Omovies@School 2023 III Edition Awards Gala at the Modernissimo Multicinema in Naples
Artistic Direction by Carlo Cremona
The international festival involving youth and schools has awarded the 4 winning films out of 73 entries from 18 countries worldwide, along with a special ABAN award.
Organized by iKen Onlus and funded by the National Cinema and Image Plan for Schools promoted by the Ministry of Culture (MIC) and the Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM), in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, L’Orientale University – CLAOR, and the Riferimento Scuola Association, in partnership with AMECI, CFCC, and FlyUP.
The third edition of the Omovies@School festival (www.omovies.school), an International Film Festival dedicated to schools and young people, organized under the artistic direction of Carlo Cremona, awarded the 4 winning films of the competition at the awards gala held at the Modernissimo Multicinema in Naples. Alongside the festival director Carlo Cremona, students engaged in dialogue with Mariano Gallo, also known as Priscilla from “Drag Race Italia,” Miss Ginger Vites, Professor Giuseppe Balirano, president of CLAOR – the Linguistic Center of L’Orientale University and head of the festival’s scientific committee, and Professor Luigi Barletta from the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples.
Within the framework of the National Cinema and Image Plan for Schools promoted by the Ministry of Culture (MIC) and the Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM), the festival aims to be a cultural incubator for promoting films created by both schools and filmmakers addressing themes such as bullying, homophobia, gender violence, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
The festival’s offerings are made possible through collaborations with local institutions of excellence, such as the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, which organized film workshops with professors Luigi Barletta and Gina Annunziata, and L’Orientale University – Department of Literary, Linguistic, and Comparative Studies, as well as the Riferimento Scuola Association, involving the following schools: ITI Marie Curie in Naples, IIS Rocco Scotellaro in San Giorgio a Cremano, IIS SIANI in Naples, IC Adelaide Ristori in Naples, and ITC Jacopo Nizzola in Trezzo sull’Adda, Milan province.
“The culture of differences and inclusivity is a treasure to be safeguarded and promoted. Within the Omovies@School Film Festival, we believe that cinema can go beyond mere entertainment, offering a platform to explore diverse experiences and promote mutual understanding,” stated Artistic Director Cremona, who, through the association, also realizes projects such as corAcor – Napoli Rainbow Choir, Pride Erasmus +, the Lgbt reception house “Questa Casa non è un Albergo,” and the Rainbow Center Napoli, funded by UNAR and established in a property seized from the mafia. “In school, we should learn what it means to love in an extended sense: not to bully, not to use violence, but to accept others. Andrea Spezzacatena was a 15-year-old boy who simply wanted to live his life as he wished, and he is no longer with us because he could not bear the harassment of his peers. Through the festival, we reward works that aim to raise awareness against bullying in schools.”
This edition featured 73 competing films, involving 18 countries worldwide (Italy, France, Belgium, Spain being the majority, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico), There are 4 winning works.
Student Jury announces winners of the Omovies@School III 2023 Awards:
– Best Documentary: “Trazos Del Alma” (Spain) by Rafa Arroyo, directed by Andrea Spezzacatena.
– Best Fiction Short Film: “Pensadero” (Argentina) by Matias Dinardoe.
– Best Animated Short Film: “El Sepulturero” (Spain) by Juanca Arniz.
Faculty Jury announces winners of the Omovies@School III 2023 Awards:
– Best Documentary: “Trazos Del Alma” (Spain) by Rafa Arroyo, directed by Andrea Spezzacatena.
– Best Animated Short Film: “El Sepulturero” (Spain) by Juanca Arniz.
– Best Fiction: “Cosas Que Contarte Antes De Un Túnel” (Spain) by Nacho Ros.
Special Award from the School of Cinema at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples:
– Documentary: “Trazos Del Alma” (Spain) by Rafa Arroyo.
The President of the Scientific Committee and CLAOR, Professor Giuseppe Balirano, emphasized the importance of inclusive language to prevent stories like Andrea’s from happening again. He expressed the university’s strong commitment to the festival, highlighting the role of education in fostering creativity, solidarity, and acceptance.
All the films are subtitled in Italian thanks to the inTRANSlation project, involving both teachers and students from the University of L’Orientale for over 10 years. The Omovies festival, focused on LGBTQ+ cinema, has reached its 15th edition and originated at the Modernissimo cinema in Naples.
In conjunction with the festival, a study day on audiovisual translation and inclusive cinema was organized at the University of L’Orientale on May 30th. The event was attended by Rector Roberto Tottoli, Maria Laudando, Director of the Department of Literary, Linguistic, and Comparative Studies, Cathy La Torre, lawyer and activist, as well as Giuseppe Balirano, Carlo Cremona, and Mariano Gallo, an actor.
Media Partner: LGBT Channel (www.LGBTChannel.tv).
Omovies@School, originally a educational project within the OMOVIES FILM FESTIVAL – International LGBTQ+ and Questioning Cinema Festival, is realized in partnership with Amesci, CFCC (Coordination of Campania Film Festivals), Claor, Fly up cooperative, Riferimento Scuola association, with the moral patronage of the Campania Region, the Municipality of Naples, the City of Caserta, the City of San Giorgio a Cremano, and the Municipality of Naples.
The Scientific Committee of Omovies@School III 2023 is composed of the Artistic Director, Carlo Cremona, the CLAOR of the University of L’Orientale, the Department of Literary, Linguistic, and Comparative Studies, the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, and the Riferimento Scuola association. The committee includes Professor Giuseppe Balirano, along with Katherine Russo, Anna Mongibello, Arianna Grasso, Marina Niceforo, Francesco Nacchia, Annalisa Raffone, Giuseppina Scotto di Carlo, and doctoral students Arianna Del Gaudio and Roberto Esposito. The faculty members from the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples include Luigi Barletta from the Film School and Gina Annunziata from the Photography School. DG Immacolata Iadicicco, President, and Professor Monica Cacciatore from the Riferimento Scuola association are also part of the committee.
Tutors from schools and professors Prof.ssa Bian
co, Prof.ssa Grimaldi, Prof.ssa Di Simone, Prof.ssa Numerati, and Prof.ssa Costanza are also involved.
PRESS OFFICE | Alessandro Savoia
Organizational Secretariat | Sara Vricella
