After being guest for his first time in 2016, Sam Claflin came back to Giffoni Film Festival for a specific reason: “Giffoni is the most important festival in the world because it is dedicated to the youth, and they have the power to decide the future of humanity as well as the future of the most creative side of the cinema industry. They are jurors at Giffoni, and they also know that no one will judge them here: they can finally feel free and listened. I wish I had had the same opportunity when I was a child”. The British actor presented the premiére of Adrift, set for release in Italian movie theatres on August 29th and based on Tami Oldham Ashcraft’s namesake biography (published by HarperCollins). A woman (played by Shailene Woodley) gets lost at sea for 41 days together with her partner Richard Sharp (played by Claflin): their adventures lay at the heart of the engaging plot.
As the film also embraces the theme of Giffoni Film Festival’s 48th edition, that is Aqua, Claflin told journalists he couldn’t be happier: “I’m glad many people are becoming more and more aware of the environmental emergency faced by our oceans. It wouldn’t remain much without water. However, I won’t lose hope despite the current situation. I’m hopeful, the situation is changing a lot, especially thanks to the environmentalists”.
Visibly moved, Sam Claflin greeted Giffoni 2018 jurors after spending most of the afternoon signing autographs and taking selfies: “Giffoni is a special place and your warm welcome moves me to tears. I am touched by all your love and coming back here is extraordinary. I can feel the enthusiasm of that young guy who created this festival almost 50 years ago, and I really wish one day your children will have the incredible chance of being jurors too. You are very lucky – he said in Sala Truffaut – but I am even luckier because I can spend some of my time with you and I am honoured to contribute, in my own little way, to build the history of this event”.