Skopje, 6 October 2023 (MIA) - You have a unique opportunity to travel through the magic of film, express your ideas and share everything you learned and experienced here. Do no stop dreaming, because dreams do come true, Italian Ambassador to North Macedonia, Andrea Silvestri said at the opening of the 11th Giffoni Youth Film Festival on Thursday. Giuseppe Bonito’s film, based on a novel and translated into Macedonian, L'Arminuta opened the festival at Milenium Cinema.

Ambassador Silvestri recalled how three years ago, in 2021 during the pandemic, he went on stage for the first time in front of festival participants and a hall that was at 30 percent capacity. Adding that he is convinced that art and culture have great potential, therefore he is happy to support the Giffoni Film Festival that encourages young people's creativity and critical thinking.

"The view from this stage was very different then. I am pleased to see such happy faces that have great expectations and dreams. This year we are celebrating 30 since the establishment of diplomatic relations between North Macedonia and Italy, and for that occasion we organized a series of events from different areas of literature, music, gastronomy, and of course film. We celebrate film though Giffoni, and we are thankful to Claudio Gubitosi for founding the festival 53 years ago, and for choosing Skopje to expand it outside of Italy, 11 years ago. The Embassy will organize the traditional Italian Film Week in spring, and host a viewing of the films shown at the Venice Film Festival in November at Cineplexx," Silvestri said.

Festival director Darko Basheski pointed out that this year they have a great program, thanks to the numerous institutional and private sponsors, but that the main support comes from young people.

The festival's program director, Dea Krstevska, highlighted the new project EPYC Short Film Awards, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

"EPYC is a project that wants to show that art is a perfect tool for sending important messages to and from young people, messages for peace in the region and world, and messages against violence and discrimination on any basis. But by hanging out with us these days, we were convinced that there was no need to teach you these values, you already feel them as your own and share them. This festival is of educational character. But you also have something to teach adults. Which is why you should use the creative skills you acquire at the workshops and show everyone that inherited conflicts and prejudices imposed by society are not to be a part of your future," Krstevska noted.

“Giffoni Macedonia” Youth Film Festival is supported by Giffoni Experience from Italy, the Film Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia, the City of Skopje, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Youth Cultural Center (MKC), the Italian Embassy in Skopje and other institutions and private supporters. ssh/sk/