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From 15 to 18 October the Cineclub dei Piccoli returns to the Cinema Lux in Messina, a film festival promoted by the Arknoah Association and directed by Francesco Torre, created with the contribution of the Sicilian Region – Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment (Regional Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment) and the support of the Sicilia Film Commission.
Among the events is the screening of Andersen – The Magic Tinderbox (Fyrtøjet), a 1946 animated film directed by Svend Methling and based on the famous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The copy, which belongs to the municipal film archive, was restored by Maurilio Forestieri and Isabella La Fauci of the Cineteca dello Stretto, thanks to the contribution of the festival.
«The Cineclub dei Piccoli – explains the artistic director Francesco Torre – introduces a great innovation this year: we have decided to invest part of our resources to directly finance the restoration of children’s films from the past. We did not wait for the intervention or timing of public bodies; we wanted to give a strong and concrete signal by starting a long-term project to protect the memory of cinema for younger people. We begin this journey by restoring a first, extraordinary film from the past, with the explicit intention of continuing over time and saving at least one work a year. Children’s masterpieces preserve the roots of our imagination, yet too often they risk oblivion. With this targeted investment we restore artistic dignity to a forgotten film, offering today’s children a unique visual alternative. We are proud to present this first rediscovered work in the next program: the first step in a historical memory that shines again for the new generations thanks to our direct commitment.”
«Considered the first animated feature film produced in Denmark – adds Maurilio Forestieri – the film is the result of four years of work and represents a significant testimony to the history of European animation. After having got to know the film closely and the work necessary to preserve it, it will therefore be possible to find it again on the big screen, in a meeting between laboratory experience, history of cinema and vision”.
«The Municipal Film Archive, – concludes the Councilor for Culture, Enzo Caruso – returned to public use at the Palacultura, after years of neglect and abandonment, thanks to the synergy between the Cineforum Orione in the persons of Francesco Torre, the Cineteca dello Stretto, the Department of Culture and the staff of the municipal Library, today presents itself to the general public with the restoration of this film, highlighting the great value of a heritage still to be discover and catalogue. Films and posters constitute, for the Municipality and for the community, one of the important components of the cultural pages preserved at the “Antonello da Messina” Palace, together with the book and documentary heritage of the “Tommaso Cannizzaro” Library and the Municipal Historical Archive. We therefore discover a still hidden treasure that belongs to the city and which, thanks to the work of enthusiasts and lovers of the sector, sees the light again and surprises us.”
The festival
The 2026 edition is dedicated to early cinema and pre-cinema: a distant but fascinating world, to be preserved like our personal and family memories. The theme develops through a project of restoration and digitization of classic film animation, one title per year, to be preserved but above all to be seen, at the cinema or in class. The festival is divided into two parts: one reserved for schools, in partnership with institutes from Sicily, Emilia Romagna and Piedmont; the other open to citizens, with screenings, workshops and meetings with professionals in the sector.
The short film competition prizes, in the Kids Club and Teens Club categories, are awarded by students: in 2025 there were more than 1,500 voters, in three regions.
Among the partners of the project: Cineteca dello Stretto, International Federation of Film Societies, Italian Federation of Cinema Clubs, Coordination of the Film Festival in Sicily, Cineforum Orione Aps Association, Solletico Association, The Messineser.
For more information: https://cineclubdeipiccoli.it/