Nòt Film Fest
Organization

Founder: Giovanni Labadessa
Organization Website: www.notfilmfest.com
HISTORY
Founded in 2018 by a small group of filmmakers from Los Angeles and Italy, Nòt Film Fest has grown into one of the most exciting indie film festivals in Europe, earning a spot in MovieMaker Magazine’s "Top 20 International Festivals Essential to Indie Cinema."
In our first 7 live editions we’ve proudly hosted over 600 films and built a reputation for showcasing the most daring, heartfelt, and visually stunning work from all over the world. But our true mission has always been deeper than cinema alone: we’re building a creative community — one dish of pasta at a time.
In 2024, we showcased over 100 films, 91 of which were premieres, across 14 competitive categories — from narrative features and documentaries to shorts, student works, and fashion films.
We pair screenings with Nòt Talks, intimate and accessible panels where filmmakers and industry experts share the real stories behind the screen: from budgeting and burnout to distribution and dreams.
And all of this happens in Santarcangelo — a town that feels like a movie set in itself, blending timeless Italian charm with an electric, youthful energy.
We’re proud to be one of the few festivals with a true sustainability mission. Our green protocols touch every part of the experience — from eco-friendly materials and local vendors to shared transport and zero-waste efforts.
Because we don’t just care about stories. We care about the world they’re told in.
Over the years, we’ve welcomed a diverse and inspiring lineup of guests who’ve shared their knowledge, passion, and mentorship with our community, including:
Gabriela Rodriguez – Oscar-winning producer (Roma)
Theo Green – Oscar-winning sound designer (Dune)
Peter Baxter – Founder of Slamdance Film Festival
Dylan Sprouse – Actor
Francis Chapman – Oscar-nominated producer (The Knight of Fortune)
Kyle Stroud – Sundance-winning producer (In The Summers)
Kim Magnusson – Multiple Academy Award-winning producer (Helium, The New Tenants)
Rebecca Pruzan – Oscar-nominated producer (Ivalu), co-host of our “Oscar Shorts” talk
Guendalina Folador – Producer (Dogman, Tale of Tales and Oscar-Nominated I, Captain)
These creators didn’t just show up — they participated. They joined lunches, gave talks, sat in the audience, and listenedjust as much as they shared. That’s the Nòt difference..
Meet The Team
Giovanni Labadessa
Founder
Giovanni Labadessa is an award winning writer/producer and the founder of Lumiere Lab, an indie production company and collective of filmmakers based in Venice, California.
Giovanni starts his career in 2009 with Los Angeles based production company Mechaniks, playing a critical role in the development of “Road To Capri” , “Seeds in the Wind” and “Vivaldi”. In 2015 he produces the comedy “The Lonely Italian”, the film is featured for the first time at the first edition of Ferrara Film Festival where it wins the Golden Dragon for Best Feature USA, in 2017 the film has its US premiere at the San Diego International Film Festival winning Best Comedy. The film is later acquired by Random Media and The Orchard and has been sold in japan, Italy and US with Hulu and Amazon Prime.
The same year he starts his collaboration with director Luca Severi producing the drama “Calypso” and the upcoming documentary “That Click” about legendary photographer Douglas Kirkland featuring Michelle Williams, Andy Garcia, Sharon Stone, Baz Lurman, Virginia Madsen, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning e Luca Guadagnino. The film has been selected by 3 Oscar qualifying film festivals and has been acquired by UK based Kaleidoscope for international distribution.
Your Help
NÒT FILM FEST is a fiscally sponsored project of Cinematography for Actors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation will be tax-deductible!