Elvira Coda Notari, born in Salerno on February 10, 1875, and passed away in Cava de’ Tirreni on December 17, 1946, was Italy’s first female film director and one of the most innovative figures of the silent film era. As the founder of the production company “Dora Film” alongside her husband Nicola Notari, Elvira directed over 60 films, often set in the working-class neighborhoods of Naples. Her works, marked by a bold and realistic style, explored pressing social and moral issues, breaking away from the traditional norms of cinema at the time. Her career left a lasting legacy on Italian cinema, paving the way for future generations of filmmakers.
To mark the 150th anniversary of the director’s birth, the Short Film School Fest is dedicating the Elvira Coda Notari Award 2025to her memory. The award will be presented during the closing ceremony to a woman who has distinguished herself in the Italian film industry.
The Short Film School Fest is an event organized by thecultural association Nessuno e Centomila, in collaboration with the Fondazione Gagliardi Marino Angeloni, and supported by a broad network of friends and cinema enthusiasts. The municipal administration of the City of Cava de’ Tirreni actively contributes to the realization of this event, providing institutional support to the initiative.
The event serves as a platform for cultural growth and exchange, offering schools, young filmmakers, and audiences of all ages the opportunity to explore, learn, and appreciate the art of cinema. Our goal is to create an event that highlights young talent, engages cinema lovers, stimulates creativity, and fosters the sharing of audiovisual language.
By focusing on the active participation of young people, we aim to provide an opportunity for cultural enrichment and dialogue, offering emerging filmmakers a chance to express themselves and take center stage in shaping a new era of cinema.
The Short Film School Fest was created with the aim of reviving an initiative that enjoyed great success a few years ago: the Corto in Stabia competition, this event featured numerous short films created by students from lower and upper secondary schools. As a trailblazer for other similar initiatives nationwide, the competition left a significant mark on the landscape of youth cinema, inspiring many other events across Italy. Building on this valuable experience, the organization returns with a refreshed format, while maintaining its commitment to fostering youth creativity through the language of cinema. The festival provides schools and young filmmakers with an opportunity to gain recognition and express their vision.
The Short Film School Fest is an international short film competition open to students from Italian lower and upper secondary schools, international students aged 12 to 19, and emerging adult filmmakers. The competition promotes the use of audiovisual language as an educational and creative tool. To participate, download the official call for entries and regulations from the link below.
The Short Film School Fest is open to Students from Italian lower and upper secondary schools, International students aged 12 to 19, Emerging adult filmmakers, both Italian and international, who have created their first audiovisual works.
The competition includes the following categories:
- Lower Secondary Schools
- Upper Secondary Schools
- International Schools (students aged 12 to 19)
- Emerging Filmmakers
Short films must meet the following criteria: be original creations,have a maximum duration of 15 minutes, be in digital format (MP4), films in any language are accepted, but they must include subtitles in Italian or English.
Registration must be completed by March 15, 2025 using the form available on the festival's official website. The final version of the short film must be submitted by March 30, 2025.
Short films will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Best Direction
- Best Editing
- Best Screenplay
- Best Actor/Actress
The shortlisted finalist short films will be announced on April 10, 2025, on the official website and the festival's social media channels.
Yes, trophies and certificates of recognition will be awarded for each category: best short film:
- Best Short Film
- Best Screenplay
- Best Direction
- Best Editing
- Best Actor/Actress
- Audience Award
Short films must be in MP4 format with a minimum resolution of 720×480 pixels, preferably 1920×1080 pixels.
No, participation in the competition is free of charge.
Yes, students who are family members of organizing committee members, sponsors, or judges are not eligible to participate.
The festival will take place from May 21 to May 24, 2025, following this schedule:
- Day 1: Screening of finalist short films from lower secondary schools
- Day 2: Screening of finalist short films from upper secondary schools
- Day 3: Screening of works from international schools and emerging filmmakers
- Day 4: Award ceremony and screening of the winning short films
Any requests for clarifications or appeals must be submitted via email within three working days after the conclusion of the festival to the following address: concorso2025@shortfilmschoolfest.it.
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Elvira Coda Notari, the first Italian female director, the cultural association Nessuno e Centomila in collaboration with the Gagliardi Marino Angeloni Foundation presents the first edition of the Short Film School Fest
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