Antonella Cavallari
IILA Secretary General
International Italo-Latin American Organization
In the year that marks a particularly significant anniversary for Latin American History, namely the 50th anniversary of the military coup in Chile, the IILA (Italo-Latin American International Organization) vigorously renews its long-standing alliance with the APCLAI and the Ibero-American Film Festival of Trieste, now in its 38th edition. Indeed, the Festival's Artistic Direction wished to pay tribute to the memory of those historic moments in the special section “Allende: 50 years later”, by emphasizing how solidarity and cooperation can play a key role in international relations: such values inspire IILA in its daily actions as well.
I commend, therefore, the civil commitment underpinning this event that is strongly rooted in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, but which, year after year, strives for an increasingly supraregional and international dimension. This is proven by the close cooperation with authoritative partners, such as the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Treccani Foundation, Ventana Sur, namely the most important film and market event held in Latin America, the twinning with FICUNAM, the Festival organized by the Film Library of the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM), the International Jewish Film Festival of Uruguay, the Ibero-American Festival of Fortaleza (Ceará, Brazil) and the Latin American Film Festival of Viña del Mar (Chile), among others.
IILA is one of the institutions supporting this Festival, along with many embassies of Latin American member states, and concretely contributes to the dissemination of the great work done by the Director, Rodrigo Díaz, and his staff. Indeed, every year, IILA has the pleasure of hosting at its headquarters, in Rome, the presentation conference to the specialized press. In addition, in concert with the Festival Direction and the Cultural Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Argentina in Italy, IILA organizes "Trieste in Rome", in which the best works, already appreciated by the audience of Trieste, are presented to the audience in Rome.
We wish the proceedings every success for the upcoming 38th edition of the Ibero-Latin American Film Festival, and we invite you to the film showings at the Miela Theater of Trieste, and at the other venues of this widespread Festival.
We wish the Ibero-Latin American Film Festival of Trieste to continue with its work for many more editions, guaranteeing the support of our International Organization to continue promoting moments of sharing and openness towards the Latin American world of the past, of the present and of the future.
Massimiliano Fedriga
Governor of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia
The Friuli-Venezia Giulia region is pleased to welcome you to the 38th edition of the Ibero-Latin American Film Festival of Trieste, one of the longest-running in Europe, as well as an opportunity to immerse yourself in the Ibero-Latin American cinematography, which is one of a kind in Italy.
The Festival is a real open window onto the audiovisual world, with works from over seventeen countries of the American subcontinent and the Iberian Peninsula. This event has a special focus on independent cinema, by highlighting emerging talents and authentic stories that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Over nine days, we will have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a world of emotions, culture and creativity, through the screening of about one hundred films, including feature films and documentaries. Each film will take us to distant lands, they will make us think, and they will put us in contact with often unknown realities.
In particular, this year, the documentary "La odisea de los Andes" presents an extraordinary tale of human survival and the fearless will to live under extreme circumstances. This film, directed by Alvaro Covacevich, a member of Chile's Dalmatian community, and contributed by the Nobel Prize winner, Mario Vargas Llosa, takes us back in time to the heart of the Andes, where 29 people struggled for their survival after a tragic plane crash in 1972.
Particularly significant as well is the section devoted to the 50th anniversary of the end of the Ibero-America's longest-running democracy, Chile, entitled "Allende: 50 years later," with insights on the figure of the president, human rights, preservation and promotion of historical memory and international solidarity.
The Festival is not only a showcase for Ibero-Latin American cinema, but also an opportunity to enrich our cultural background, since, beyond the screenings, the event offers opportunities to meet with directors and filmmakers who enable us to delve deeper into the stories behind their works: many masterclasses will guide us through the cinematographic language and will reveal the revolutions that cinema sparked in the way we perceive our reality.
Avv. Mario Anzil
Vice President and Council member for Culture and Sports
Friuli-Venezia Giulia region
Now in its 38th edition, to define the Ibero-Latin American Film Festival as a Festival "of Trieste" would be belittling. Indeed, beyond disseminating the audiovisual heritage of many Hispanic countries, it arouses the interest of an international audience, by contributing to widening the multicultural vocation of our region and taking on an almost worldwide dimension.
Many of our grandparents and parents transplanted their roots to the countries now participating in this Festival, others lived there for a long time and then returned to their region. This created a very strong bond between our lands and contaminated their cultures, by enriching them. In this respect, this Festival is a high-level example and well represents our desire, namely to promote and nurture a constant and lasting cultural exchange.
Thanks also to the side events and masterclasses, the Festival is an excellent opportunity to implement the knowledge of the cinematographic and audiovisual language, but also to delve ourselves into the magical world of cinema, which can make us dream and imagine and enables us to travel to far-away countries, while sitting comfortably in our armchairs.
Therefore, also on behalf of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, I would like to commend the organizers, the collaborators and the large audience that always participates, for the commitment and passion with which for years they have been sharing with us such magical days of cinema. We wish you to always achieve better results.
Roberto Dipiazza
Mayor of Trieste
Trieste has always been an international and open city, thanks to its history and many other factors. Its port, the technological research and development institutions, its strategic geopolitical position as a meeting point, and its extraordinary art and culture, declined in numerous events and meeting contribute to making our city an increasingly sought-after destination for visitors and tourists, for those people who appreciate a place of profound charm.
If the appeal of our city has been able to grow, it is due to multiple projects, consolidated and strengthened over time. Among them is the Trieste Ibero-Latin American Film Festival, now in its XXXVIII edition, a unique event in Italy and among the longest-running in Europe exclusively dedicated to the broader Ibero-Latin American cinematography.
The Municipality of Trieste appreciates your work and is close to you, standing in solidarity with the efforts and commitment that you continuously invest in organizing such a high-quality event each year. This event has managed to stand out at an international level, becoming a valuable reference point within the film industry, a "window" traditionally open to the entire audiovisual world showcasing works from at least 17 countries from the American subcontinent and the Iberian Peninsula, with a special focus on independent cinema.
Thank you for your ongoing dedication in organizing a Festival that has entered the history and the best tradition of our city, a Festival that
we consider our own, as it contributes to “projecting” Trieste to the world, to making people talk about our beloved city - a place where minds and talents converge, a seaport that welcomes us and propels us towards new horizons and perspectives.
The 2023 edition of the Trieste Ibero-Latin American Film Festival encapsulates essence of an event that looks to the future with confidence and hope, with the ability to dare, while respecting a tradition and a history that is renewed and revived in cinema as in everyday life.
Enjoy the Festival and have a great time watching its screenings, with Trieste always in the heart.
Marjanka Ban
Council member for Culture
Municipality of Duino Aurisina-Devin Nabrežina
The municipal administration of Duino Aurisina-Devin Nabrežina is proud to support and host for the first time such an important festival. The breadth of the program, but more importantly, the content of the proposed screenings will bring further enrichment to the area: an area whose inhabitants, historically belonging to two communities of different language and culture, continue to mutually opening up more and more, while learning about new cultures and languages coming from the rest of the world, helped by the fact that even geographic distances are now easily overcome. A warm welcome to the Ibero-Latin American Film Festival on our Karst-Kras. Welcome to Aurisina-Nabrežina!
