Awards, film viewings, meetings, guests and reflections on the future of the big screen: the Film Club Festival, an annual event dedicated to cinematographic culture and new perspectives on contemporary cinema, returns to Messina from 24 to 26 October at the Lux cinema.
The event is promoted by Cineforum Orione, created with the contribution of the Sicilia Film Commission and in collaboration with the Italian Federation of Cinema Clubs (FICC) and its regional branch which is FICC Sicilia.
We start today, Friday 24 October, with the viewing of the film that won the Cineforum Orione Award for “Best documentary on cinema”: at 6.30 pm “Elvira Notari. Beyond silence” (Italy 2025, by Valerio Ciriaci, 76′) is scheduled. The documentary was awarded by the scientific committee chaired by film critic Franco Cicero. The director Valerio Ciriaci will be in streaming connection. At 9pm, for special events, screening of “Raqmar” (Italy 2025, by Aurelio Grimaldi, with Giuliana De Sio, Leo Gullotta, Alessio Vassallo, Mehdi Lamsabhi). The Sicilian director Aurelio Grimaldi will be present. From screenwriter (from his book) of “Mery per semper” to director of many films: from “The descent of Aclà to Floristella” to “Rosa Funzeca” and “Un mondo d’amore”, among others.
We continue at the Lux in Messina tomorrow Saturday 25 October with the FICC assembly and an exhibition of the independent cinema market. The Cineclub Internazionale price list is on display. For special events, at 5.30pm, preview screening of the film “A poet” (Colombia/Germany/Sweden 2025, by S. Mesa Soto, 120′), in the presence of the producer Paolo Minuto.
Among the most anticipated events of this edition, the Cineforum Orione Lifetime Achievement Award to director Roberto Andò, which will be awarded on Saturday 25 October at 8.00 pm.
Andò, one of the most authoritative contemporary Italian authors, has written films that have marked national auteur cinema – from The Prince’s Manuscript to Viva la Libertà, Le Confessioni, La Strangezza and L’Abbaglio. From Palermo, a student of Leonardo Sciascia and Francesco Rosi, he is also a writer, theater and opera director, always attentive to the ethical and poetic dimension of images.
After the award ceremony, there will be a meeting with the director, moderated by Marco Olivieri, artistic director of the Festival, followed by the screening of the film presented at the last Venice Film Festival: Ferdinando Scianna – The photographer in the shadow (Italy 2025, directed by Roberto Andò, 86′).
The Ficc Sicilia Assembly is scheduled for Sunday 26 October, at 10am, with an exhibition of the independent cinema market. The NFilm price list is on display.
Then the special events. At 4.30pm there will be a preview screening of the film “My Way” (Australia/Spain 2024, by B. Bennett, 98′). The producer Francesco Notarangelo will be streaming online. At 6.30 pm preview screening of “Mimo – Portrait of a modern mime” (Italy 2025, by Tara Vessali, 82′). Luigi Benassai, aka Grey, will be present and will introduce with a live performance.
Also of note is the closing event at 9pm, in collaboration with AssoPalestina: the screening of the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, which won the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. The film, based on the true story of a Palestinian girl, mixes fiction and reality using the original recording of her voice, in 2024, during emergency calls with the humanitarian organization Red Crescent. Hind Rajab, 5 years old, is one of the many innocent victims of Israeli aggression in Gaza. Tickets for the Festival events and screenings are available at the Cinema Lux in Messina and on the Webtic platform.