Aquileia once again turns the spotlight on archaeology, history and cultural heritage through the language of cinema. From July 28 to August 4, the seventeenth edition of the Aquileia Film Festival will bring together documentaries, premieres and conversations with leading scholars, offering audiences a week-long exploration of the past and the stories that continue to shape the present.

Organised by Fondazione Aquileia in collaboration with Archeologia Viva and Firenze Archeofilm, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Municipality of Aquileia, the Basilica of Aquileia and PromoTurismoFVG, the festival has established itself as one of Italy's leading events dedicated to archaeological and cultural cinema, transforming the big screen into a place for research, discovery and dialogue.

The theme of the 2026 edition, "Telling the Invisible," invites audiences to look beyond what is immediately visible. It refers not only to the traces that archaeology brings back to light through excavation, but also to the human stories, collective memories and ongoing efforts of those committed to preserving cultural heritage. The festival also renews its commitment to accessibility: every documentary will be available with subtitles for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, while audio description via the Earcatch app will make the screenings accessible to blind and visually impaired visitors. Live transcription will also accompany all public discussions.

The festival opens on Tuesday, July 28, with a special evening marking the fiftieth anniversary of the 1976 Friuli earthquake. The programme includes the presentation of When the Swallows Return. Friuli 1976: Memories of an Earthquake by journalist and sinologist Giada Messetti, interviewed by writer and journalist Elena Commessatti, followed by the screening of Federico Savonitto's documentary Orcolat, a collective reflection on memory, reconstruction and the resilience of a community.

From the following evening onwards, the festival will take audiences on a cinematic journey through some of the most compelling themes in contemporary archaeology. Films will explore UNESCO's role in safeguarding world heritage, the remarkable archaeological discoveries uncovered during the construction of Rome's Metro C line, the mysterious "desert kites" stretching across Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and the precious Roman glass recovered from the depths of the Mediterranean.

Among the highlights of the programme is the world premiere of The Assyrian Empire – History Revealed, directed by Luis Miranda and scheduled for July 31. The documentary follows the work of the German archaeological mission alongside the long-running Italian Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project, led by Professor Daniele Morandi Bonacossi of the University of Udine, whose research focuses on safeguarding endangered heritage in Iraqi Kurdistan. The evening will also feature the presentation of the Aquileia Award, which this year will be presented in a new dual format: alongside the traditional mosaic created by the Friuli Mosaic School, recipients will also receive a handcrafted blown-glass artwork produced in Aquileia's historic glassmaking furnace.

Aquileia's own history and its relationship with the surrounding region will remain central to the programme through the screening of Aquileia and the Lost Christianities by Massimo Garlatti Costa and, on the closing night, What Remains by Marco D'Agostini, a documentary dedicated to the living traditions that continue to shape Friuli Venezia Giulia.

The screenings will be complemented by conversations with some of Italy's leading figures in archaeology and cultural heritage, interviewed by Archeologia Viva editor Piero Pruneti. Guests include Alfonsina Russo, Head of the Department for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage at the Italian Ministry of Culture; Simone Quilici, Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park; Evelina Christillin, President of the Egyptian Museum Foundation; and archaeologists Daniele Morandi Bonacossi and Francesca Simi, directors of the Italian Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project. The closing evening will instead feature journalist Paolo Mosanghini in conversation with writer Elena Commessatti about her latest novel, The Time of Violets.

The programme also includes two special screenings presented in partnership with INCinema – Inclusive Film Festival. On August 1 and 2, audiences will be able to enjoy Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window and Billy Wilder's The Seven Year Itch in their original language with Italian subtitles and fully accessible versions, with free admission.

Screenings begin each evening at 9 p.m. Admission is free with mandatory online reservation, available from July 14, with the exception of the two INCinema evenings, which are open to all without reservation. From July 29 to 31, audiences will also be invited to vote for their favourite documentary, contributing to the festival's Audience Award.