D.B.Y. – Celebrating cinema in Palermo: the Italian event takes place!

A unique, unprecedented opportunity: CEIPES ETS , in collaboration with Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia – Sicilian HQ, celebrated cinema and documentaries with the Italian festival of the D.B.Y. project, which took place on 19th of January 2024 (not a random date, since 20th of January is International Italian Cinema Day, the anniversary of the birth of Federico Fellini, one of the world’s most famous directors).??

The event took place in the beautiful location of the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, a renowned cultural space in the Sicilian capital, and precisely in the white room of the experimental film centre (located within the context of the Cantieri Culturali). The festival saw the active participation of citizens of all ages and from different backgrounds, who were immediately catapulted into the experience: the films made by the young participants during the previous workshop phase were shown to the public for the first time.?

So many interesting speeches, so many discussions on topics of civic relevance and so much art – what more could one wish for? The guests attending the event were entertained, enjoyed the films made with commitment and expertise by the young participants, but also had the opportunity to reflect on many politically and civically relevant issues: the phenomenon of catcalling and gender violence, the brain drain, the current condition of same-sex families in Italy, etc.?

The project, co-funded by the European Union’s CERV programme, aims to stimulate democratic debate among young Europeans through the use of participatory documentary filmmaking: what better opportunity than this, then??

Special thanks go to the director of the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia – Sicilian HQ (Ivan Scinardo) and all the staff of the national film school: everyone felt at home!?