There are 47 works in competition from all over the world divided into 7 categories and on the opening day, at the French Institute of Naples, the Special Prize will be awarded to Roberto Andò and Isabella Ragonese for the social commitment represented in their work through stories and characters often on the margins of society, of great strength and humanity, not least Clytemnestra
From Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd October the “Fausto Rossano Award” returns, this year in its ninth edition entitled “Corpi SOSpesi”, organized thanks to the contribution of the Campania Region and the Film Commission Campania and which has obtained the patronage of the Municipality of Naples. The Festival, which will begin at the French Institute of Naples, is dedicated to the figure of the Neapolitan psychiatrist Fausto Rossano who passed away in 2012 and who, as the last director of the Leonardo Bianchi psychiatric hospital and then as head of the Department of Mental Health of Naples, actively worked to close mental hospitals.
After a selection among more than 300 candidates, there are 47 works in competition divided into 7 categories (Short Films, Documentaries, Workshops, Animations, Focus Campania, Students, Schools) in line with the international orientation of the Festival and its multicultural scope. The works come, in fact, from 17 different countries (Italy, Turkey, France, Iran, Cyprus, USA, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Albania, Korea, Spain, Poland, Egypt, Ukraine, Holland, Palestine) and particular attention has been given to animated shorts, Italian productions, works directed by more than one director and, finally, to female directors (more than 20 this year).
“In the wake of my father's cultural idea, of attention to the needs of people in their contexts – explains Marco Rossano, director of the Award – Let's turn the spotlight on the cry for help that is rising from many sides, more than ever in these years. Hence the reason for the title: "Corpi SOSpensi". The ninth edition wants to launch an SOS with respect to what is increasingly becoming a real socio-cultural emergency, with heavy repercussions on the psycho-physical well-being of people. The festival program will address the issues of autism, eating disorders and social pressure towards young people and the relationship between sport, inclusion and disability. However, we do not want to limit ourselves to denouncing things that are not right. With the Fausto Rossano Award – continues the director – we also want to convey positive messages and testimonies through meetings with authors from Campania, national and international and, above all, through the cinematographic medium, a universal tool that can overcome all barriers, even before architectural ones, mental ones”.
On Friday 13 October, on the opening day that will take place at the French Institute in Naples, the “Fausto Rossano Special Award” will be awarded to Roberto Andò and Isabella Ragonese for the social commitment represented in their work through stories and characters often on the margins of society, of great strength and humanity, not least Clytemnestra. The nominated works address numerous, delicate issues. Among others, mental health, abortion and missed motherhood, Alzheimer's, old age, social promotion, marginalization, violation of human rights, violence against minors, the distortions of ultra-nationalism, exploitation at work, the sense of inadequacy, the barriers of backward cultural traditions, the elaboration of mourning, sexual identity and the obsession with success. It is worth mentioning a theme that is little considered by many, creative work stress and another extremely current one such as artificial intelligence. However, the topic that is undoubtedly most present among the works in competition in this ninth edition is loneliness. The theme is so transversal that it appears in practically every category, in which different shades of a problem that grips a large part of our society are told, especially after the last three years with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both in the “Short Films” and “Focus Campania” categories, the presence of well-known actors from the big and small screen stands out: the 2023 David di Donatello winner Francesco Di Leva (Nostalgia, Mixed by Erry) and Miriam Candurro (A Place in the Sun, The Bastards of Pizzofalcone) in Dreaming of Venice; the young Mario Autore (Eduardo in Sergio Rubini's I Fratelli De Filippo), the male protagonist of No Smoking; Pietro De Silva (Blessed Ignorance, The Best Days) in Super Jesus; Gianluca di Gennaro (They Call Me Jeeg, Commander), the Ciro of One Kiss Too Many; Nando Paone (…And It's Snowing Outside!, Mina Settembre) and Gea Martire (Loose Cannons, Inspector Ricciardi), the main actors of The Sea That Moves Things; Christian Giroso (Gomorrah, My Brilliant Friend) and Astrid Casali (Latin America, The Man on the Street) in New Year's Eve. Worth noting in The Sound, a co-production between Cyprus and the United Kingdom, is the presence of Joseph Mawle, an international star of successful series such as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Game of Thrones (in which he plays Benjen Stark) and Troy: The Fall of Troy.
The jury, chaired by journalist Titta Fiore, is composed of Agnese Nano (actress), Stefano Bory (professor of sociology of cultural processes, Sergio Sivori (director, actor), Assunta Maglione (psychiatrist), Gina Annunziata (professor of history of cinema) and Federico Russo (psychiatrist, director of the “Lo Spiraglio” Festival).
Article published on 10 October 2023 - 16:05
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