There's the timely theme of war, addressed with extreme sensitivity and a touching dedication to Gino Strada. There's inclusion, with the breaking down of prejudices and architectural barriers.
And there is the relationship with nature, in particular with animals, through the recovery of a harmonious dimension with the environment, beyond technology, beyond smartphone screens. There are 53 short films in competition at “Catch the moon”, the International Festival of animated films for children and young people scheduled in Naples from today to May 6.
From India to Brazil, from Iran to Colombia: the films, selected from a pool of around 1000 proposals, come from 19 different countries and compete in two categories (one dedicated to professionals and one to students of animation film schools). A technical jury and a jury composed of students from some of the schools in Naples (and not only) will evaluate them. The films will be screened during the festival (in the morning a program aimed at schools, in the afternoon open to the public) and will be available for free streaming on the Cineteca di Milano website (from 4 to 11 May). The first Italian festival entirely dedicated to animation for kids, “Catch the moon”, organized by the Gioco Immagine e Parole association with the Atalante association, Cineteca Milano, ART33 association, Ad Alta Voce and in collaboration with the Municipality of Naples, with the artistic direction of Luigi Iovane, also offers a non-stop series of meetings, debates and performances, concentrated in particular in the eastern area of Naples: the locations are the auditorium of the Liceo Calamandrei and the headquarters of ART33.
Among the initiatives, an exhibition of animated film posters (from the Bruno Alberto collection, inauguration today at 18 pm), the screening of short films by Emanuele Luzzati and Giulio Gianini starring Pulcinella and the film “Più anguille che noi”, made by students of the schools of Naples with the designer Ahmed Ben Nessib (tomorrow) and a sand art show with Andrea Arena, to the rhythm of the great soundtracks of cinema (May 4, at 11.30:XNUMX am, auditorium Istituto Calamandrei). Also on the program are masterclasses for children and adults aimed at deepening the techniques of animation with Beatrice Pucci, animator and designer, Michele Bernardi, director and animator, and with the sound designer Stefano Sasso.
Friday, at 18 pm, a talk on the future of animated cinema in Campania with Francesco Izzo, professor of economics at the Vanvitelli University, the screenwriter and director Giovanni Calvino and the producer Stefania Iannella. Saturday, from 10 am to 13 pm, the screening of the winning films at the ART33 headquarters.
"Animated film ," explains Luigi Iovane, " is a true contemporary art form, experiencing extraordinary international turmoil and whose growth has not slowed even during the pandemic years. After all, it is a language with limitless potential: more than live-action cinema, anything you can imagine can be created. 'Catch the Moon' reveals this world to students through unique training and literacy programs, and the significant number of short films that participated in the selection process confirms the positive momentum of the entire industry, as we wait to understand if and how artificial intelligence will influence creative processes."
Catch the Moon is produced as part of the National Plan Cinema and Images for Schools promoted by the Ministries of Culture and Education and Merit.
Chronicles of Campania
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