ABOUT US.

Visionova started in a simple way: three young filmmakers from different parts of the world met in Rome and started making films together. Somewhere between the shoots, the edits, and the long conversations about what cinema can do, we realised something. Independent filmmakers need more spaces where their work is properly seen, supported, and celebrated. So we decided to build one.

Today, Visionova is a film festival, but it is also a growing group of people who genuinely love cinema, especially the kind that takes a risk, says something real, or shows the world from a different angle.

We are a small team of curators and film people based in Rome, working with partners and collaborators to bring selected short films to the big screen, connect filmmakers with audiences, and create nights that feel alive and welcoming.

At the core, it is straightforward: we want to support strong short films and the filmmakers behind them, and give their work a platform that feels worth it.

Sustainability at Visionova

At Visionova, sustainability is about more than just the environment — it’s about building a fairer, more inclusive, and culturally vibrant world. Our festival operates at the intersection of civil society, creativity, and democratic expression, in direct alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

  • SDG 5 – Gender Equality: We promote equal representation and actively platform voices across all gender identities, ensuring that access to creative expression is not limited by outdated hierarchies or exclusionary norms.

  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Our curatorial approach is global and non-discriminatory — we seek out work from the margins, including filmmakers from the Global South, underrepresented communities, and those historically excluded from the cinematic mainstream.

  • SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities: Visionova builds cultural spaces that bring people together — not just to watch films, but to connect, collaborate, and think critically. By grounding our events in Rome and expanding globally, we help foster resilient, culturally rich communities.

  • SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions: We see cinema as a tool of civil society — a way to hold power to account, challenge hegemony, and elevate unheard voices. We champion transparency, merit-based selection, and open dialogue across borders.

Our commitment to sustainability includes practical steps: keeping our operations lean, minimising waste where possible, and collaborating with partners who share our values. But most of all, we believe in sustainable culture — one that celebrates diversity, resists monoculture, and gives voice to the many, not the few.

Cinema is not decoration. It’s the meeting place.