SOVERATO, 29 JULY 2025 - The great machine of the Magna Graecia Film Festival does not stop even in the face of rain, which, at the event of t

SOVERATO, 29 JULY 2025 - Not even the rain can stop the great machine of the Magna Graecia Film Festival which, at the event on Monday, July 28, gave the Soverato audience another evening full of important guests and top-quality cinematic works.

An actor from the start and now a director on his fourth film, Kim Rossi Stuart took the stage at the MGFF for a conversation with film journalist Fabrizio Corallo. During the conversation, the artist retraced the most significant stages of his career, focusing on his latest commitment on set: playing the Prince of Lampedusa in The Leopard, a Netflix production. "The character of the Prince really captivated me. He is an imposing man, with a heavy, overwhelming physicality. In the novel, it even says that when he passes by, the furniture trembles. It was a challenge, because I perceive myself as having a completely different physicality: tall, lanky," recounted Rossi Stuart, and continued, "What struck me the most, however, was his mind: a sharp, clear, deeply aware intelligence." A significant choice, not to watch Visconti's masterpiece, nor Burt Lancaster's iconic performance: "I've never seen the film precisely so as not to be influenced. It seemed sensible to remain mentally free, so I could meet the character authentically."

During the meeting, the state of Italian cinema was also discussed: "In my opinion, quality is not lacking. What has been lost is that introspective cinema that pushed us to look inside ourselves, to confront our deep unconscious. It's not so much a matter of technique or writing, but of the courage to explore the human soul in depth. It's also an anthropological issue: today we are immersed in a hedonistic era, dominated by immediate pleasure. Different times will come," concluded the actor.

Rossi Stuart ended the interview with a fond thought for Calabria: "This year I brought my family on holiday to Calabria and, I'm not saying this for easy approval, I think I'll come back every year," confided Rossi Stuart. "There are places where everything is chaotic, where stress is everywhere and tourism has become invasive. Here, instead, I found an authentic, relaxed atmosphere and I advise you to preserve it."

The second Author Conversation of the evening featured an emotional Barbara Chichiarelli, in dialogue with journalist Antonio Capellupo. The actress is well known to the general public for her intense and dramatic performances: "I'm attracted to complex, dark roles. I believe there is a deep need in us to exorcise evil and, paradoxically, also to look at it in a 'pornographic' way to distance ourselves from it, to study it," she said. "I don't believe there are absolute good and bad people. Analyzing these areas allows us to explore parts of ourselves that we often ignore."

Chichiarelli also emphasized the importance of art and culture as tools to send messages and invite collective reflection: "It's a struggle we all have to face, for ourselves and for future generations. We are used to being outraged only by sensational acts, but we also need to start looking at the nuances: change happens in everyday life, in small things. Women have been doing it for thousands of years. Now men should also start talking to each other, questioning themselves."

The actress finally spoke about her latest role in M the Son of the Century, in which she played the character of Margherita Sarfatti: "With director Joe Wright I discovered what it really means to trust. He would tell us about the scenes, he gave us space. Trusting means creating the ideal conditions to work well, with authenticity."

Special guest of the evening was also Francesca Manzini, a much-loved face of Striscia la Notizia, who won over the audience with her irresistible imitations of Mara Venier, Ilary Blasi, Sabrina Ferilli, and Monica Bellucci. Between laughs, the impersonator, who received the Megna award on stage, confessed: "If I had to think of a role to play, I would want it to be something totally different from what the public is used to seeing from me: a dramatic role. It would be a challenge I would like to face."

Presenting all the evenings of the event, conceived and directed by Alessandro and Gianvito Casadonte, are the hosts Carolina di Domenico and Marco Maccarini. Also on stage were Leonado Metalli, director of the short film Faber, Irony and Poetry screened at the Supercinema on Sunday afternoon, and actor Peppe Lanzetta. Absent was actor Lino Musella, who nevertheless wanted to leave a video message to greet the MGFF audience. The program then continued with the screening of the film "Nonostante" by Valerio Mastrandrea.

At the start of the evening, the Magna Graecia Off, the pre-festival designed to showcase and enhance the excellence of the Calabrian territory, yesterday saw the presence of the Magnificent Rector of the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Giovanni Cuda, together with professors Francesca Cuzzocrea and Valeria Verrastro to present the project ProBen of the CISP – Interdepartmental Center - Psychology Services. "I am excited to be here tonight, to tell the story of our university and the work we carry out every day to guarantee our students not only quality education, but also well-being and human support," said the Rector.

The ProBen project, active since 2022, was designed to accompany students on their path to growth and autonomy, offering free psychological assistance, experiential workshops, and opportunities for discussion. Professor Valeria Verrastro, scientific director of the initiative, illustrated the results of the first cycle: "Each psychologist at the center followed students for ten sessions free of charge. We also organized workshops that involved many students. In October, the second edition of the project will start. We can proudly say that our students are learning to love themselves and take care of their mental health." "Through cinema, many barriers have been broken down" said Professor Francesca Cuzzocrea "if today we talk about mental well-being with greater awareness, it is also thanks to the powerful language of art that has dismantled the stereotypes linked to psychology."

A special parade on the red carpet celebrated the excellence and commitment of the Breast Unit of Catanzaro, a multidisciplinary team made up of over 50 professionals working for women's health throughout Calabria. Representing the team were coordinator Francesco Abbonante, breast surgeon, and Bernardo Bertucci, radiologist and diagnostic breast specialist. "In 2019 we were given the task of creating the region's first Breast Unit," explained Abbonante. "We managed to network the hospitals of Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, and Crotone, covering the entire central area of Calabria. Our goal is to eliminate health emigration, which is a disgrace for this land, as well as a trauma for patients." The Breast Unit is not limited to diagnosis and surgery, but accompanies patients throughout the entire therapeutic process, also offering psychological support, genetic and genomic tests, and the use of cutting-edge technologies. "Multidisciplinarity is our strength and we want to tell all women: don't be afraid. Prevention is the most powerful weapon to catch evil before it manifests itself" concluded Bertucci.

Regarding the program scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, July 29, actor Marco Giallini has announced that he is unable to attend as he is recovering from dental surgery. An attempt will be made to reschedule the meeting at a future MGFF date. The fourth film in competition will be "The Boy with the Pink Pants" in the presence of director Margherita Ferri. At the Supercinema, from 6:30 pm, the screenings of "They Say About Me" by Isabella Mari, in the documentary section, and "Il Mohicano" by Frédéric Farrucci for the internationals.

The Magna Graecia Film Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Calabria Straordinaria – brand of the Calabria Region – Department of Tourism – Calabria Film Commission and Municipality of Soverato. Major national and regional brands embrace the cultural challenge of the Magna Graecia Film Festival: Poste Italiane, Banca Montepaone, Webgenesys, Amaro del Capo, Calabria Motori. The Golden Columns awarded to the protagonists of the event bear the signature of the GB Spadafora brand.

Admission to all events of the Magna Graecia Film Festival, in the arena and at the Supercinema, is free, with no reservation required, until seats are filled. Specifically, in the arena, access will be allowed from 8 pm and the evening will begin at 9 pm.