The 2026 edition of the David di Donatello Awards will introduce several changes aimed at making the award more transparent, authoritative, and inclusive. Piera De Tassis, President of the Italian Film Academy and Artistic Director of the award, shares the news exclusively with Box Office.
One of the key changes is the introduction of a €90 membership fee for jury members, along with a tiered entry fee structure for submitted works—differentiated by type (Italian and international films, documentaries, and short films). This is a crucial step, as it serves as a tool for accountability for those who choose to take part, while strengthening the autonomy and transparency of both the jury process and the entry system for films.
Another reason behind this new system lies in the significant costs and ongoing technological investments required by the David Awards. Innovation is not only essential but necessary—confirmed by the fact that in recent years, over 90% of jury members have actively participated in the voting process.
Changes have also been made to the Best International Film category. Starting this year, it will be up to distributors to choose which international titles from their catalog to submit. The selected films will be made available to the jury via the new platform, with defined screening windows. Previously, the winner of Best International Film was selected in a single round of voting from among all the films released in Italy throughout the year. Now, the award will be decided through a two-step process: first, the selection of a shortlist of five titles, followed by the final vote. In case of a win, the David will be awarded to both the foreign director and the Italian distributor.
There are also updates regarding the voting process for Best Short Film, which will now be handled by the full David jury rather than a dedicated commission. This follows the opt-in system used by the Oscars. In fact, the American Academy has officially recognized the David di Donatello as a qualifying award: winning a David now grants automatic eligibility for the Oscar race in the Live Action, Animated, and Documentary Short Film categories.
Another major innovation is the launch of a new integrated digital platform, designed to streamline the work of jury members while providing more tools for producers and distributors. In addition to making film viewings more accessible, the platform is intended to strengthen the connection between jurors and theatrical screenings. With a secure, individual login, jury members will be able to watch eligible films, view the calendar of reserved screenings, receive official communications, and vote directly online.
Starting in 2025, producers and distributors will also be able to use the platform to schedule free screenings and events specifically for jury members.
A new initiative, the David Card, has been launched in collaboration with Anec, allowing jury members to attend screenings of both Italian and international films at a reduced price, year-round, with no restrictions.
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