A song animation about teaching the names of months in Arabic, this music video aims to provide an attractive way for children to learn about their heritage. The lyrics of the song are inspired by rhyming folk proverbs, while the images in the animation make cultural reference to different parts of the Arab region: pyramids in Egypt, ruins in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, olive picking in Tunisia, folk dancing in Palestine, sea turtles in Yemen, etc. It is a five-minute cultural voyage into the four seasons.
Adriatic
“Adriatic” is the name of the documentary film on ethnic-linguistic Croatian-Albanian minorities historically present in Molise, starting as early as the fifteenth century following the Ottoman invasion of the Balkan Peninsula. The documentary has a dreamlike and narrative character. It contains two main chapters: the first dedicated to the Italian-Albanians, the second to the Italian-Croats. The necessary epilogue with which the documentary film ends, indicates the contamination as an essential element of that inevitable cultural process that has always characterized human history.
The exodus does not deprive the people of its identity, on the contrary, it is strengthened and reintegrated into the territory in which it lives, becoming a constituent part of it.
The Albanian and Croatian communities have contributed to enriching the territories in which they have settled by introducing customs, traditions, and above all the language: the most important element of the identity and sense of belonging of a people. Diversity and cultural contamination are often interpreted in a negative sense and not as a resource and mutual growth in contemporary society. Furthermore, the title of the documentary emphasizes the main and determining role of the sea in the history of these populations. A story that is repeated in today’s migrations caused by unstable socio-political conditions in the countries of origin. The link between Italy and the Balkans has ancient roots, dating back to the time of the Kingdom of Naples. The Adriatic is the bridge that unites the two shores: it brings salvation, hope and ensures a future.
“Adriatic” derives from an extensive work of recovering the historical memory of the ethnic-linguistic minorities of Molise and of enhancing their languages, customs and traditions. A work made possible thanks to the involvement of researchers, academics, scholars, teachers and musicians. The goal is to make known the reality of the Albanian and Croatian ethnic-linguistic communities that are located within the small region of Molise. It is a priceless heritage, not only for our territory, but also for the entire nation, bringing them to the attention of the States of origin such as Albania and Croatia. These communities are a collective good that must be preserved and encouraged so that they are not forgotten in history.
The Fourfold
Based on the animistic beliefs and shamanic rituals in Mongolia and Siberia since recorded history, the film is about the indigenous worldview and wisdom: Nature is the homeland of human being, Tengri is the deity and the father sky, Earth is the mother with rivers nourishing all beings, paganist and pantheist gods co-exist with all mortals.Against the backdrop of the modern existential crisis and the human-induced rapid environmental change, there is a necessity to reclaim the ideas of animism for planetary health and non-human materialities.
One Day with Doctor Sergio
Nikita is 8, he is a worldschooler from Australia – he is traveling the World full time with his mother Oxana. While living in the mountains of Chiapas, among indigenous people with their bright culture, they met a real hero – Doctor Sergio Castro – a true Mexican humanitarian. Doctor Sergio has provided free medical help and building schools for local people of the poorest Mexican state of Chiapas for more than half a century. The local people of Chiapas are Mayan Indians of different ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has its own costumes, language, Catholic Patron Saint and traditions. The amazing doctor utilized this diversity, opening an ethnic Mayan museum which generated funds for to support his humanitarian work. Nikita and his mum became inspired by the unique personality of Doctor Sergio and decided to tell his story to the World. They followed Doctor Sergio and filmed him on his daily rounds. This film shows daily routine of the great contemporary humanitarian through the eyes of eight years old child.
The Island
Zanzibar, an island on the east coast of Africa, is a wonder and a myth. It used to be the biggest trading port in the Indian ocean, with Africans, Persians, Arabs, Indians living together for centuries in peace. The film aims to reveal the secret to cultural diversity and co-existence through the lens of an Omani Plantation owner, a painter, a Taarab singer.
Yusuf’s grandfather came to Zanzibar 130 years ago from Oman. He runs a biggest spice plantation with 30 types of spices, including 5000 cinnamon trees. A local painter, Hamadi’s great grandparents came to Zanzibar from Yemen in 1800. Amina, is the singer of a band, who plays a music genre mixing Arabian tones with Swahili lyrics, Taarab.
Zanzibar, seems to be a place for everybody.
Smile
A heart-warming exploration of photographer Tawfik Elgazzar’s community art project, Flash Hub, which provides free portraits for locals and passers-by in Sydney’s Inner West. The film celebrates individuality, cultural diversity and the joy of a photographer seeing his subjects smile.
The marriage of a mouse
This film is adapted from a traditional Chinese folktale by using the traditional technique of Chinese shadow play. In this story, the village chief holds a competition to find the best husband for his mouse daughter. After several rounds of test, he finally found the perfect match.
Autumn
Its Autumn, birds are migrating to warmer climate.
On the gray streets of Paris, illegal immigrants are selling shoes.
Winter is near..
Florigami
A lonely white flower grows surrounded by other plants and every day he struggles to survive.
SOPIROCOS, CUCURINOS AND PIRICUACOS
SOPIROCOS, CUCURINOS AND PIRICUACOS COME AND GO.
