Florence, 12.5.2022 – Inclusive and genderless creations signed by young designers and obtained from traditional sarees in the fashion show noborn from the collaboration between the brand I was a Sari and Oxfam Italia and Accademia Italiana; Indian nights immortalized in photographs by the Calcutta artist Arko Datto, contributor to TIME, National Geographic and The New Yorker; the family system and relationships nowadays in “Godavari”choral work set on the banks of the homonymous river signed by the director Nikhil Mahajan, who will meet the audience together with the actor Jitendra Joshi.
These will be some of the special events – for a 360° ‘India experience’ – which Tuesday 6 December in Florence will inaugurate the 22nd River River to River Florence Indian Film Festival, the only festival in Italy to tell the face of contemporary India, directed by Wild Veilscheduled from 6 to 11 December at the cinema La Compagnia (via Cavour 50/R) and online on the Più Compagnia platform in collaboration with MYmovies (www.mymovies.it/ondemand/river-to-river).
In “Godavari”In the city of Nashik, one of the oldest in India, a family tries to cope with two deaths: one they know about and one they are not prepared for. It deals with the relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, and the concept of tradition in the Indian family system, on the edge of the combination of old and new, life and death, religion and spirituality. The screening will be preceded at 20.30 from the inauguration ceremony with speeches, among others, by the Videsindaca of Florence Alessia Bettiniby a representative of the Tuscany regionby the Ambassador of India Neena Malhotra and the director of the festival Wild Veil.
The River to Rifer Florence Film Festival takes place under the patronage of the Embassy of India, under the aegis of the Fondazione Sistema Toscana, and is realized with the contribution of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities – Cinema and Audiovisual Directorate, Region Tuscany, the Municipality of Florence and the CR Firenze Foundation.
The first day will open at 18.30 at fsmgallery in Florence (via San Zanobi 19/r) with the vernissage of the exhibition, in Italian premiere, “Mannequin”, photographic journey in the indian night signed by Arko Datto. With works exhibited worldwide and support from prestigious institutions including the Pulitzer Center and the National Geographic Society, Arko Datto is one of the most innovative voices from contemporary India.
For the personal exhibition created in collaboration with fsm – Studio Marangoni Foundation the artist signs a succession of colorful images stolen from the urban darkness. The work, which began in 2014, a few months before Hindu extremists took control of the country, is “A fond memory of the night that was, to anticipate the darkness that awaits us”, quoting the artist. The exhibition will be open until 31 January 2023 from Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 3.00pm (by appointment: bookings segreteria@studiomarangoni.it).
From traditional women’s clothing to seasonless, genderless, inclusive garments, but also accessories, jewels and furnishing elements: I was a Saribrand of ethical and sustainable accessories and ready-to-wear clothing that employs more than 200 women in disadvantaged situations, meets the creativity of the students of Italian Academy, high school of the AD Education group. Thus was born an educational project whose results will be the focus of a double event, at 18 the presentation at the headquarters of the Accademia Italiana in piazza Pitti 15, at 20.30 the stage limelight of the La Compagnia cinema (via Cavour 50/R), during the early evening.
The project involved about 60 students among students enrolled in the last year of the three-year course in Fashion Design in the offices of Florence and Rome of the Italian Academy, with the coordination of the teachers Cecilia Rinaldi and Ilenia Alesse. From the first phase of sketching, 6 groups were selected, each of which produced three looks for a total of 18 outfitsready to parade at the Company, among which a winner will be awarded.
The sarees are made into fine garments, jewellery, footwear and ornamental fabrics handcrafted by artisans from the slums of India. The watchwords are circular economywith the recovery of fabrics from the chaotic and colorful markets of the city, female empowermentproviding women in disadvantaged situations with professional training and the tranquility of economic emancipation, design and originalitywith unique products designed by volunteer fashion designers from all over the world, among which the collaboration with Gucci.
The 22nd River to River Florence Indian Film Festival will continue till 11th December with 34 projections proposedincluding feature films, docs, shorts, series and artists’ films Italian and European premiere. Relationships, identity, love, battles and transitions are the themes that connect the selected works. All the program on www.rivertoriver.it
The festival relies on the support of the sponsors Salvatore Ferragamo, Galleria di Lux and Saaz Restobar, the technical partners Hotel Roma, fsm – Fondazione Studio Marangoni, Accademia Italiana, I was a Sari, Oxfam, Amblè, Libreria Brac, Cescot Firenze, Kochi-Muziris Biennale , Pocket Films, La città dei Lettori and the media sponsors Firenze Spettacolo and RDF.
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Screenings at the Cinema La Compagnia (Via Cavour 50r, Florence)
single afternoon €4 / full afternoon €6 (includes afternoon screenings of the chosen day) / full evening €6 / reduced evening €5 (students of DAMS, Pro. Ge. AS, Fondazione Studio Marangoni, Accademia Italiana, Salvatore Ferragamo Museum ticket holders ) / day 10 €
full Festival subscription €40
tickets at the cinema cashier or on cinemalacompagnia.ticka.it
Online screenings (www.cinemalacompagnia.it)
tickets up www.mymovies.it/ondemand/river-to-river
virtual room subscription Più Compagnia in collaboration with MYmovies €7.90 / MYmovies One subscription €12.90
River to River Florence Indian Film Festival 2022 at the start