Mondays are not usually the most beloved of days—unless, of course, it’s Concorto Monday!
The rich “menu” of events begins from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Rahaus in Piacenza, with the VR experience of Boris Labbé’s Ito Meikyū (reservations here). At 5:00 PM, at the Salone degli Amici dell’Arte, also in Piacenza, the talk “Future Memory – Aesthetics and Ethics of Reusing Archival Materials” will feature Caterina Erica Shanta, Chiara Granata, and Chiara Ghidelli. Following this, in the same venue at 6:00 PM, the first slot of the Mnemosyne focus, dedicated precisely to archival materials.
We then move to Parco Raggio at 8:00 PM for dinner, and at 9:00 PM for the competition films screening; from 11:30 PM in the greenhouse, films from the PhilippinesFocus, and at 12:15 AM Supernature!
Extracurricular Activity – Dean Wei, Xu Yidan
As seen by Virginia Marcolini
Extracurricular Activity, directed by Dean Wei and Xu Yidan, is a hypnotic, restrained drama that unfolds over the course of a single suspense-filled night. The story follows two teenagers who, after an unforeseen event, unwittingly confront their mother with a moral dilemma—where silence and glances, subtle yet piercing, become as significant as the few words exchanged.
The austere cinematography and meticulous framing heighten an emotional tension that unravels slowly, offering no easy answers. Tu Ling’s performance—outwardly calm yet profoundly incisive—anchors the film’s growing unease. With its narrative spareness and contemplative ambiguity, the short invites us to dwell in discomfort and to confront our own questions.
Les bottes de la nuit – Pierre-Luc Granjon
As seen by Serena Varrucciu
A child sneaks out of his house at night, taking advantage of the fact that his parents have guests for dinner, to seek out a monster said to be hiding deep in the woods. On his nighttime journey, he meets a talking little animal who leads him to the place where the monster can be spotted, and together they discover many interesting things about this dark and wonderful place. Recovering an animation technique invented in the early 20th century by Alexandre Alexeief and Claire Parker that uses a pinscreen—a device that allows the director to create animations through light—the filmmaker perfectly weaves together technique and plot: the two young protagonists emerge fluidly from the shadows, without abrupt transitions or sharp cuts. As they embark on this journey together, the child and the animal discover the mystery surrounding the monster and form a bond. Everything feels harmonious, without any contrast: the friendship born between the two characters, united by a shared sense of loneliness, and the style in which the story unfolds. The technique recalls those drawings made with graphite powder, where shades of grey sculpt figures traced with fingertips. hat emerges from animating these soft shapes and this suffused atmosphere are images that have the quality of dreams and fantasy, surreal, delicate and touching.
Majonezë – Giulia Grandinetti
As seen by Serena Varrucciu
A young woman wearing a fur hat and a shawl rides a donkey, standing out against a snowy landscape where cold air can be felt through the screen. She has sheep following her, leading them to pasture. From a distance, a male figure approaches, announced by a whistle. The girl, named Elyria, hints at a smile. This single shot-as well as the choice of using black and white only- transports us into an atmosphere reminiscent of films from another era. A few sequences later, we are catapulted into a diametrically opposite atmosphere: rhythmic editing and virtuous camerawork show the same young man who had whistled, Goran, walking down the street, on his way to a friend’s house. The filmmaker moves between these contrasting styles with great fluidity to tell a story of female rebellion: Elyria seems resigned to her father’s will, who intends to marry her off to a much older man, undoubtedly for business reasons, despite her relationship with Goran. She withdraws into an angry silence that is only the calm before the storm: as soon as the opportunity arises, Elyria acts, and runs away, on her own. She doesn’t need to be saved by anyone. During the brief part of her journey we are allowed to see, Elyria finally laughs, cries, screams, feels, acts, lives.
Stone of Destiny – Julie Černá
As seen by Anna Vullo
A stone challenges its destiny of inanimate solidity. The animated short film Stone of Destiny is an unexpected musical that, through symbolic encounters, shows us how far the will to change and to experience one to the infinite interpretations of love can go.
Blue Heart – Samuel Suffren
As seen by Laura Savoini
Samuel Suffren spies from behind his camera on the lives of Marianne and Petion, a couple from Haiti who spend their days waiting for news from their son, who left for the USA seeking fortune. In Haiti, their days are accompanied by the chaotic buzz of the lives of their fellow citizens and the sound of a phone, whose rings intensify and confirm the fears and the worries of the two elderly people.
No Skate! – Guil Sela
As seen by Laura Savoini
A skateboard thrown into the Seine is the catalyst that sparks the friendship between Cléo and Isaac, two young people working as promoters to encourage people to swim in the Parisian river during the Olympic Games. Isaac’s exuberant voice finds its complement in Cléo’s silent listening, who, after breaking up with a skater, finds in Isaac the perfect antidote to her broken heart. Through his exuberance and her melancholy, the audience rediscovers a Paris that, despite being challengedby the complications of the Olympics, still emanates life. Paris is expensive, overrun by tourists, and often neglectful of its citizens, yet the two youngsters manage to find their space, discovering, between a karate lesson and a kebab dinner, each other’s stories.
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