Table of Contents
WHY THIS FESTIVAL?
The Nòt Film Fest, based in Santarcangelo, Italy arrives at the end of the summer. Filmmakers wait all year to return to this “summer camp” of a film festival for a transformative week that cultivates community and artistry.
While many other film festivals rely on the glitz and glamour of red carpets, Nòt Film Fest offers something truly unique and intimate. It fosters more than just working relationships – Nòt fosters real, genuine friendships. The panels are likened to roundtable discussion with a group of fellow collaborators. Instead of your screening and maybe one measly networking cocktail hour, Nòt books the day with community lunches overlooking the Italian countryside and family style cooking. You can find a volunteer, a filmmaker, a sponsor, and a festival founder all in one carpool on the way to lunch. A truly familial and community-based experience.
There are many festivals for your film if you want to take your pictures, screen your film, and be on your merry way, but come to Nòt, and you’ll leave with lifelong friends and an experience that will remind you why artistic communities and independent film are so special.
Speaking of lifelong, genuine friendships! Grace and Haylee are not only the writers behind this festival guide, but also real, cross-my-heart-hope-to-die friends. Brought together by CFA, Grace and Haylee have been helping run events, workshops, and even recording (other people's) podcasts for over a year now. It was with great excitement that Grace and Haylee accepted CFA/League of Filmmaker's invite to Italy this summer and took on the task of covering the festival from top to bottom. You may also recognize us from our previous work, the Nòt Film Fest day recaps number one through five (linked conveniently at the bottom of this guide).
We truly had the most fun at Nòt, gathering our favorite, and strangest, moments to share with all of you. Nòt is an experience that can hardly be summed up with words, but we hope you can walk away from this guide with a few meal ideas, festival tricks, and travel tips that make your journey all the more fun.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
The Journey to Santarcangelo
The 8th edition of the Nòt Film Fest took place from August 27-31, 2025. Though, if you’re planning on visiting, you should note that you can’t just fly straight into the festival’s home base city of Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy or "Santa" for short. Most attendees fly into one of the closest major airports –Rome, Bologna, or Rimini – and travel to Santarcangelo via the Trenitalia train system.
More affordable flights will likely involve a lay-over, so buckle up and enjoy the journey as you anticipate the fun that awaits! The trains can also be unpredictable with delays, so direct train routes to Santarcangelo are ideal to ensure your arrival, that way you don’t miss a connecting train, which seems to be a common occurrence on the Trenitalia train system.
It takes about 2 days to get to Santarcangelo from the United States, and then 2 days to get back. Be sure to bookend your trip to Nòt Film Fest with travel days built in, so that you have plenty of time to get to and from Santarcangelo. Build in even more days if you’d like make some stops and explore.
Rideshare Apps
Note that over the course of your travel, rideshare apps are less common in many parts of Italy. Using the Uber app on your phone will still work, but it will just send your request to the city’s cab company, which may not always be the most timely (if it comes at all), and there is less freedom in pick-up locations. Make sure you are in the assigned pick-up location provided by the app. The Uber will most likely not be able to come to your exact location. Hotels can also reliably schedule a cab for you in the case that you need a ride to a train station or airport.
The Walkable Town
Santarcangelo itself is a walkable town. Though cars are able to drive through the winding cobblestone roads, you’ll find it’s almost exclusively pedestrians occupying the streets. For the purposes of the festival, you’ll never have to leave the walkable loop connecting the two venues and the after-party bar, OltreBorgo. This town center includes enough restaurants and shops to satisfy your curiosity and sense of exploration to last the whole stretch of the festival. A 25-minute walk to the train station from the town center is also entirely doable.
For the journey to the vineyard where the Nòt Film Fest lunch is hosted, festival shuttles and carpools deliver attendees with a 5-minute ride from the town, but for those who wish for a longer stroll to take in the scenery of Santarcangelo’s surrounding countryside, it’s about a 30 minute walk.
Where to Stay
The League of Filmmakers team made Hotel Della Porta in Santarcangelo our home for the duration of the trip. Just a short walk from OltreBorgo, the bar sponsoring the festival, yet tucked away on a peaceful, secluded road, it offered the perfect balance of comfort and proximity to the action.
Other filmmakers and festival guests stayed at various Airbnbs as well as hotels, including Il Villino, conveniently located within walking distance of Nòt’s festival venues and the heart of Santarcangelo.
THE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
The festival turns the Santarcangelo old town into an interconnected campus of artists and cinema lovers. Screenings and panels are held at two local theaters, C’Entro Supercinema Santarcangelo and Teatro il Lavatoio, roughly a 10 minute walk away from each other, as well as the outdoor screen where festival goers can watch films beside the bustling park, Parco Clementino.
C’Entro Supercinema Santarcangelo
The C’Entro Supercinema Santarcangelo hosts two screening spaces. One classic movie theater auditorium on the main floor, and an additional theater upstairs for a smaller, more intimate screening space. Between screenings, you’ll find the larger auditorium utilized as the backdrop of on-stage interviews and portrait photography of the festival’s filmmakers.
Teatro il Lavatoio
About a ten-minute walk away, The Teatro il Lavatoio hosts the “Nòt Talks” in addition to screenings. For Nòt’s 2025 fest, these engaging filmmaking education panels hosted by industry professionals covered four main focuses: Production, Film Financing, AI and Production, and Distribution.
Arena C'entro Cinema
The outdoor cinema, Arena C’entro Cinema, is directly behind C’Entro Supercinema Santarcangelo, and hosts the red carpets each night, as well as screenings throughout the week, and the closing night awards ceremony. The assembly of all of the festivals’ participants is one big film-lover’s party under the stars complete with celebration, champagne, and new friends.
OltreBorgo
OltreBorgo, a hole-in-the-wall local bar at the centerpoint of Nòt’s venues, is a sponsor of the festival, hosts the festival’s nightly afterparty, and serves as a general gathering space for attendees. Whether ordering a cappuccino in the quiet morning before a panel, or partying with the other festival attendees over karaoke and drinks, OltreBorgo is a cornerstone to the communal nature of Nòt Film Fest.
League of Filmmakers Interview Space
Directly next door to OltreBorgo, is the CFA home-away-from-home workspace, which, more notably for festival attendees, doubles as the League of Filmmakers Interview Space. After booking a time-slot in advance, festival participants are invited to participate in on-camera interviews during the gaps between the screening blocks each day. With a couch turned outward toward the cobblestone streets, filmmakers and vendors discuss their projects and the Nòt Film Fest experience with a wide open door so locals, attendees, and passersby to stop and listen.
Lunch at Collina Dei Poeti
Finally, the pièce de résistance that truly sets Nòt Film Fest apart from any other film festival: Lunch. Hosted, mind you, at an Italian Vineyard, Collina Dei Poeti – or “Hill of Poets” in English.
Every day of the festival, a free lunch is provided for the filmmakers (with vegetarian and gluten free options!). Not only is the food delicious but lunch takes place at an incredibly long table set between two long rows of trees at a vineyard overlooking the Italian countryside. The food and views are breathtaking, but what everyone remembers is the company. The goal of daily festival-wide lunches is connection. For an hour or so, everyone has a chance to chat, drink wine, and eat without rushing off to a panel or screening.
Transportation to the vineyard is provided by the festival. Carpools leave from the C’Entro Supercinema Santarcangelo delivering you to lunch each day with a new group of soon-to-be friends.
Read our Meet the Nòt Film Fest Founders article to learn more about what makes the lunches – and the festival at large – so special.
Grace Garrett
Volunteering at Nòt Film Fest
As an attendee at the festival, you'll notice familiar faces at every event throughout the week, each identifiable by their orange Nòt Film Fest volunteer t-shirts.
Riccardo Gregori, a film editing student based in Rome, volunteered at Nòt Film Fest for the first time this year. He first heard about the festival through friends and, after exploring the website, felt drawn to its sense of community. Although he’d previously volunteered at music and cultural festivals, he was intrigued by Nòt’s international scope—an event rooted in the American and UK markets yet taking place in Italy, surrounded by people and perspectives he doesn’t normally encounter.
What struck Ricardo most over the course of his experience was the festival’s spirit of equality and teamwork. Even though Nòt has been running for eight years, its founders, Gio and Alìze, remain fully immersed in the day-to-day work, often right on the front lines of logistical needs. Ricardo noted that the hierarchy feels invisible—no separation between founders, filmmakers, and volunteers, emphasizing how the founders are committed to nurturing a close-knit team and atmosphere.
For those interested in volunteering, Ricardo says that the process was simple, including a standard application form, followed by a phone conversation with Gio, who explained the expectations in detail. Once on the ground, he found the work thrillingly unpredictable. Volunteers need to be ready for anything. Whether the chaos of the day includes a sudden rainstorm or festival guests missing their train, volunteers are called upon to problem solve and keep things running smoothly.
One of Ricardo's fondest memories came after opening night, when the founders took all the volunteers out to eat and drink together—a gesture that cemented the sense of belonging and camaraderie. For anyone considering volunteering at Nòt, Ricardo’s advice is simple:
"Don’t worry about making mistakes. The festival is a place to learn, grow, and express yourself in ways you might not experience in other circumstances."
Interested volunteers can reach out at team.notfilmfest@gmail.com.
Nòt Film Fest Chat with a Juror
Italian film festival programmer Gaia Antonini served on the jury of Nòt Film Fest 2025. In a conversation with League of Filmmakers, she shares a glimpse into the types of trends and projects that have been succeeding in the indie film festival world, and what Nòt programmers and jurors are looking for.
She notes that every new generation of filmmakers feels compelled to “kill” the one before it, metaphorically speaking – by pushing boundaries, chasing the unexpected, and striving to make something that genuinely surprises audiences. Social media has only amplified this movement, giving indie filmmakers unprecedented power to build visibility, cultivate niche audiences, and promote their work on their own terms. In that landscape, Nòt stands out as a haven for the wonderfully strange. It's a festival where quirky films aren’t just accepted, but celebrated. It’s a space designed to elevate voices and visions that would rarely find a home in traditional cinemas or on streaming.
Gaia believes that people should attend film festivals more often, not only to discover work they can’t see elsewhere, but to be part of the community that keeps independent cinema alive. For filmmakers hoping to stand out, her advice is simple and human: Reach out, write emails, show up in person, talk to programmers, and treat your work with value. Grab a drink, share what you’re making, and be someone others want to root for.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications to Nòt Film Fest can be submitted on Film Freeway. You will first make a profile for yourself and your film under the My Projects tab on filmfreeway.com. Then, after finding the Nòt Film Fest profile in the festival browser, you can view the dates, deadlines, festival details, and submission categories and fees.
- Nòt's 2026 festival has a Regular Submission Deadline of March 31, 2026.
- A "Late Bird" deadline of May 31, 2026.
- And a "Super Late Bird" deadline of June 30, 2026.
*The notification date is July 7, 2026.
Submission fees are dependent on your category, film freeway membership status, and deadline window, they range from $9.58 to $47.89.
When you're ready to apply, click "Submit Now," select your project, and select the category you are submitting to. Then you can add to cart and check out! There is also an option to attach a cover letter after selecting check out, so if interested in going that extra mile, make sure to have one prepared before submitting!
You can find specific submission fee details on the FilmFreeway Nòt Film Fest page.
AWARD CATEGORIES
Nòt Film Fest is also unique in its selection, programming, and awards process. The awards are distinct and individual to Nòt. The 14 competition categories voted upon by jurors include:
- SuperDoc Feature: The SuperDoc Feature category includes documentaries with a length between 45 minutes and 120 minutes. This is a Main Competition category.
- SuperDoc Short: The SuperDoc Shorts category includes documentaries with a length under 40 minutes.
- Moonwalker Feature Narrative: The Moonwalker Feature Narrative category includes feature narrative films made by established independent filmmakers with a length between 60 minutes and 150 minutes. This category includes all narrative genres, including Foreign, Animation, and Experimental.
- Shooting Star Feature Narrative: The Shooting Star Feature Narrative category includes feature narrative films made by up and coming independent filmmakers with a length between 60 minutes and 150 minutes. This category includes all narrative genres, including Foreign, Animation, and Experimental.
- Moonwalker Short Narrative: The Moonwalker Short Narrative category includes shorts made by established filmmakers with a length under 30 minutes. This category includes all narrative genres, including Foreign, Animation, and Experimental.
- Shooting Star Short Narrative: The Shooting Star Short Narrative category includes shorts made by up and coming filmmakers with a length under 30 minutes. This category includes all narrative genres, including Foreign, Animation, and Experimental.
- On Film: While most modern short films are shot using cameras with a digital sensor, this category is reserved for projects shot on analog film of any format.
- Future Forward: Future Forward category includes shorts made by Filmmakers under the age of 27 years old with a length under 30 minutes. This category includes all narrative genres, including Foreign, Animation, and Experimental.
- Up Next: The Up Next category includes shorts made by Film Students with a length under 30 minutes. This category includes all narrative genres, including Foreign, Animation, and Experimental.
- ER Filmmakers Short (Made in Emilia-Romagna): The ER Filmmakers Short category includes films shot in Emilia-Romagna; by an Emiliano-Romagnolo director; by a production company based in Emilia-Romagna– or all of the above!
- Experimental Short: The Experimental Short category includes films with a length under 30 minutes that combine the artistic practices of both visual arts and cinema.
- Music Bomb: The Music Bomb category includes Music Video/Music Documentaries/Music Films with a length under 30 minutes.
- Beyond Form Short: The Beyond Form Short category includes films with a length under 30 minutes which do not fit traditional filmmaking practices.
- Director's Cut: Films chosen and curated by the festival founders.
In addition to these categories awarded at the Closing Night ceremonies, this final night of the festival also serves to spotlight the Not a Chance Program. Filmmakers who were given a prompt at the beginning of the week get to screen the films they made at the outdoor Arena C'entro Cinema. The audience then votes live using a QR code projected on the screen. Check out our article about the Not a Chance Program to learn more.
Grace Garrett
TICKETS AND PASSES
The festival offers a range of passes available for online purchase. Passes are valid through the duration of the festival, are non-transferable and must be worn visibly at all times.
- Students & Under 25 Pass - €25
- Film Lover Pass - €50
- All Access Pass - €160
While the Student and Film Lover Passes grant access to all screenings throughout the duration of the festival, the All Access Pass grants attendees access to the full Nòt Film Fest experience, including the festival’s renowned daily luncheons attended by all filmmakers and special guests.
Locals and tourists alike can also attend for just €5 per screening.
FOOD AND DRINK
With so much amazing food in Santarcangelo, it can feel almost overwhelming trying to decide where to go. While there is hardly a bad decision in town, there are some favorites and a few suggestions that we can make after our five days in Santarcangelo. Whether you're looking for a slow, multi-course fine dining experience, a quick bite to eat, or dessert – Santarcangelo (and Grace and Haylee) have you covered.
Fine Dining in Santarcangelo
La Sangiovesa: If you're looking for authentic, Italian, fine dining, La Sangiovesa not only offers exquisite food, but an all around incredible dining experience. From the restaurant itself – made entirely of brick and stone, the walls covered in art – to the attentive wait staff and pacing of the meal, not a thing has gone without careful thought. Our night at La Sangiovesa is certainly one we won't soon forget.
In La Sangiovese's own words:
La Sangiovesa is a dream come true, the creation of a place that could safeguard and preserve the Romagna identity on its journey into the future. The language, the taste, the objects, the cuisine. All the imagery of Romagna, and its beauty, in one place.
One member of our party, the night we ate at La Sangiovesa, had been two years prior, during another Nòt. He had waited eagerly for two years just to eat there again. Their traditional cuisine (including piadina, handmade pasta, and local seafood), wine, and dessert are all worth waiting two years for... we promise.
Osteria da Oreste: Another great option in Santarcangelo, and the place the CFA team all ate together on our very first night, is Osteria da Oreste. They have a spectacular offering of cheese and meat platters, pastas and tortellini in unique sauces, flaky brioche bread, carrots sautéed in butter... the list goes on. Everything can be paired with wine of course – and like most restaurants in Italy, Osteria da Oreste has a long list to choose from. Lastly, a brief dessert menu can be called upon to wrap out any good meal.
Gelato
Fresh Mavi is not only a delicious spot for gelato in Santarcangelo, but also a proud sponsor of Nòt Film Fest. However, on our very first night in Santarcangelo, well before we knew they were a sponsor of the festival, we tried Fresh Mavi. The experience was incredible to say the least. So, from a non-biased perspective, we can honestly tell you that Fresh Mavi is delicious. Straight up NUTELLA swirled throughout gelato... I think we can get on board with that.
While Fresh Mavi was a favorite of ours while in Santarcangelo, there are quite a few gelato shops within walking distance of Nòt's festivities:
- Le Delizie Gelateria Santarcangelo di Romagna
- Claretta Gelati & Lievitati
- Gelateria Dolcemente Santarcangelo
Quick Bites (Grabbing Food Between Screenings)
Pizzeria La Rustica: Pizza is an expected part of every great Italy trip, and your time in Santarcangelo should be no different. Pizzeria La Rustica is a small restaurant very close to Nòt's main theater and, for the most part, only has outside seating due to its size. This pizzeria can, depending on the time of day, have a bit of a line – not surprising as it's quite good – but all in all it's not a long winded option in comparison to a sit-down meal. You simply take a number and wait to be called to the counter. Once you have a clear view of the options behind the glass, you can select as many warm, thick, cheesy (or not), pieces of pizza as you'd like. We recommend trying as many as you can and sharing with friends! We bought 15 pieces, to be exact, thinking there might be leftovers by the time we were all full. We were very wrong.
Viasaffi32: If you're looking for something very familiar where lunch is concerned, Viasaffi32 serves a quick, simple, and sandwich-adjacent option. The restaurant is a focacceria, meaning that every sandwich is served between two perfect pieces of focaccia bread. If you don't eat meat, Viasaffi32 will happily make you something with just cheese and veggies, and also offers a variety of flavorful sauces and jams that you can add to your sandwich. An ideal option if you are low on time between panels or screenings but still want something delicious to eat. We liked it here so much that we had our own focaccia sandwiches twice during our time in Santarcangelo.
OltreBorgo: OltreBorgo has been mentioned throughout this guide many times – a bar, a hangout, a good place for a cappuccino, a sponsor of the festival even – and now gets a final mention as an option for a quick bite to eat. OltreBorgo offers brunch and lunch and, while the menu is limited, it's a good option if you're in need of something simple to hold you over between meals.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
If you've been to Italy before, perhaps for Rome or Vienna, Santarcangelo di Romagna is not Italy in the way you might be familiar with. If you've never been to Italy, experiencing Santarcangelo first is going to make you feel like you've been let in on quite the little secret. Santarcangelo feels like the true local experience, small town vibes and all.
Weekly Market
The weekly market covers the cobblestone pathways that wind through Santarcangelo's town center, each booth selling something a little different from the last. If you're on the hunt for a trinket to take home, there are some great options: jewelry, textiles, clothes and shoes, and more. We each left with our own Santarcangelo memorabilia – a soap for Grace (she's a collector) and a necklace for Haylee (not a collector, just a fan of a good necklace).
SantarcanGelato
As if Santarcangelo wasn't already pushing the boundaries of delightful quaint-ness, they also happen to put on a yearly Gelato Festival that they call SantarcanGelato. While I can't guarantee you will be as lucky as we were and have Nòt Film Fest and the gelato festival overlap, we certainly hope you are. And IF you are, you have to go! The festival started on a Friday and continued into Saturday, allowing for plenty of time to try as many flavors as you like. Participation is easy: purchase as many tickets as you'd like – each mini gelato cup costs one ticket – and get to tasting. Red tents spread throughout the town center indicate the booths where you'll be able to try another unique gelato flavor.
The Old Printing House
The printing house is hidden among the other similarly shaped and sized brick shops, but it's not something you want to miss. While the front of the store itself sells tablecloths, towels, curtains and other items that have gone through the old printing machine, the back of the shop houses the printer itself. It's a must if you want to see some incredible technological history.
Cave Tour
If you are interested in getting a small history lesson on the town, the cave tour is a fascinating... and unexpected option. The caves have wound under and around the town for hundreds of years. They were used, depending on the state of things, as wine storage and protection from outside threats, including bombs, during wartime. If you want to learn more about signing up for a tour of the caves, reach out to the tourist center.
If you want to read more about our personal cave tour experience, check out our day three recap! Let's just say we got quite a lot more than we bargained for – caves weren't even something we planned on seeing. Anyone else ever signed up for a cave tour when they meant to do a wine tasting? No? Just us then.
Haylee Grund
Collegiate Church
If you're into architecture and marveling over the beauty of old churches (Grace really is), add Collegiate Church to your list of stops. The church was built in 1744 and is Santarcangelo's main church to this day.
Rimini
Rimini, a ten minute train ride from Santarcangelo, offers quite a few things to do if you are looking to get out of Santarcangelo without going too far.
- Beaches – Rimini is along the coast, meaning that if you so desire, you can walk (25-30 minutes) from the train station to a stretch of beautiful beaches along the Adriatic Sea.
- Tempio Malatestiano – Another great opportunity to see some true history. Filled with beautiful paintings, architecture, and sculptures, the church has been standing, in its current style, since 1447.
- Fellini Museum – An opportunity for film nerds to do what they do best... learn more about film. The museum is aptly located, given that Rimini was filmmaker Federico Fellini's home town.
- Mercato Coperto Rimini – An indoor marketplace in Rimini, offering fresh fruit, veggies, and sea food. An attached grocery store also provides an opportunity to taste test some Italian staples if you're curious – Italian candies, snacks, pre-packaged/convenience foods.
Bologna
If you happen to find yourself flying into or out of Bologna, as we did, and have some time there on either end of your trip, a walk around the city is worth considering. When we arrived to our hotel and told the man at the front desk we would like to do some final site seeing before we leave, we were instructed to head towards the Towers of Bologna. Whether or not you are interested in standing around and looking at the towers (come on, they're historic!), walking this way is a great start. Depending on the direction you walk from, you will likely pass by, and through, some of Bologna's many parks, before ultimately finding yourself in the city center very close to a handful of attractions:
- Bologna Cathedral - Also called the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Peter.
- Basilica di San Petronio - The largest and most important church in Bologna.
- University of Bologna – Founded in 1088 and widely considered the oldest University still operating.
- Biblioteca Salaborsa – The main public library in Bologna and a building with quite the history.
- Parco della Montagnola – The oldest park in Bologna, featuring some very old and very beautiful sculptures.
- Shopping – The city center of Bologna also offers a lot of "main stream" shopping options that you wouldn't find in Santarcangelo. There is for example, a Nike store, Brandy Melville, and Zara.
- Food – The city center also provides a lot of options where food is concerned. Restaurants, coffee shops, and gelato places line each block.
CULTURE ETTIQUETTE
Food
Some of the most noticeable cultural differences that came to play during our time in Santarcangelo (maybe because we spent a decent amount of time eating), were related to food.
For one, meals are slow. Courses are paced out, dishes arriving in a very intentional order with the assumption that one will be fully enjoyed before the next is on the table. Often, this means that your meals will take longer than some of us might be used to when we're home. Truly enjoying a meal, and the company you're keeping for each meal, is one of the great gifts that accompanies eating in Italy.
Another major difference where food is concerned, and this is also a word of warning, everything closes around 2-2:30 every afternoon and then reopens at 7pm. Do try your best to avoid walking into a restaurant and placing an order just as they're trying to shut down for the afternoon – they will be back for the dinner rush, don't fear. For the most part this afternoon break shouldn't pose much of an issue (if you have access to the Nòt lunches), given that lunch will be provided around 1:00 each day.
Tipping
For the most part, the places we ate, ordered coffee, or bought gelato, did not ask us for tips. Not only does tipping not seem to be considered a requirement or a norm, you won't likely even be prompted to tip in the way you are in the States.
Hotel Differences
Each hotel in Santarcangelo di Romagna will likely offer a slightly different experience and variable amenities. It's important to look at nearby options and decide for yourself what kind of a stay you're hoping to have. However, heavy involvement in the festival may mean you don't spend a lot of time in your hotel room – something to consider when choosing a place to stay. We didn't find ourselves in our hotel much at all, prioritizing a hotel that was close to the festival, which allowed us to walk there each day, was the most important thing for our stay.
Additionally, a hotel that provides a buffet or continental breakfast of sorts is a good call. If you find yourself waking up with just enough time to run downstairs and grab a quick bite before the first screening or panel of the day, you may want access right there in your hotel.
If you are interested in looking into the hotel we stayed in: Hotel Della Porta.
Now, for your own notes, there are a few things about Italian hotels that may be unique or surprising if you've never been to Europe/Italy:
- Some hotels (ours did) may ask that you leave your key – yes, a real key, not a card – at the front desk before you leave each day. When you, or anyone you're staying with, needs to access the room, you simply ask for the key at the front desk by providing your room number.
- Several (all three) of the hotels we stayed at during our time in Italy had unique showers. They were not often enclosed in the way they are here in the US, so they managed to leak water all over the bathroom floor – or if you're really lucky, there will be so much water that it'll make it out of the bathroom entirely and into the main room. Always an adventure, we quite enjoyed it.
- Lastly, many of the hotels in Santarcangelo di Romagna will give you plenty of soap and shampoo, but they will not give you conditioner. If you prefer not to travel with too many liquids and decide to leave conditioner at home, there are CVS-like stores where you can easily find a bottle of conditioner.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR AMERICANS
Currency & Payments
In Santarcangelo di Romagna there wasn't a preference in any restaurants or business, at least that we frequented, in terms of cash vs card payment. If you don't want to deal with the hassle of exchanging your US dollars for euros, most of the town accepts credit cards.
The only notable exception to this rule is American Express. American Express is the one card you are not able to use while in Santarcangelo. While there may be larger hotels and business throughout Italy that will accept American Express, there wasn't a single place in Santarcangelo (that we were able to find) that took it. Visa and Mastercard on the other hand are accepted everywhere.
Phones & Internet
If you plan to make calls or send texts back home while traveling anywhere in Europe, whether you spend your entire trip in Santarcangelo or not, you will need to sort out your data.
The two options that would allow you access to a network while in traveling are SIM cards and international roaming. SIM cards allow you access to the local network, while roaming (set up with your US based provider) allows you to access a partner network – meaning a local network your provider has decided to work with.
These days, instead of worrying about a physical SIM card, eSIM cards allow you to easily access a local network once you land in the country you're visiting. eSIM cards are often cheaper than utilizing roaming data with your own provider. So, why would anyone use roaming anymore? Before jumping on the eSIM bandwagon, here are a few reasons you may want to consider using roaming instead:
- Convenience
If you're not someone that deals frequently with technology, or if you simply aren't interested in figuring out how to acquire an eSIM card, sticking to roaming might be the easier option. Roaming works automatically, your flights lands, you turn your phone on, and it just connects.
- Possible Business or Employer Coverage
Many companies or corporate phone plans include international roaming as part of their contract, if you are an employee of a larger company it may be worth exploring this option. However, this option would likely only apply if your trip is also somehow work related.
- Compatibility
Not all phones are compatible with/support an eSIM, be sure to sort this detail out before your trip.
- Short Trip
Depending on the length of your trip, the roughly $10 a day fee for roaming may not bother you as much as needing to figure out a new app in order to access an eSIM.
If you don't fall into any of the above categories, an eSIM card might be the perfect choice for your time in Santarcangelo. As a team, we used eSIM through Airlo while at Nòt Film Fest. If you're interested in doing the same, here is a DISCOUNT CODE provided by CFA: CINEMA3329 for $3 USD off your first purchase.
Or, if you'd like to learn more about Airlo, and how eSIM cards work, you can visit this page of their website to browse some frequently asked questions. Please, whatever you do, don't contact Grace and Haylee. Haylee barely manages to keep up to date on how her own phone works and Grace... well, Grace might actually be able to help you.
Wi-Fi availability
Generally, most places do offer free WiFi, including hotels (of course) and even the bar, OltreBorgo. At the very least, you can rest assured that you will be able to connect to WiFi each time you return to your hotel.
Packing Tips
Nòt happens each year around late August and therefore still enjoys the many privileges of summer. The weather is beautiful, the sun is out late, and everyone's eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to get out while the gettin' is good.
This makes the desire to pack every cute summer item you've ever owned entirely overwhelming. Truthfully, you should! The weather is consistently in the high 70s, low 80s, or at least that's what we experienced. Lunches are outside, coffee shops, restaurants, and gelato places have outdoor seating, all great ways to enjoy the weather.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind that may make you want to save just a little bit of space in your suitcase for something other than whimsical dresses and breezy shorts:
- It does cool down at night. At least one nicer jacket, something business casual appropriate, would be ideal for evenings. Pack in a way that allows for layering.
- Due to Santarcangelo being very walkable, you will do a decent amount of walking. Cute heels, sandals, and dress shoes are a must for the red carpet, screenings, and the award night – but it's also critical to bring shoes you know you can walk in.
- While not considered typical for the time of year, we did experience a couple of days of rain. You may consider packing an umbrella or thin rain coat, unless you'd prefer to purchase one while on your trip.
- Consider bringing beach wear! Since the festival takes place during the summer, a short train ride to Rimini and the coast isn't out of the question. A swim suit, hat, and other beach necessities may come in handy.
Speaking of purchasing items on your trip, PACK LIGHT if you plan to bring home souvenirs! Something that we all forget when we head off on a trip: sometimes we will be bringing home more than we left with. Santarcangelo has the great little aforementioned weekend market and plenty of local clothing stores, if you plan on purchasing things to commemorate the trip, you'll need space for it all.
Insider Tip (Desperate for an Iced Coffee?)
If you're missing the matcha lattes, smoothies, and iced coffee that you may have grown accustom to back home, Il Cucinino has you covered. It also has both indoor and outdoor seating if you're looking for a place to set up for a few hours and knock out some computer work.
Language tips
While many people in Santarcangelo spoke excellent English – putting our attempt at Italian to great shame – there are still a few common phrases that you will hear frequently. Most often these are things that will show up as you enter a business or order at a restaurant.
- Ciao – Hello
- Grazie – Thank you
- Prego – Please (used commonly in place of "you're welcome", "how can I help you", or even "go ahead, after you")
Other terms you may want to know:
- Bagno – Bathroom
- Quanto – How much (Useful when walking the street market if you're curious about the cost of something)
- Scusa – Sorry
PRACTICAL RESOURCES
Festival Website: Notfilmfest.com
General inquiry, Press & Sponsorship Opportunities: hello@notfilmfest.com
Programming: film.notfilmfest@gmail.com
Festival Instagram: Instagram.com
Tour Office Website: iatSantarcangelo.com
LOOKING FOR MORE?
We're aware that this guide was roughly a thrilling 30 minute read for you, our dear peruser. However, if you find yourself yearning for more time with Grace and Haylee as we come to the end here, we do have recaps of each our days spent in Santarcangelo for the festival. In each recap, we go over our meals, outings, interactions, and take-aways in great detail. They're witty (if we may say so ourselves), fun, and give you great insight into what your time at Nòt could look like.
- Day One - Our Arrival
Haylee Grund
- Day Two - Fun in full swing
Haylee Grund
- Day Three - Whimsical... and a bit weird
Haylee Grund
- Day Four - Out on the town – and in the rain
Haylee Grund
- Day Five - A midnight dinner and final goodbyes
Haylee Grund
If you've already read the five recaps, or are just sick of us by now, this is where we part ways. As you may have gathered from what we've written about our time in Santarcangelo, the experience was rich. We allowed ourselves to slow down, enjoy the food and the company, and in doing so, opened ourselves up to knew friendships and collaborations. We rekindled the kind of child-like spirit it takes to enjoy a new place with no expectations, to fully engage with a gelato festival and a cave tour, and to go to the beach in the rain.
We wish the same Nòt Film Fest experience for all of you.
-Grace and Haylee
