STUDENTS
Bif&st 2026 reaffirms and strengthens its collaboration with universities, schools and educational institutions, making this a cornerstone and essential feature of the event; it stimulates young people’s curiosity about other worlds and enhances their critical thinking skills, placing the ‘audience of tomorrow’ at the centre of attention.
Partnerships with the Regional Education Office for Puglia, the University of Bari, the Polytechnic University of Bari, the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory and the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari consolidate the positive relationship established with the student community, in the belief that initiatives of this nature can support the significant educational and training work carried out daily by these institutions.
The initiative undertaken with the Regional Education Office has received an extraordinary response from schools across Puglia.
More than 40 schools, from all six provinces of the region, have expressed their interest, and the participants – comprising students and accompanying teachers – attending the various festival events will number over 2,000.
The festival programme is particularly extensive for the schools audience and includes sections, amongst others, that are clearly in line with educational objectives and have been scheduled for the morning slots.
– “DOPPIO TESTO”
A format featuring the screening of a film adapted from and/or inspired by a novel, followed by a discussion with the film’s director and the novel’s author.
– “INCONTRI DI CINEMA”
A format featuring well-known directors and actors, with film screenings. The sessions are moderated by film experts.
– “RETROSPETTIVA GIUSEPPE TORNATORE”
A retrospective dedicated to the renowned Italian director, featuring screenings of his films and an introduction by a specialist film critic.
– “CORTOMETRAGGI”
A competitive section featuring a selection of national and international short films, presented by a film critic.
-“EVENTI SPECIALI”
Film screenings and prominent guests outside the main programme.
Meanwhile, at the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory of Music, the workshop “Elementi di musica applicata alle immagini” (reserved for students) will be held, along with a final masterclass, “Noi siamo le colonne – viaggio all’interno della musica applicata alle immagini”, open to the public and curated by Roberto Pischiutta, known professionally as Pivio, alongside other exceptional lecturers such as Pasquale Catalano and Alessandro Molinari.
The collaboration with the University spans a wide range of areas:
-Educational initiatives through active involvement in the various stages of the festival’s organisation;
-a media partnership with Radio Uniba;
-a programme of events involving students.
Furthermore, the University of Bari and the Polytechnic University of Bari have selected a group of their students to participate in the People’s Jury for the competitive section “Per il Cinema Italiano”.
The Academy of Fine Arts in Bari will be present with a delegation of students who will be hosted for an event across all sections of the festival.