On the fourth anniversary of Willy Monteiro's death, the Venice Film Festival announced a significant project: the 3D animated short film about Willy, titled "Willy – Different is Good," will be shown in schools and prisons on the occasion of the National Day of Respect, scheduled for January 20th. Willy's sister, Milena Monteiro, said: "The perfect language to communicate values to children."
A Tribute to Willy Monteiro
Willy Monteiro Duarte, a 21-year-old from Cape Verde, was brutally killed in Colleferro (Rome) on September 6, 2020 while defending a friend who was being attacked by bullies. His death deeply shocked Italian public opinion, so much so that the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella posthumously awarded him the Gold Medal for Civil Valor. Four years later, Willy's memory lives on through an animated short film that aims to promote values of inclusion and tolerance.
The Side Academy Project
The short film “Willy – Different is good” was presented out of competition at the Venice Film Festival. The screening was attended by students from Side Academy, journalists and world-class professionals in the film and videogame fields. Stefano Siganakis, artistic director of the Verona academy, explained: “We want to work on the themes of inclusion and tolerance. We hope that this cartoon can convey the message that difference is a value”.
The support of the Monteiro family
Milena Monteiro, Willy's sister, supported the initiative from the very beginning: "The Side Academy cartoon conveys a profound message to kids in a simple and effective way. Since we were little, we all watch cartoons and it is easier to teach good behavior to children with this language". She underlined the importance of values such as friendship, respect for diversity and the desire to improve oneself.
Promotion and distribution of the cartoon
Cristina Virili, vice president of the National Association “Nel Nome del rispetto”, also attended the screening of the short film. The association obtained the establishment of the national day of respect dedicated to Willy Monteiro, which will be held every year on January 20. Virili stated that the association will help spread the short film in schools and prisons to promote respect among young people.
Colleferro's support
The mayor of Colleferro, Pierluigi Sanna, expressed the administration's gratitude for the work done by Side Academy: "The response of the young generation to the tragedy was one of tolerance, values, solidarity, art, recognition and creativity." The screening was attended by illustrious personalities such as Sarah Arduini, Oscar winner for special effects in the Disney film "The Jungle Book," and Jan Luc Sala of Ubisoft, who praised the technical quality of the short film.
The cartoon: plot and production
Willy's story is retold through the adventures of a little alien threatened by bullies, who not only want to humiliate him, but also spread the beating on social media. The short film, lasting five and a half minutes, is a work of great commitment, created with advanced technologies such as Epic Games' Unreal Engine. One hundred thousand hours of work were needed, distributed over three years, involving seventy students from the Side Academy. Thanks to this project, the memory of Willy Monteiro not only remains alive but continues to promote the values for which he sacrificed himself, educating young generations through an innovative and engaging language.
