The Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia takes part in the short film contest “Ristretto,” a new initiative to celebrate the Rome-Paris twinning conceived and organized by the association Palatine to strengthen the bonds of artistic creation between France and Italy.

“Ristretto” intends to promote the new generation of film directors and pay homage to the two most important film schools of both capitals, historical institutions devoted to the training of young filmmakers, i.e., the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome and La Fémis in Paris. Five French shorts made by the Fémis students and five Italian shorts from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia – Scuola Nazionale di Cinema were shortlisted. A jury of professionals will assign the award for best Italian and French shorts.

On its first run, the “Ristretto” jury is composed of Francesca Borromeo (casting director), Ronald Chammah (distributor-movie theatre manager, Paris Cinema Club / Films du Camélia), Federica de Sanctis (public relations, Netflix Italia), Alexandra Henochsberg (producer-distributor, Ad Vitam), Andrea Romeo (producer-distributor, I Wonder Pictures), and Aureliano Tonet (culture journalist at Le Monde). The jury is presided over by writer Paolo Giordano (latest published novel Tasmania, Einaudi 2022/ Le bruit du monde 2023).

On July 10^th, the two winners on the Ristretto contest will be announced during two parallel events held in the Rome Villa Médicis and the Paris Italian Cultural Institute with screenings of the shortlisted films, with the presence of the jury members and the Fémis and CSC winning directors.

The shortlisted films are the following: IL BARBIERE COMPLOTTISTA by Valerio Ferrara (19 min - 2022), LE VARIABILI DIPENDENTI by Lorenzo Tardella (16 min - 2022), NOTTE ROMANA by Valerio Ferrara (12 min – 2021), I PEZZI BUONI by Emanuela Muzzupappa (15 min – 2022), ROSA E PEZZA by Giulia Regini (17 min - 2022), ANANSI by Aude N’Guessan Forget (20 min - 2022), KING MAX by Adèle Vincenti-Crasson (21 min – 2021), LES MAINS SALES by Hélène Rosselet-Ruiz (20 min – 2021), L’ESPACE RAPIDE by Martin Gérard (27 min - 2020), UBALDA by Théo Cancelli (24 min - 2022).

“Ristretto,” Italian expression for a short shot of espresso coffee used internationally, was conceived and organized by the association Palatine. Created by women professionals from the world of culture, film, journalism, and law, Palatine promotes Rome+Paris projects: cultural exchange events between Italy and France looking to Europe, based on wide participation and quality programming. In 2022, Palatine conceived the idea of the Rome-Paris twinning and carried out two connected, twin initiatives, Dolcevita-sur-Seine in Paris and Nouvelle Vague sul Tevere in Rome. In 2023, the association launched the film award for Italian and French students “EU.RO.PA Jeunesse.” The programme of the twinning festival second run (July 8-12, 2023) will be presented in a press conference in late June.