The First Edition of the Matera Film Festival is Underway

The first edition of the Matera Film Festival is underway in the ancient stone city of Basilicata. A four day event featuring films from all over the world as well as books and art installations celebrating film, the festival is a physical event with social distancing measures in place. The first three days of the event count as the official film festival with the fourth to feature works focusing on culture, not in competition.

The festival was created by local filmmakers prolific in the international filmmaking scene that has exploded in recent years, inspiring the region’s nickname- “Basilicata: Land of Cinema.” Among them are actress Annarita del Piano, co-president (with Dario Toma) of the festival, actor and artistic director Nando Irene, creative director Silvio Giordano and producer Enzo Sisti who will serve as the honorary president.

Sisti is responsible for bringing international crews to Matera, starting with Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” up to the latest James Bond film, “No Time to Die.” Among the many films he has worked on are Richard Donner’s “Ladyhawke,” Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” Terry Gilliam’s “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen,” Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun” and “Gangs of New York,” Anthony Minghella’s “The Talent of Mr. Ripley” and the Academy Award winner “The English Patient.” His latest projects are “Wonder Woman” and the production of the first VR film ever made “Jesus - the Story of Christ.” Both were shot in Matera.

The festival opened on Thursday with the exhibit “Sassi, Nuvole e Lupi” (Stone, Clouds and Wolves), an installation dedicated to the city of the Sassi and the comic series “Dampyr.” The exhibition is divided into two spaces. The first will feature illustrations of scenes set in Matera, created for “Dampyr” by Alessio Fortunato and “Martin Mystere” by Giuseppe Palumbo. The second will feature excerpts from the book “Pasolini 1964 - Beyond Matera and the Mediterranean” by Palumbo, Maurizio Camerini and Alessandro Manna. The book combines illustrations by Palumbo with texts by Camerini and Alessandro Manna combined with unpublished photos by Mimì Notarangelo taken on the set of Pasolini’s film “The Gospel according to Matthew.”

Among the guests in attendance are actor Franco Nero, screenwriter Nicola Guaglianone, journalist and film critic Alberto Crespi and many regional actors who have had parts in various productions shot in the Sassi.

There are several interesting discussions planned with local artists, writers and filmmakers, including a masterclass on editing and special effects hosted by two renowned Italian filmmakers, Leonardo Cruciano and Marco Spoletini.

The four-day event runs through September 27. Follow this link to view the full program. https://www.materafilmfestival.it

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