic and compelling portrait of the “Bangladeshi Bad Boys”, young London bikers challenging racism and Islamophobia in their search for belonging, recognition and freedom.
The evening continues with two premieres and two powerful stories of rebellion. At 9:15 pm at Cinema Lumière, the world premiere of La fata introduces audiences to the complex and multifaceted world of Isabella, a dominatrix and digital sex worker who transforms desire into a space for listening, performance and human connection. At 9:30 pm, also at Cinema Lumière, Amílcar revisits the life of revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral, a key figure in Guinea-Bissau’s anti-colonial struggle and one of the most influential personalities in twentieth-century African history.
At the same time, in the evocative cloister of the Complesso di Santa Cristina “della Fondazza”, Hex tells the story of the birth of the band Witch Club Satan within Norway’s black metal scene—an explosion of music, feminism and creative freedom that challenges conventions and stereotypes. Closing the day at 9:45 pm at Cinema Arlecchino is Click the Link Below, an ironic yet unsettling dive into the world of online wealth gurus, where promises of success, expensive courses and digital illusions collide.
Another day of Biografilm that crosses generations, borders and identities, inviting audiences to see the world from unexpected perspectives.
