A resilient messina, who knows how to have fun, get excited and above all reflect. The most beautiful face of a city still protagonist, thanks to the VI edition of the Adolfo Celi Prizethe event promoted and organized by Cirs Family House with the sharing of the Municipality of Messina and the Messina Foundation for culture. Last night the “Cicciò” arena hosted the gala evening, the final moment of a three days of events dedicated to culture and solidarity. Because the Celi Prize has the peculiarity of unite art and social by launching a message of solidarity every stronger year. Journalists on stage Marika Micalizzi And Fabio Mazzeo they conducted the show and conceived by the artistic director Christian Bisceglia with the direction of Paride Acacia. A perfectly successful show between words, colors, music and moments of emotion.
The Adolfo Celi prize took place with the patronage and support of the Regional Department of Sport and Entertainment Tourism, of the new Imaie, of Unioncamere Sicilia, the Order of Journalists of Sicily, the University of Messina and the Cesv of Messina. This year the proceeds from the initiative, entirely reported, will be donated to the creation of a continuation accommodation for women who leave the family home, but who are not yet completely independent from an economic point of view.
Among the collateral events, extraordinary success had the exhibition dedicated to the famous TV series “The Paradise of the Ladies” in the PalaCultura Foyer, with the most loved actors of the cast, who met the public in an engaging talk.
To do the honors of the house, on stage, the president of the Cirs Maria Celeste Celi. “This is an evening that shines with humanity. A voice of hope that joins that of the Cirs and that of women who instead suffer in silence. We also need cinema and TV to convey values, we need words that unite and not divide”.
Immediately an exciting moment who warmed the audience of the Arena Cicciò. On stage the heartfelt tribute to the great Adolfo Celi starring his daughter Alexandra And Gianluigi Fogaccihusband of Alexandra and theatrical actor. Together they played the poem “Se” by Rudyard Kipling, Adolfo’s favorite. Applause and emotion for the unexpected performance also greeted by Leonardothe other son of Celi.
Then the greeting of the mayor Federico Basile who underlined the precious synergy with the Municipality of Messina who supports the Cirs and its events every year.
The atmosphere becomes even warmer and the Arena of PalaCultura becomes the ideal setting for the performance of Alessandro Capurroaka Novo. Appreciated Messina singer -songwriter. Novo, before receiving the prize, reinterpreted his single “Palluni Ruched” with the Choir of the Maurolico Classical High Schoolformed by students of all classes of the classical high school and directed by Maestro Silvia Bruccini with the coordination of Prof. Margherita Casalino. To collect the prize for the choir, the school manager Giovanna De Francesco.
And speaking of young talents, the first artist to receive the Adolfo Celi prize was Chiara Russoappreciated actress who brought her Sicilianity throughout Italy thanks also to the characters played in successful TV series such as “The Paradise of the Ladies” and “Mina September”. And precisely in the latter fiction, Chiara Russo played the role of Fiore, a young social worker who has taken with the pain and fragility of others. Affine values to the mission of the Cirs and his family home.
The plaque prize with the profile of Adolfo Celi are created by the Sofia jewelry and designed by Gianfranco Penna, as well as the scenography of the evening. Chiara Russo and other guests also went a “Cirstta”, a purse made by the girls of the Cirs in the context of a creative laboratory designed and followed by Carla Siracusano.
But the Adolfo Celi prize is also attentive to those who work behind the scenes and play a fundamental role for the success of a film. The second recognition went to the costume designer Pamela Fontinovo who signed the extraordinary stage costumes of the “Paradise of the Ladies”,
And then another moment of great show with the prestigious Academy of musical and acting on internshipsdirected by Paride Acacia and Sarah Lanza. On stage an engaging performance taken from the musical “hunger”.
From music to great cinema. The fourth prize dedicated to Adolfo Celi has in fact gone to Enrico Lo Versoappreciated actor who worked with directors of the caliber of Ridley Scott, Giuseppe Tornatore and the Taviani brothers.
Yesterday at the Arena he also caught a profound moment of reflection on gender -based violence, fought every day by the Cirs phenomenon that cannot leave indifferent and that concerns us up close. And art, once again, managed to send a strong and direct message. The actresses Gabriella Zecchetto And Giulia Sangiorgi In fact, they interpreted “butterflies” and “the reverse force”, two monologues written for this occasion by the journalist Rai Tgr Sicily Antonella Gurrieri.
From one emotion to another. On stage the return of great music with one of the historical members since 1980 of the Kunsertu group and author of most texts and music: Nello Mastroeniwho withdrew the prize after the performance of the Maurolico choir, which enchanted everyone with the famous “Mokarta”.
The sixth Adolfo prize celi to a great talent of cinema and theater. On stage the Messina area Daniele Gonciarukinterpreter of great classics and well -known face of TV fictions such as the piovra or the head of the garments and also the protagonist at the cinema with the blunder of Roberto Andò.
On stage then another Messina excellence Maria Rita Barberahis costumes received prestigious prizes: from David di Donatello to international awards. And he could only receive the tribute dedicated to Adolfo Celi.
There are those who work with preparation and intuition, those who have the task of selecting stories and faces. In a nutshell: choose the right actor. A fascinating and delicate profession told on stage by Stefano Rabbolinicasting director of important productions, from “Centovetrine” to “The boy from pink trousers”, from series to films, all capable of reaching the general public.
Therefore the expected arrival of the well -known producer Angelo Barbagallo. For him David di Donatello, 4 silver tapes, a simply sumptuous career, from the debut with the Italian night by Carlo Mazzacurati, to the solid synergy with Nanni Moretti, up to the collaborations with Marco Tullio Giordana, Giuseppe Bertolucci. A figure who has been able to combine cultural vision and production capacity, often linked to an idea of civil cinema, attentive to the social issues and the reality of the country. The Adolfo Celi prize also arrived for him.
The social theme always in the foreground. Because among the protagonists there was also a very young talent who was able to attract attention to bullying, reliving the drama of Andrea Spezzacatena. It is Samuele Carrinothe protagonist of the successful film “The boy from pink trousers”.
So the grand finale with the cast of the “Paradise of the Ladies”. A relationship that has consolidated over the years that between the Cirs and the production of the TV series, represented by Giannandrea Pecorelli. On stage the well -deserved applause to the actors Giulia SangiorgiAnd Thomas Santu who recalled the colleague and friend Pietro Genuardi, recently disappeared. To close the notes of “Closed Mouth”, played by the boys of the Choir of the Maurolico high school.
After the event, a dinner offered by the Provincial Association of Cooks and Pastry chefs of Messina chaired by Chef Paolo Romeo took place in the Garden of the Cirs.
Prizes to solidarity and social reintegration
The Adolfo Celi prize is above all solidarity and this is why the Cirs every year assigns special prizes to people who have distinguished themselves for a spirit of service and attention to the social. The 2025 solidarity prize went to Giuseppe Lo Presti, founder of the carbonmonic romingory orchestra and today at the helm of the Salesian orchestra.
This year also another prize dedicated to social reintegration. To win it Antonella Puglisi, General Manager of the Capofaro Resort of Salina, thanks to which the work reintegration of three guests of the family home materialized, which were included in the staff of the Hotel Eoliano.