Naples – The historic mural of Diego Armando Maradona in the Spanish Quarter comes to life, begins to speak, and shows a young boy the way to pursue and achieve his dreams. This powerful and touching image earned "The Mural of Champions" the win at the second edition of the Nafafe' (Naples Film and Audiovisual Festival).
The international festival, entirely dedicated to the world of short films, concluded today, Thursday, March 12, after four intense days of screenings and discussions hosted at the America Hall cinema. This triumph recognizes the direction of Massimiliano Pacifico, a Neapolitan who studied Film and Television Studies in London and is already known for the feature film "Gelsomina Verde" and the documentary "Il teatro al lavoro" starring Toni Servillo.
An exceptional cast with the “Cholito”
Produced by Be Line Productions, the winning short film boasts a top-notch team. The young protagonist, Christian Cervone, is joined by an ensemble cast that includes Antonio Guerra, Massimiliano Rossi, Maria Bolignano, Biagio Manna, and Francesca Bergamo. The film also features a special appearance by former Napoli striker Giovanni Simeone, now playing for Torino, known as "el Cholito."
The verdict of the young people and the critics' award
Nafafe' proved to be a major event: a thousand works were submitted from around the world, resulting in ten prestigious finalist shorts. The true heart of the festival, however, was the main jury, composed of over two hundred students from six high schools in Naples (Labriola, Liceo Artistico, Rossini, Augusto Righi, Pansini, and Vittorio Emanuele II). The schools not only judged, but actively participated in the event's planning.
At the same time, a technical jury composed of journalists Celeste Maione, Giovanni F. Russo, Cristina Scarpa (director of the Rome-based Area press agency), and publisher Tommaso Gabriele, awarded the industry awards. The Critics' Choice Award went to "Buddy" by director Ernesto Caso (Alchemia Pictures), while Indian director Brij Parekh won Best Foreign Short Film for "Somewhere Nowhere."
Emotions, synergies and social redemption
"This year's edition was dedicated to the theme of emotions, with high-quality films and voices from around the world," commented artistic director Raffaele Riccio. He was echoed by Tommaso Gabriele, one of the festival's organizers, who emphasized how "the great relationship between
with schools and young people remains the main characteristic and trademark of Nafafe'”. The days of the festival, coordinated by Tommaso Fichele and presented by the journalist Ivana Marcellino, saw the participation of numerous guests, including the municipal councilor Chiara Marciani, the deputy Francesco Emilio Borrelli and the actor Gaetano Stella.
The closing of the event also delivered a powerful message of social empowerment: the winners were awarded artistic ceramic works created by the Nesis cooperative, which operates within the Nisida Juvenile Detention Center. This detail united, in a single thread, the magic of cinema, a love for Naples, and hope for the future of its young people.
It seems like a nice idea, but also confusing. The mural that speaks is touching, but not all the participants understood it well. The jury of young people seemed divided. There was a lack of explanations about how they choose the shorts and about the ceramics prize, and the organization seemed a little disorganized, but hope remains.