DAVIDE ABBATESCIANNI

FILM CRITIC, JOURNALIST, FESTIVAL PROGRAMMER

I am a freelance professional based in Rome.

Berlinale Palast, 2023 © Irina Frederika Tarvida

I wear many hats in the film industry — as a funding expert, moderator, curator, lecturer, and festival programmer.


Lecturing, Moderating & Public Speaking

I have lectured and delivered talks for festivals and universities in 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇱🇻 Latvia, and 🇵🇱 Poland.
Additionally, I have moderated discussions and participated in public events hosted by major international gatherings, including:
🎞️ Venice Film Festival (🇮🇹), Toronto International Film Festival (🇨🇦), MIA Market Rome (🇮🇹), Munich Film Festival (🇩🇪), Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (🇪🇪), Cinelibri Sofia (🇧🇬), and Cyprus Film Days (🇨🇾), among others.


Memberships

I am a proud member of:

  • European Film Academy (EFA)
  • FIPRESCI – International Federation of Film Critics
  • FEDEORA – Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean
  • ICS – International Cinephile Society
  • NECS – European Network for Cinema and Media Studies

Jury Work

  • 2021 – FIPRESCI juror, 🇫🇷 Annecy International Animation Film Festival; Cineuropa Jury member, 🇧🇦 Sarajevo Film Festival
  • 2022 – Juror, 🇮🇹 Irish Film Festa Rome (shorts competition); Juror, 🇮🇪 Irish Film and Television Academy (Best Animated Short)
  • 2023 – Juror, 🇮🇹 Nòt Film Fest (Moonwalker Features competition), alongside writer-director Tommy Swerdlow and producer Kyle Stroud
  • 2024 – FIPRESCI juror, 🇨🇦 Saguenay’s Festival Regard; Jury member, 🇪🇸 Las Palmas International Film Festival (Spanish Panorama); Juror, 🇰🇬 Bishkek Film Festival (Central Asian Competition)
  • 2025 – Juror, 🇱🇹 Blon Animation and Gaming Festival (Ukrainian Competition); Juror, 🇷🇴 ABIFF – Animation Bucharest International Film Festival

Programming & Curation

  • 2024–2025 – Programmer, 🇮🇹 Torino Film Festival, one of Italy’s largest cinematic gatherings
  • 2021–2025 – Curator, 🇪🇺 Support to EU Film Festivals project, promoting excellence among EU film festivals worldwide
  • Since 2021 – External expert for 🇪🇺 two major European funding bodies, assessing international co-productions and festival projects

Academic Roles

  • 2019–2023 – Examiner in Film Studies for the International Baccalaureate
  • 2017–2021 – Editorial board member of Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media (University College Cork, 🇮🇪)