by InTrieste
Eight short films are set to offer a cinematic exploration of the border as a space of encounter, transformation, and shared future, as Gorizia and Nova Gorica take center stage as the 2025 European Capital of Culture. Each film, in its own distinctive style, captures the “absence of the border,” with Piazza Transalpina / Trg Evrope—a symbolic site of unity and connection—appearing at both the beginning and the end of every story.
The project, Corti senza confine, was launched by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in partnership with the FVG Film Commission and PromoTurismoFVG. Its goal is to support filmmakers in telling stories that transcend geographical, cultural, and generational boundaries, leaving a lasting cultural imprint beyond 2025.
“Through Corti senza confine, we give voice to the authentic spirit of what we call border culture, where the border is no longer a limit but a living space for creativity and dialogue,” said Mario Anzil, Vice President and Regional Councillor for Culture and Sport. “These eight perspectives interact with GO! 2025, preserving stories, memories, and emotions on screen long after the European Capital year concludes. Cinema, with its universal language, helps bridge communities and generations while promoting Friuli Venezia Giulia as a microcosm of the world.”
Sergio Emidio Bini, Regional Councillor for Tourism and Economic Development, highlighted the impact on the local community: “It has been a record year for Gorizia and Friuli Venezia Giulia. The success of the European Capital of Culture is reflected on the big screen. Through Corti senza confine, we further support Gorizia’s growing tourist appeal, which has already seen a 30.6% increase in summer visitors. These films offer unprecedented visibility for the city and reinforce its role as a place of encounter and exchange.”
The short films will premiere in two special screenings during the 25th edition of Giornate FICE – Incontri del Cinema d’Essai FVG: on Monday, September 29, at 8 p.m. at Kinemax Gorizia – Sala 1, and on Friday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Piazza Transalpina / Trg Evrope. Both events are free to the public, subject to seating availability, and will feature appearances by the filmmakers, producers, and local authorities.
The program includes:
- Il ponte, the directorial debut of Giacomo Bendotti (Amarena Film), examining migration and the permeability of borders over time.
- Cos’ te costa, directed by Davide Del Degan and written by Alessandro Biamonti (Galaxia), exploring physical and metaphysical boundaries as distortions of human reality.
- La battaglia delle spazzole by Lorenzo Fabbro (Staragara I.T), a comedic take on two street sweepers whose nightly routines turn into a battle of invisible borders and unexpected feelings.
- Confini, canti by Simone Massi (Rumore), the sole animated film in the project, which closed the International Critics’ Week at the 82nd Venice Film Festival.
- Meja – Frontiera by Emma Jaay (Tucker Film), a modern fable reflecting on human connection beyond geographical divisions.
- Vivere by Chiara Cremaschi (La Scontrosa), a visually intense, on-the-road narrative.
- L’estate che verrà by Mauro Lodi (Groenlandia), a poignant story of friendship between an Italian and a Slovenian youth in a culturally cohesive school environment.
- L’osservatore dell’est by Alberto Fasulo (Neferti Film), blending comedy and drama with a tribute to Sergio Leone’s Westerns.
The films, totaling 144 minutes, feature both established production companies and actors recognized internationally, including Ksenija Rappoport, Lucia Mascino, and Giorgio Colangeli. Each production received funding of up to €100,000, selected from over 150 submissions by a jury led by Academy Award-winning director Gabriele Salvatores. Filming took place across Gorizia and its cross-border surroundings last summer.
The screenings are part of the 25th Giornate FICE, one of Italy’s leading events for art-house cinema, bringing together producers, distributors, exhibitors, authors, journalists, and festival organizers. This year’s edition, spanning September 30 to October 3 across Nova Gorica and Gorizia, highlights the borderless nature of cinema and culture in the region.
