Scheduled from July 26th to 30th in Sorano, Manciano, Rocchette di Fazio, Saturnia, and Montemerano, the itinerant festival dedicated to art cinema
Written by Grosseto Notizie | July 4, 2023 | 12:55
Saturnia (Grosseto). The selected short films for this year’s Saturnia Film Festival, the itinerant event dedicated to short films set in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma, with the presidency of Antonella Santarelli and the artistic direction of director Alessandro Grande, come from the screens of Cannes, Florida, and Turin.
From July 26th to 30th, the festival returns to the symbolic locations of the territory – from Manciano to Sorano, and from Montemerano and Rocchette di Fazio to Saturnia – for five days of screenings, masterclasses, guests, exhibitions, tastings, and collateral initiatives. The sixth edition is dedicated to Franco Zeffirelli on the centenary of his birth, featuring the screening of the documentary “Zeffirelli conformista ribelle” by Anselma Dell’Olio, in the presence of the author.
More than 2,500 entries have been received so far for the short film competition, the traditional core of the event, and 12 films have been selected for 2023 in the three categories of fiction, animation, and documentary. Among the confirmed guests are Daniele Luchetti, Greta Scarano, and Lorenzo Richelmy. The Saturnia Film Festival is organized by Aradia Productions, with the contribution of Mic Cinema e Audiovisivo, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, Comune di Manciano, Comune di Sorano, Comune di Semproniano (information: www.saturniafilmfestival.it).
The films in competition
The section dedicated to Italian author feature films is confirmed, which rewards the three most significant first and second works produced in the last year, along with their protagonists. The films selected for this edition are “L’uomo sulla strada” by Gianluca Mangiasciutti, “Primadonna” by Marta Savina, and “Margini” by Niccolò Falsetti, which will be screened and discussed in the presence of the authors (on July 27th, 28th, and 29th, respectively). As for the short films in competition, the titles include “Il barbiere complottista” by Valerio Ferrara, winner of the Best Short Film award at the Cannes Film Festival (July 27th), “Old Tricks” by Edoardo Pasquini and Viktor Ivanov, presented at the Turin Film Festival (July 28th), “7 lbs 8 oz” by Yoo Lee, applauded at the Florida Film Festival (July 27th), and from Cannes again, “The Right Words” by Adrian Moyse Dullin (July 28th), “Bear” by Nash Edgerton (July 27th), and “Spring Roll Dreams” by Mai Vu (July 29th).
The locations
The initiatives will be hosted in suggestive locations, including Piazza Magenta in Manciano (July 26th), the square in Rocchette di Fazio (July 27th), Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Saturnia (July 28th), and Piazza del Castello in Montemerano (July 29th). The award ceremony, as usual, will take place in the spaces of the Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination thermal park (July 30th).
The short films will compete for awards assigned by a jury chaired by Medusa Film’s distribution director Paolo Orlando and composed of Mario Mazzetti (Vivilcinema), Manuela Rima (Rai Cinema), and Mirella Cheeseman (Wildside). This year, the Women in Cinema award, reserved for films directed by women directors and awarded by the Mujeres nel Cinema group, the Audience Award, and the Clorofilla Film Festival Award (in collaboration with Saturnia) will also be added. Additionally, the competing short films will be streamed on the Mymovies platform of La Compagnia cinema in Florence, in collaboration with the Fondazione Sistema Toscana.
The Side Events
Among the collateral events, it is worth mentioning “Screens,” a collective exhibition that will bring together the works of 35 artists including Holaf, Leonardo Crudi, Pep Marchegiani, Epvus, Desiderio, Krayon, and Massimo Saverio Ruiu at Mastio della Fortezza Orsini in Sorano, curated by artist David Pompili and sponsored by the Municipality of Sorano (from July 25th to August 31st). Also curated by Pampili for 2023 is the selection of short films for the “Art Shorts” section, dedicated to artist short films. After the success of the previous edition, it returns with 5 selected works. The works will be viewable both in the cinema hall of Fortezza Orsini as part of the exhibition and at the cultural center Le Clarisse in Grosseto during the festival days, following the museum’s schedule. Not to be forgotten are the customary tastings of local wines and typical products that will accompany the festival in each of its stages.
And then the masterclasses: Actress Bianca Nappi, known to the general public for TV series such as “Tutto chiede salvezza,” “Skam Italia,” “Sirene,” and already a collaborator of Ferzan Özpetek, will hold a meeting on the actor’s craft (July 30th) and will co-host the final evening of the festival with Matteo Nicoletta. On the day of the award ceremony, there will also be a VR (virtual reality) experience offered in a dedicated corner at Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination. The initiative, curated by director and producer Alessandro Parrello, will provide the public with the immersive film “7 Miracles” by Rodrigo Cerqueira.
“Through cinema, we are becoming a national and international meeting point in an attempt to unite a difficult and fragmented area like the Maremma hinterland,” says Antonella Santarelli. “Cinema can also have the function of ‘cultural revitalization,’ becoming an unmissable event for tourists but also for the inhabitants themselves, who follow us with great affection and participation every year. Through the itinerant collateral events (exhibitions, tastings, masterclasses, etc.) of each edition of the Saturnia Film Festival, we aim to carry out a true territorial marketing operation, aimed at building loyalty, giving life, and enhancing the festival’s locations.”
“If I had to choose one word to describe this edition,” explains Alessandro Grande, “I would say ‘freedom.’ Freedom to tell and therefore enjoy works that have no hindrances or impositions in their creative process. Freedom in art can only have a positive connotation and bring authenticity, which is necessary today more than ever. This year too, the audience of the Saturnia Film Festival will be able to see films of different genres and themes. Ultimately, the goal has always been to offer a wide choice of visual experiences without imposing limits but favoring quality. This has been the key to attracting an increasing number of spectators edition after edition and introducing them to cinematographic genres that are far from their taste. The artistic committee I preside over and I would have liked to select many more films that didn’t make it, but we are very satisfied with the program and can’t wait to experience it in the squares together with our audience.”
Saturnia Film Festival is organized by Aradia Productions, with the contribution of Mic Cinema e Audiovisivo, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, Comune di Manciano, Comune di Sorano, Comune di Semproniano; Main Sponsors Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination, Medusa Film, Saturnia Tuscany Hotel; with the support of Lions Club Grosseto Host, Banca Tema e Tema Vita, Assicoop Toscana Spa agente generale Unipolsai di Semproniano, Caseificio di Manciano, Agenzia Immobiliare Toscana Estate Consulting, ristorante Da Caino a Montemerano, ristorante I Due Cippi a Saturnia, ristorante La Chianina Pescatrice Poggio Murella, Vini Capua, Birrificio La Grada Montemerano, Immobiliare il Borgo Montemerano; in partnership with Fondazione Sistema Toscana, Polo culturale Le Clarisse Grosseto, Mujeres nel Cinema, Accademia Cinema Toscana (Lucca), Clorofilla Film Festival Grosseto, Pro loco di Sorano, West 46th Films, Amaro Milone, Tramontana Taxi, Il Giardino Etrusco, Hotel Saturno Fonte Pura, Farmacia Magaldi, Bar da Luisa e Frank Giacone Hair Styling, David Pompili.
Information: www.saturniafilmfestival.it
