A signature to save Arcipelago

by Camillo De Marco

20/06/2012 - 20 years of creativity, research, passion, and countless discoveries and the fear of having to end an exhilarating experience. Arcipelago 2012 – International Festival of Short Films and New Images of Rome, opened on the 15th of June without having received any assurance on the required funding from public institutions. This is why the artistic director Stefano Martina (photo) has announced its closure after this 20th edition.

Paradoxically, today the festival can only count on the small but significant financial support of the Polish Film Institute, which has contributed to the Poland Focus. “It is evident that only in our country the word ‘crisis’ automatically leads to a sharp budget cut to the detriment of culture. Elsewhere, they have the intelligence and awareness to consider support toward cultural initiatives as one of the fundamental premises of economic development. Especially during a time of crisis”.

A positive sign came from the Head of Culture of the Lazio Region, Fabiana Santini, who confirmed her support for 2012 and also indicated her disposition to discuss the modalities for the return of Arcipelago in 2013. However, the other concerned institutions, the Minister of Heritage and Cultural Activities – the Directorate-General of Cinema and the City of Rome, have not made any such sign.

Immediate support came from the AFIC-the Association of Italian Film Festivals, with a call for signatures (at the address info@adicfestival.it), which denounces the “cultural genocide” that anyone who promotes and defends a cinema of quality is or may be a victim of, and asks that the festival be put in a position to continue its work. Many prominent figures of the world of cinema have already answered the call: among others, Guido CHiesa, Edoardo WInspeare, Anne-Ritta Ciccone, Antonietta De Lillo, Carlo Brancaleoni, Tilde Corsi, Marco Müller, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio.

(Translated from Italian)