The round table “Dialogue between faiths, from a female perspective” opened the 25th edition, full of contents, at the Lido of Venice. The program has been unveiled from 14 to 21 September: “Religion Today” will bring 42 films in competition from 23 different countries to Trentino, with 11 national premieres, 4 European and 1 international premieres. Over 50 guests from all over the world with the Women of Faith for Peace. Plus 3 exhibitions, 3 concerts, 10 debates, 10 masterclasses for young talents. At the beginning – reads a note – the round table “Dialogue between faith seen from a female prospective” was led by 3 women who are a true symbol of intercultural and religious dialogue. “Launching Religion Today during the Venice Film Festival – began Lia Beltrami, founder of the Festival and the Women of Faith for Peace movement, – represents an important moment of union between cinema and the dialogue between faiths, religions and cultures. In 25 years we have always tried to work as a beacon of ‘cultural diplomacy’, creating bridges, relationships, broadcasting high-value films. It seemed important to us to experience this 25th anniversary by focusing on the dimension of dialogue, as the main feature of the festival we do it in Venice with a debate on the role of women of faith in building peace. Today more than ever we must return to fill the word peace with its meaning ”. “Without art, without cinema there can be no peace” For Azza Karam, a member of the Muslim community, the arts must dialogue together, with faith as direction. “Spirituality and art represent a fulcrum for meeting and confrontation, especially in the face of the beauty of differences.” she pointed out her. With their generating force, women play a key role in all of this. Anita Evelyn Stokes Hayford then recalled the exemplary journey of Women of Faith for Peace: leaders in 5 religious communities between Israel and Palestine that from enemies have become sisters by breaking down the walls of prejudice and finding new ways to build a real dialogue in daily life, in areas in conflict as well as in countries experiencing situations of tension. The winner of the special prize “Religions for Peace International“, An organization of world religious communities with over 90 national councils and headquartered in NYC that for more than 50 years has been committed to providing effective multi-religious answers to the pressing problems of the world. The president of the BiancoNero Association Alberto Beltrami delivered it to the stage with the artistic director of Religion Today Film Festival Andrea Morghen. The recognition awarded the film that most of all captured the spirit of interreligious dialogue, among the 6 films selected by the international jury composed of Eda Molla Chousein member of the Executive Committee and coordinator of the interreligious network of young people at Religions for Peace UK; Christian Kazadi Lupemba president of the Religions for Peace youth network in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Mamta Shaha pspecialist secretary of Gujarati Semaj of NYC involved in the Federation of Jain Association in North America. The award is won by “Dead Sea Guardians” by Ido Glass and Yoav Kleinman, a documentary that crosses the stories of 3 young people, a Palestinian, a Jordanian and an Israeli, who decide to join forces to go beyond the conflicts in their countries and fight for save the Dead Sea.
Venice Film Festival: “Religion Today” program presented | AgenSIR