Southern filmmakers who make social commitment their distinctive feature at the seventeenth edition of «Tulipani di Seta Nera», the International Festival of Social Cinematography, promoted by Università Cerca Lavoro and created by the biologist Paola Tassonefrom Caulonia Marina (Reggio Calabria), scheduled from 9 to 12 May at The Space Cinema Moderno in Rome.
This year too, Sicilian and Calabrian authors and directors are competing, with titles from Italy and around the world, for the Rai Cinema Channel Sorriso Award. Until May 5th (12pm), the most viewed work for each section on www.tulipanidisetanera.rai.it will be able to compete for recognition, which will be awarded during the festival.
Temporarily on the podium of the “Short Films” section are the directors from Palermo Angelo Faraci and Michele Li Volsi. In second position with «Provvidenza» (2022) filmed in Montalbano Elicona and «Pietrazita» (2023), in Sant'Angelo di Brolo, Faraci returns to the Messina area with «Separati mai» (in pole position with 5,325 views), filmed on the Nebrodi, which addresses the theme of the particular relationship between man and animal. After his victory in 2023 with «God'sForgiveness», Li Volsi talks about bipolarism and prejudices in «About Penny» (second with 4,617 views).
Another Palermo native, Alessandro Alicata, deals with mental distress in «The shots of Midnight», nominated for the Tulipani Fuoriclasse – Talenti in Erba Award, awarded by the schools of Lazio. She loses and emotional bonds in the animated short «Nonno Matteo», directed by Fabio Teriaca from Catania with Juan Pablo Etcheverry. Nominated for the Best Animated Short Film award, assigned by Rai Ragazzi, the film is accompanied by the music of Sergio Cammariere from Crotone and the narrative voice of Cristiana Lionello, daughter of Orestes and voice actress (voice of Sharon Stone).
Also from Catania «The Winner – The winner» by Marco Ferraraon psychological distress, and «Against the rules» by Giuseppe Scirè Brialei and Alfonso Gelo, on the culture of legality.
The nostalgia for the native land is instead at the center of «Sciatu meo» (Alessio Genovese and Daniele Saguto), filmed in Sant'Elia, near Bagheria, with the music of Roy Paci from Augusta and the participation of the actor and cuntista from Trapani Gaspare Balsamo. The Acese Antonio Catania is instead the protagonist of «Lost traces» (Gianluca Gloria), on mental disability, finalist in the “Short Films” jury award. Double for the director from Catanzaro Massimo Ivan Falsetta, who talks about Papilloma virus in «The molecules of destiny» (in the cast Giorgia Salari, Sara Ricci, Ettore Bassi and, in the role of himself, the researcher Vittorio Unfer) and immigration in «Beyond the sea», with Alessandro Haber and Saverio Malara from Reggio. The latter film is also nominated for the jury prize and the Giornalisti del Lazio prize. Present in both works is the Vibo actor Costantino Comito.
The drama of war is at the center of «Odio perodio» by the director of Oppido Mamertina (Reggio) Emiliano Chillico, nominated for the Shortissimi Tlv Award. From the Antonio Gabriele Professional Institute of Tortora (Cosenza), «Maria, the real one» by Alessandro Caroppion the true story of Maria Bocuzzi, the young woman from Radicena (Taurianova) who inspired «La canzone di Marinella» by De André.
The Palermo locations of Terrasini and Partinico and a cast of Sicilian and Calabrian interpreters for Daniele Catini and his «Twist» on disability. Protagonists Luigi Biancoli and the Palermo actress Ester Vinci, flanked by Isabella Viola from Alcamo and Pietro Delle Piane from Cosenza. In the “Documentaries” section, the production of CSC Sicilia «Mondogatto» (Naomi Kikuchi), on the relationship between man and animal, and «Yemen» by the director of Dinami (Vibo) Tommaso Cotronei, on child brides, finalists for the jury prize.
In the #SocialClip category, dedicated to music videos, the singer-songwriter from Cirò (Crotone) Pasquale Sculco aka Carbohydrates, currently first with «Maestro John» (directed by Domenico Morise), on the importance of spiritual research in everyday life, which has reached 611 views in recent days. In the same section, Peppe Lana from Palermo with «Elogio della lentezza» (Gianni Cannizzo), on society and technology, finalist of the jury.
The prizes will be awarded during the days of the festival and the Grand Social Gala hosted by Lorena Bianchetti.
