The official selection of documentaries in contention for a place on the final shortlists of the Nastri d’Argento 2026 was announced on 18 February: around 40 titles chosen from the 195 documentaries released in 2025 and submitted by 31 December, either by major festivals, through specialised showcases, or — in some cases — via theatrical release and/or subsequent broadcast on television or streaming platforms. The selection followed the viewing of over 100 documentaries dedicated primarily to Cinema of the Real, and 75 focusing on Cinema, Entertainment and Culture, with particular emphasis on Music. Among the selected works are three films shot by CCS cinematographers: Lorenzo Casadio (She by Parsifal Reparato), Salvatore Landi (Pino by Francesco Lettieri), and Alberto Marchiori and Francesca Zonars (Mothers by Alice Tomassini).
In the Cinema of the Real selection, there is a wide-ranging panorama of themes, stories and characters, with a particular focus on current affairs, though not exclusively so. The 15 titles selected under Cinema of the Real, listed in alphabetical order, are: Agnus Dei by Massimiliano Camaiti, Articolo 1 by Luca Bianchini, Canone effimero by Gianluca and Massimiliano De Serio, Dom by Massimiliano Battistella, Figlio di Giano by Luigi Grispello, Film di Stato by Roland Sejko, Il quieto vivere by Gianluca Matarrese, La verità migliore by Lorenza Indovina, Mothers by Alice Tomassini, Quaranta anni senza Giancarlo Siani by Filippo Soldi, San Damiano by Gregorio Sassoli and Alejandro Cifuentes, Sciatunostro by Leandro Picarella, She by Parsifal Reparato, Sotto le nuvole by Gianfranco Rosi, and Toni, mio padre by Anna Negri.
Across Cinema, Entertainment and Culture, with a particular focus on memory – though not exclusively so – the 15 selected titles include: Bobò by Pippo Delbono, Ellroy vs L.A. by Francesco Zippel, Elvira Notari. Oltre il silenzio by Valerio Ciriaci, Ferdinando Scianna – Il fotografo dell’ombra di Roberto Andò, La grande paura di Hitler. Processo all’arte degenerata … by Simona Risi, La nostra magnifica ossessione by Marco Spagnoli, Le mille luci di Antonello Falqui by Fabrizio Corallo, Libero sempre comunque mai by Alessio Maria Federici, Looking for Nivola by Peter Marcias, Manara by Valentina Zanella, Oltre il confine: le immagini di Mimmo e Francesco Jodice by Matteo Parisini, Pirandello – Il gigante innamorato by Costanza Quatriglio, Roberto Rossellini – Più di una vita by Ilaria De Laurentiis, Andrea Paolo Massara and Raffaele Brunetti, Sergio e Mirta, un matrimonio in 8mm by Fabrizio Laurenti and Stile Alberto by Michele Masneri and Antongiulio Panizzi.
Finally, in the Special Selection – this year dedicated, after Art and Sport, to Music – Andando dove non so. Mauro Pagani, una vita da fuggiasco by Cristiana Mainardi, Nel blu dipinti di rosso byStefano Di Polito, Nino. 18 giorni byToni D’Angelo, Piero Pelù. Rumore dentro by Francesco Fei, Pino by Francesco Lettieri and Rino Gaetano – Sempre più blu di Giorgio Verdelli.
The official selection is signed by the National Executive Committee of the Italian National Union of Film Journalists, which has just concluded its term of office – and is now preparing for a new three-year mandate with a renewed composition – Laura Delli Colli (President), Fulvia Caprara (Vice-President), Oscar Cosulich, Susanna Rotunno, Paolo Sommaruga, Stefania Ulivi and Maurizio Di Rienzo, with particular responsibility for coordinating the submitted works viewed.
Below (in alphabetical order) are all the titles from which the final ‘shortlists’ and the winners will be announced in the coming days.
THE OFFICIAL SELECTION 2026
CINEMA DEL REALE
Agnus Dei by Massimiliano Camaiti
Articolo 1 by Luca Bianchini
Canone effimero by Gianluca and Massimiliano De Serio, Dom by Massimiliano Battistella
Figlio di Giano byLuigi Grispello
Film di Stato by Roland Sejko
Il quieto vivere by Gianluca Matarrese
La verità migliore by Lorenza Indovina, Mothers by Alice Tomassini
Quaranta anni senza Giancarlo Siani by Filippo Soldi, San Damiano by Gregorio Sassoli and Alejandro Cifuentes Sciatunostro di Leandro Picarella
She by Parsifal Reparato
Sotto le nuvole by Gianfranco Rosi
Toni, mio padre by Anna Negri
CINEMA, ENTERTAINMENT, CULTURE
Bobò by Pippo Delbono
Ellroy vs L.A. by Francesco Zippel
Elvira Notari. Oltre il silenzio byValerio Ciriaci
Ferdinando Scianna – Il fotografo dell’ombra di Roberto Andò
La grande paura di Hitler. Processo all’arte degenerata by Simona Risi
La nostra magnifica ossessione by Marco Spagnoli
Le mille luci di Antonello Falqui by Fabrizio Corallo
Libero sempre comunque mai by Alessio Maria Federici
Looking for Nivola by Peter Marcias
Manara byValentina Zanella
Oltre il confine: le immagini di Mimmo e Francesco Jodice by Matteo Parisini
Pirandello – Il gigante innamorato by Costanza Quatriglio
Roberto Rossellini – Più di una vita by Ilaria De Laurentiis, Andrea Paolo Massara, Raffaele Brunetti Sergio e Mirta, un matrimonio in 8mm by Fabrizio Laurenti
Stile Alberto by Michele Masneri and Antongiulio Panizzi
MUSIC (Special Selection)
Andando dove non so. Mauro Pagani, una vita da fuggiasco by Cristiana Mainardi
Nel blu dipinti di rosso by Stefano Di Polito
Nino. 18 giorni by Toni D’Angelo
Piero Pelù. Rumore dentro by Francesco Fei
Pino by Francesco Lettieri
Rino Gaetano – Sempre più blu by Giorgio Verdelli
