LThe evening of June 8 at the Teatro Grande degli Scavi in Pompeii was a triumph of emotions, laughter and emotion: a final edition of the Pompeii Film Festival that confirmed the ability of cinema to unite ancient history and contemporary energy, giving the public an unforgettable experience.
From the opening, the air was filled with anticipation: the natural setting of the Pompeian ruins was the backdrop to a red carpet of stars from the big and small screen. The ice was broken by the artistic director Enrico Vanzina, who paid a warm tribute to the tireless work of the president Annarita Borelli: “Without his determination, against all odds, this festival would never have seen the light of day.,” he declared, receiving thunderous applause.
The conduction entrusted to Sergio Assise then transformed the evening into a game of irony and spontaneity. With his contagious sympathy, Assise dispensed “advice” to the government so that it supports Italian cinema more strongly: a message emphasized by an eloquent “sneeze” in the audience, from which the ironic “Giuli” resounded, an irresistible and pungent comment that did not fail to make everyone present smile (and think).
The Awards and the Awardees
The awards ceremony featured young talents and famous names:
- Short films: The winner of the award was "154", signed by Giovanni Storti (of the famous trio Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo). A little gem that, with a few minutes of filming, was able to tell a universe of feelings and irony typical of its author.
- Feature films: a touching French-Vietnamese musical triumphed In the Nguyen Kitchen (France) capable of moving Enrico Vanzina himself to tears, visibly moved on stage.
A moment of great pathos was the tribute to Black Relatives, awarded by Vanzina himself. Two long-time friends, Parenti and Vanzina, spoke lightly and sincerely, sharing anecdotes from behind the scenes and reflections on the role of political correctness in modern comedy. “Today – Parenti admitted – I couldn’t shoot Fantozzi like once upon a time”, arousing nostalgia and applause for the creative freedoms of the past.
Finally, Luca Ward received a special recognition: with his warm and powerful voice he entertained the audience, telling episodes related to Elisa of Rivombrosa and Capri, where years ago he had acted with Sergio Assise. His intervention united music and memory, sealing the link between cinema, history and places.
Shows and Artistic Performances
The atmosphere was made even more suggestive by real live performances:
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Dominic Sepe, with his “living sculpture” inspired by the Dancing Faun of Pompeii, transformed the human body into plastic material, recalling the resilience of classical art
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THEItalian Army Band Orchestra, flanked by the soprano Lucia Rubedo and come on Soul Food Vocalist, accompanied musically every highlight, offering an emotional journey through film soundtracks and classical melodies
Prizes and Awards
The jury awarded the main prizes to the best works:
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Best Short Film: 154 by Giovanni Storti (Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo) (details provided by the organization)
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Best Feature Film: In the Nguyen Kitchen, an engaging Franco-Vietnamese musical that moved Vanzina himself.
I Lifetime Achievement Awards they went to:
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Black Relatives, celebrated by Enrico Vanzina with behind-the-scenes anecdotes and reflections on political correctness
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Luca Ward, whose voice was honored with a medley of famous soundtracks
Data & Partnerships
The Festival has also established itself as a driving force for cultural tourism:
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Record participation: over 2.500 attendees
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Digital Engagement: more than 10.000 interactions on social media with the hashtag #SculturaViventePompei
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Institutional collaborations: partnership with MiC, Campania Region, Pompeii Archaeological Park and local universities for workshops and meetings
Between Criticism and Hope
On stage, Neri Parenti recalled his debut at RAI and the meeting with Diego Armando Maradona on the set of supportersBoth Parenti and Vanzina have denounced the excessive dependence of Italian cinema on public funds and the limiting effect of political correctness on creativity.
Enrico Vanzina praised the Neapolitan talents he worked with – from the De Filippo brothers to Salemme, Izzo and Buccirosso – underlining the artistic and human value of Neapolitan cinema.
However, both directors expressed concern about the film industry's excessive dependence on public funding: «Around 600 films are produced each year, but only about twenty of them reach the theatres. – said Parenti –. The others are supported with public funds, often without any real quality assessment.».
An Edition to Remember
The final night of the Pompeii Film Festival was, in every way, a hymn to the beauty and resilience of cinema. Between personal stories, reflections on the future of the industry and shared laughter, the audience was able to breathe in an atmosphere of authentic magic.
With a warm goodbye, the organizers promised to return next year with new surprises: everyone's hope is that this unique evening will soon become a fixed event in the national cultural calendar.
Article published by Sebastiano Vangone on June 9, 2025, at 18:05 PM
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The evening of June 8 was truly interesting and brought many emotions. I really appreciated the hosting of Sergio Assise who was able to entertain the audience well with his sympathy and irony, but also the award winners were deserving.