The Umbria Film Festival is not a competition festival, but one of its unique features within the landscape of high-profile cinematic events is the annual invitation extended to filmmakers, directors, actors, or prominent figures from international cinema, awarded the Keys to the City of Montone.
Presenting the Keys to the City is a symbolic act rooted in the Middle Ages when cities like Montone were surrounded by defensive walls with gates that were closed every night for security reasons. Offering the Keys to the City means granting an esteemed guest the power to enter anywhere, becoming an integral part of the city and its social and cultural life. All those who have received this honor have brought their cinema to Montone’s main square, where the audience warmly welcomes them in the heart of the village.
The first to receive the Keys to the City was Terry Gilliam in 1998, who is now the Honorary President of the festival. Since then, many prominent figures in cinema have received this honor, including Colin Firth, Peter Lord, Lone Scherfig, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, Alice Rohrwacher, Olivier Assayas, Stanley Tucci, and many others.
