“ Crotone is a forge of ideas from which one could take inspiration to relaunch Calabria from many points of view, mainly the cinematographic one, such as a new narration of the Region, through the audiovisual, drawing from the works of art of which Crotone is truly magnificent and excellent witness” – these are the words of Anton Giulio GrandeExtraordinary Commissioner of the Calabria Film Commission, visiting the city of Crotone, in the meeting that took place on Tuesday 8 August, in the company of the mayor Vincent Voiceand in the presence of the councilor for culture Nicholas Corigliano And Fabrizio Oliveriopresident of the association “E io ci sto”.
The visit touched various cultural sites of the Pythagorean city. The first stop was the Municipality of Crotone near which the meeting was held to discuss the impact that the Calabria Film Commission can give to the city from a cinematographic point of view and related events. Mayor Voce, in receiving Commissioner Grande, highlighted the importance of this institutional visit. There have been many future projects that have been discussed and in which the city is involved together with the Calabria Film Commission. Next, a visit the Municipal Library with the meeting with the official of the Culture Office, Dr Carmen Messinetti and the visit to the permanent exhibition of Gael Covelli, present inside the library, with a stop at the municipal archive where some papers of the famous Crotone Prize are kept. A very welcome visit to the Extraordinary Commissioner due to the importance of the material contained in the archive and the management of all the material. The tour then continued at the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone, where the participants were able to admire the beauties and uniqueness of the museum with the guide of the Director Gregory Aversa. Hera’s diadem, the bronze horse muzzle, the askos and other unique materials enchanted the Extraordinary Commissioner who complimented Director Aversa and the entire work team for the maintenance, efficiency and uniqueness of the museum.
In the early afternoon the route involved the Castle of Charles V where the Extraordinary Commissioner met Matthew Russo And Antonio Buscema (artistic directors of the Calabria Movie International Film Festival) and visited the ongoing exhibition “Sane come il Pane” curated by Jade DeMartinoon women in cinema. This is one of 18 festivals and 11 events funded by the Calabria Film Commission. Also in this case the Commissioner was pleasantly surprised by the beauty and originality of the exhibition. The group then moved to the Museum and Gardens of Pythagoras where another collective photographic exhibition is set up: Thàlatta! Thalatta! produced by the E io ci sto association as part of the fourth edition of the summer festival “E io ci sto – il cinema sotto le stelle”. The exhibition, with the works of Matteo Delbò, Alfredo D’Amato and in collaboration with Libera Espressione (Lampedusa archive) on the Middle Eastern question and on migrants was much appreciated by the Extraordinary Commissioner. This too is financed by the Calabria Film Commission and the Municipality of Crotone.
Finally, the visit ended in the suggestive location of the column of Capo Colonna, the only remnant of the temple of Hera Lacinia. The Extraordinary Commissioner then added: “It was a very interesting day, profitable from a cultural and cognitive point of view, of one of the most beautiful and significant cities not only in Calabria but in the world. Without knowledge of the past there can be neither present nor future.” The mayor, Vincenzo Voce, declared: “I appreciated the availability and attention of Commissioner Grande as well as the words he used for our city. It is the start of a collaboration process that will see the maximum availability of the Municipality of Crotone. We strongly believe in culture as a source of development for the area. We are engaged in many projects in this regard. Cinematrography can certainly represent a driving force for development for the territory ”.
Concluded Fabrizio Oliverio, of the E io ci sto association: “Today was a very productive and new day for the city of Crotone. The foundations have been laid for projects that can change the cultural face of the city and the union of intentions between two entities such as the Municipality of Crotone and the Calabria Film Commission can be an engine for everyone. Staying in Calabria and being able to network is the mission that can lead us to compete with other realities by exporting the beauties and culture of our land” The “And I’m here” event was created thanks to the contribution of the Calabria Film Commission, the Municipality of Crotone .