The 22 peer-reviewed papers collected here together offer a plenitude of up-to-date information on “Ceramic Thin Films and Coatings for Protective, Tribological and Multifunctional Applications”. The papers are conveniently arranged into ADVANCES IN DEPOSITION, SURFACE MODIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION, PROTECTIVE COATINGS IN OXIDIZING AND HARSH ENVIRONMENTS, THIN FILMS AND COATINGS FOR TRIBOLOGICAL AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL APPLICATIONS.