Why a film festival about work?
Because in Italy we work too much and earn too little.
Because mainstream cinema rarely portrays work (and sometimes just in a stereotypical way).
Because real gross wages in the private sector in Italy fell by 6.6% between 1990 and 2026 (source: Italy’s Parliamentary Budget Office).
Because we’re bringing up the rear in Europe. Real salary 1991–2023: Italy -3.4%, France +30.9%, Germany +30.4%, Spain +9.1% (source: OECD).
Because we want to bring about change, and to do so we want to talk about it – but in a new way: cinema can help shape a contemporary vision of work.
That is why the Working Title Film Festival was created: the eighth edition will take place in Vicenza (Italy) from 25 to 28 November 2026.
Why the name Working Title Film Festival?
In the film industry, ‘working title’ is the provisional name given to a film that is still being produced.
It is a play on words intended to hint at the precariousness and fragmentation that characterise work nowadays.
Work is temporary, precarious, and uncertain: it is in a state of constant flux, like the frames of a film.
An uncomfortable situation, but one that can spark creativity. An interesting story to tell. To make a difference.
And then… we just loved the acronym WTFF 🙂
So, what’s the theme of this year’s edition?
It’s all about the work. Just like every other edition. But every edition is different.
No special effects: we’re a film festival dedicated to work.
We’re stubborn, we know.
How do you select the films?
What we look for is original perspectives and fresh points of view: films that portray work in a non-stereotypical way and that experiment with audiovisual language.
We don’t impose any genre restrictions. Documentaries, fiction, experimental films: it’s all cinema anyway!
We give priority to independent productions by young filmmakers that have not yet been released in cinemas.
We look for films that can ignite discussions, creating a dialogue between the directors and the audience in the cinema (and afterwards, at the bar).
We pay close attention to gender equality. The higher the production budget, the fewer female directors we find. Just a coincidence?
Why in the Veneto region?
Veneto used to be a poor region in Italy, but since the 1970s it has been at the heart of an economic boom: the ‘miracle of the North-East’.
Today, that model is undergoing a crisis: in 2024 alone, 7,000 young graduates left the region. Ten years earlier, the figure was 3,000 (source: CNEL, Fondazione Nord Est).
Here, work sometimes becomes the only reason to live: like a prison. Why not start from there and reinvent it?
Because, as the saying goes: ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’.
Who are the films in the competition about?
Factory workers, nurses, domestic workers, couriers, AI trainers, waiters, artists, film critics, shepherds, couriers, farmers, sex workers, bricklayers, interpreters, fishermen, teachers…
Their stories are captured on 8 or 16 mm film, on digital files, on VHS or on MiniDV.
They are employed on permanent or temporary contracts, work off the books, or are self-employed.
They work using digital devices, with their hands, using their intellect, with their bodies, with the aid of machines, and drawing on their experience.
Sometimes the focus is on their work, and at other times on the impact this has on their lives.
To talk about work is to talk about the society in which we live, about our times, and about our lives.
A few figures on the Working Title Film Festival
A 10-year history: 7 editions and 2 spin-off events between 2016 and 2024.
212 films were screened, from over 50 countries.
More than 150 guests attended in person (and some took part via live streaming during the pandemic).
An indefinite number of collaborations and side projects developed over time.
How can I support the festival?
We’re an independent festival. We don’t have big sponsors, but we do have a lot of freedom – and we hold on to it tightly.
We try to do things properly: hosting film directors, often from abroad, and paying the people who work at the festival.
Audience involvement is essential: you can support us by following us, sharing our content and spreading the word about us.
And you can take part in the crowdfunding campaign we’ll be launching soon – we’ll have some really cool tote bags. And of course, we look forward to seeing you at the cinema 🙂