For the fifth consecutive year, Archivio Aperto presents Archive Lovers Labs, a series of educational and professional development opportunities for anyone wishing to explore or deepen their understanding of archival practices related to private, amateur, and experimental cinema, as well as their contemporary reuse and enhancement. Designed for students, researchers, emerging filmmakers, and moving image curators, Archive Lovers is a space for meeting, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and discussing perspectives on the use of archival footage today and the role it will play in the future.
Young Jury | International Competition & Open Frame Competition
(under 26)
Applications open: 9 July – 20 August 2026
Complete the Google Form available at the link below. You will be asked to upload your CV and a motivation letter.
Not sure which Jury to choose?
- International Competition. Dedicated to works of any genre – including found footage, documentary, experimental cinema, video essays, fiction, and animation – and of any length that place memory and archives at their core, whether through the reuse of archival images or by intertwining public and private histories. Established in 2022, the competition presents each year a selection of around 15 international feature-length, medium-length, and short films, many of which premiere in Italy.
- Open Frame Competition. Dedicated to international short films (up to 30 minutes) produced within academic contexts, universities, workshops, or artist residencies. The selection includes works of every genre – including found footage, documentary, experimental cinema, video essays, fiction, and animation – from around the world. Following its previous edition as a non-competitive section, Open Frame makes its debut this year as an international competition with a curated selection of 15 short films.
When completing the Google Form, you will be able to indicate your preferred jury.
Please note that this preference is not binding. To ensure a balanced composition of both juries, the festival reserves the right to assign participants to a different jury if the preferred one receives more applications than available places.
Our advice? Embrace discovery.
Whichever jury you join, you will have the opportunity to explore archives, private histories, and perspectives from different countries, while experiencing the festival as an active member of the Archivio Aperto community.
Selection and Participation
Participants selected for either jury will receive:
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Festival accreditation granting free access to all Archivio Aperto events
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The official festival tote bag
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A guided tour of the Home Movies Foundation
For participants whose residence or domicile is outside the Province of Bologna and who require accommodation, Archivio Aperto offers accomodation in a partner facility at a cost of €80 for the entire festival. Travel expenses are to be covered by the participant.
This fee partially covers accommodation expenses and includes:
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4 nights
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Check-in: 22 October
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Check-out: 26 October
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Shared rooms accommodating up to six people
If you wish to take advantage of this accommodation, please indicate it when submitting your application via the Google Form.
Applications are also open to people who do not reside in Italy, provided they have a good command of the English language.
Selected applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by 5 September 2026.
Participants using the festival accommodation will receive payment instructions and further details regarding the accommodation contribution by email at a later stage.
For further information, please contact: office@archivioaperto.it
