Article 1. The MATTADOR Cultural Association organises the 17th International Screenwriting Award dedicated to Matteo Caenazzo, a young talented artist from Trieste who passed away prematurely on 28th June 2009 while studying and working with the aim of embarking on a career as a screenwriter. The Award aims at discovering and promoting young talents who choose to start a professional and artistic career in screenwriting. It is an invitation to write screenplays able to tell fascinating and moving stories in line with Matteo’s keen perception of the modern world, conveying the idea of ironic, synthetic and razor-sharp art which Matteo freely expressed in his lifestyle and artistic evolution.
Article 2. CORTO86 International Award for Short-Film Screenplay is open to young Italian and foreign screenwriters and directors, i.e. authors aged 16 and under 30 by 15th April 2026. In the case of works written by multiple authors, each author must comply with the age restrictions.
Article 3. Each applicant may enter only one work for section. Only original and unpublished (i.e., never awarded or produced or published) entries made by up to three authors may be submitted. Under this regulation the theme is free.
The short film should be easily feasible. Where two or more projects are of equal quality, priority will be given to a low-budget project.
Article 4. The screenplays shall be written in the American format (see enclosed sample). Scenes and pages must be numbered. The scripts shall comprise a maximum of 4 pages (character 12) and be written using script editing software (including Final Draft, Celtx, Fade In, or Trelby). Works must be sent in .pdf format.
WORKS SUBMITTED IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT WILL BE DISCARDED.
Article 5. Works shall be submitted in the Italian version and/or in the original version with an enclosed translation into Italian.
Article 6. Entries must be submitted exclusively online starting from 15 February 2026 via the dedicated platform https://iscrizioni.premiomattador.it/, following the instructions provided and consulting the FAQ file available online. Entries must be received by 15 April 2026.
A subscription fee of 20 Euros is required.
The digital file must only include the title of the work and must not mention the author. The digital work must be accompanied by a signed application form for acceptance, a copy of the ID card and proof of payment, in strict accordance with platform instructions. Registration fees are non-refundable.
NON-COMPLIANT APPLICATIONS WILL BE DISCARDED.
Article 7. By sending the script, the author accepts these Competition Rules. The Organising Committee and the MATTADOR Cultural Association disclaim all responsibility or cost deriving from the existence of copyrights owed to any third party. The authors authorise the organisers of the MATTADOR International Screenwriting Award to publish their screenplays in a collection and/or a catalogue or book.
Article 8. The Competition will award the CORTO86 Prize to the Best Short-Film Screenplay, consisting in a Training Grant and the production of a short film based on the winning screenplay. The author will be supervised by professional tutors throughout the pre-production, shooting and post-production stages. He/she will sign the direction of the film.
The short film will be shot in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region and produced by the Mattador Cultural Association, according to production methods that will be established before the start of production.
Article 9. The Jury, made up of cinema professionals, artists and cultural operators, is entitled not to award the prize and/or to assign one or more special mentions. The Jury’s judgement is unquestionable. The winners will be contacted by telephone before the Award Ceremony.
Article 10. The MATTADOR Competition Award Ceremony will take place on Friday 17th July 2026 in Venice in the Sale Apollinee of the Teatro La Fenice.
The Organising Committee
*Subject to withholding tax under Article 30 of Presidential Decree DPR 29/9/73 n.600