Giffoni Festival Closes, Where Impossible Things Do Not Exist

The Giffoni Film Festival, a vibrant hub for dreams, emotions, and discussions, has concluded its 56th edition, themed "The Impossible Things." This theme celebrated the capacity of young people to look beyond limitations and transform challenges into opportunities. Festival organizers are already looking ahead, with the 57th edition planned from July 16 to 24, promising a new theme to be revealed in the coming months.

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This today is a moment of beginning and restart. We are already thinking about the 57th edition which will be held from July 16 to 24 and in the coming months we will announce the new theme.

Director General Jacopo Gubitosi emphasized that the end of one edition marks the beginning of preparations for the next, ensuring a continuous cycle of inspiration for children and young attendees. Director and animator Steve Cox, who co-directed "Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon," praised Giffoni as a "splendid place to inspire kids to talk about animation and cinema." He noted the insightful questions posed by 600 children, calling them "the best audience in the world because they are honesty personified."

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Giffoni is exciting. We saw 600 children asking us questions about the film: it's a wonderful place to inspire kids to talk about animation and cinema. How I wish I had a Giffoni as a child in the UK. They are the best audience in the world because they are honesty personified.

Actress Benedetta Porcaroli also shared her experience, telling the young audience that their questions were as helpful as therapy. The festival's artistic director, Luca Apolito, discussed the symbol of the 56th edition, an "Icarus with a different destiny," represented without a face to embody the jurors themselves. The festival awarded films from various countries, including Germany, Estonia, Poland, Indonesia, and the Netherlands, recognizing stories of courage, growth, friendship, inclusion, and hope.

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My psychologist, like all her colleagues, goes on vacation for two months in the summer, but your questions help like therapy.

In the Generator +18 section, the Gryphon Award went to "You Believe in Angels, Mr. Drowak?" by Nicolas Steiner, a German-Swiss film about a young writing tutor and a talented former homeless man. The film also received awards for best cinematography and creative paths. The Generator +15 award was given to Estonia-Lithuania's "Morten" by Ivan Pavljutskov, a coming-of-age story about a boy finding himself through photography. The Generator +13 prize was awarded to Poland's "The Altar Boys" by Piotr Domalewski, which depicts teenagers reacting to difficult situations.

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Ours is a different Icarus, with a different destiny from the myth. We chose to represent him without a face because we wanted to meet that face here, among the over five thousand jurors who filled our halls.