Saturday, 22 July 2017 21:16

Giffoni 2017 teaches amazement one more time

Giffoni has no limits: it teaches how to communicate ideas, how to discuss about them and make them become real”. Giffoni Film Festival Director Claudio Gubitosi drew conclusions during the usual closing press conference. The 47th edition has been great not only for its records but especially for the participation of those who have been supporting this futuristic project for nearly 50 years so far.

“This edition hasn’t been an easy one, especially because of the financial cut we have had – explained Gubitosi – but we’ve reacted creating an amazing programme. We multiplied love and triplicated the hours dedicated to the project. Our sacrifices have been paid off”. The Giffoni has taught us one more time that creative amazement can never end”.

This has been a record edition with 4.600 jurors coming from 52 countries of the world, 157 films and 101 in competition, 6 previews, 6 special events, 20 educational laboratories, more than 30 shows, 200 free events, 10 locations, 5 Meet The Stars reserved to 5000 fans that weren’t part of the jury, 50 Italian and international stars including Kit Harington, Bryan Cranston, Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Mika, Gabriele Salvatores and Gabriele Muccino.

“It’s been a great adventure – went on the Director -  and a great edition as well. However, it’s time to look to the future and project ourselves into 2020. When the Giffoni turns 50, it will rediscover life under a new shape, joining its three souls together: Festival, Experience and Opportunity, consecrating itself as a wonderful Italian and made in Campania region story that will never stop to amaze the world”.

Gubitosi also mentioned how the brand is still being taken as an exemplary model by politicians and international academic schools: “I am proud to announce that, thanks to the collaboration between University of Salerno and George Washington University, the Giffoni will become a case study for all the universities of the world”. The Government also garnered the Festival with acknowledgment and the Director launched an appeal for the future to the institutions to create facilities and protect the Festival. An appeal was launched to privates as well, so that they can invest on this Festival, that lives thanks to the Region and the State’s public funding. 

Gubitosi’s thanks went to the several sponsors (such as TotalErg, Original Marines, Consorzio CiAl, Eli La Spiga Edizioni, I.B.G. Spa, BMW, Fondazione Cariplo, ACI, INAIL, Fondazione Carisal, Banca Sella, Costa Crociere, Pegaso Università Telematica, Caffè Motta, Acqua Santo Stefano, Pasta Antonio Amato, Terra Orti, OrtoRomi, Energy by Oscar, Wella, Interflora, Chiczone, Wave Tribe: Bronx Colors Italia, Sant’art, Madara, Le grenier de vivi, D-giraffa and Le taschine) and partnerships that have made possible so many social projects and workshops, attended by over 10.000 people, giving the festival priceless added value.

As for the future, director went on: “We’ve got several aims: providing job opportunities for 300 youth in 2018, opening an arena with 6.000 seats to host great events, setting up 25 start-ups in collaboration with “Innovation Hub”, introducing university courses to be held in the Multimedia Valley, which in 2018 will receive the first funding for its second slot and will include the “Witnesses of Time” museum”. On the theme of internationalization, he added: “The world is watching us with great interest: we receive proposals of cooperation from all over the world: Argentina, Toronto, Canada Australia, Prague, Macedonia, Eurasia, Georgia, Iran, but what’s most important is that when we go abroad we take with us not only the Festival but the whole of Italy”.

 “After being ahead of the times welcoming the digital platforms for video contents distribution, such as Netflix and Amazon, starting from next year Giffoni will also open up to advertisement, thanks to the establishment of the Creative Award Festival, a festival into the festival which will award copywriters and companies promoting communication and graphic projects for young people. The jury will include professionals as well as youths, and there are also plans for the creation of a number of workshops and a real museum of advertising.

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