Cinema Talk Returns to Aosta, Showcasing Emerging Filmmakers
Aosta, Italy – The Cinema Talk series is back in Aosta, offering a platform for young filmmakers from the Aosta Valley. The first event, held at Plus Café, featured Alessandro Bionaz and Eleonora Zappia, discussing their journeys in the film industry.
Spotlight on Alessandro Bionaz
Alessandro Bionaz is a self-taught director who transitioned from sports videography to cinematic storytelling. He honed his skills through workshops at TSFM Word-Frame, organized by the Film Commission Aosta Valley and Torino Short Film Market [Source: AostaSera]. His short films, “Up there” (produced by Sequences and Consequences in 2023) and “Beyond the horizon” (produced by Ciak4Young in 2024), showcase his preference for mountain settings and focus on human dynamics.
Eleonora Zappia’s Production Journey
Eleonora Zappia brings a formal academic background to the table, holding a degree in Dams and a master’s in Television, Cinema and Fresh Media. She gained practical experience working in production on the set of “Rocco Schiavone” in Rome [Source: AostaSera]. Returning to Aosta in 2024, she now works at L’Eubage, a company aiming to establish a small cinematic center in the Aosta Valley. Zappia emphasizes the importance of credibility and control in film production.
A Growing Film Community in Aosta
Both filmmakers acknowledged the growing enthusiasm for filmmaking in Aosta, despite the relatively recent development of the industry in the region [Source: LoveVda]. They noted that local communities are more inclined to offer support through props and locations than through active participation as extras.
Future Projects and Industry Involvement
Zappia discussed her involvement in organizing industry festivals, including FrontDoc, and the distribution of Chiara Zoja’s short film “Before the dawn.” She expressed a desire to host a pitch event in the Aosta Valley in the future. Bionaz shared his ambition to shoot a feature film and is currently working on the screenplay for his next project [Source: LoveVda].
The Party Film Series
Cinema Talk is part of the larger project, “The Party,” which aims to transform the traditional cinema experience into a collective and participatory event throughout the Aosta Valley [Source: Cactus Film Festival]. The series will run from March to June 2026, featuring film screenings in unique locations paired with local culinary experiences. Upcoming events include screenings of “Grand Budapest Hotel” on March 6, 2026, “Midnight in Paris” on April 10, 2026, and “Delicatessen” on May 8, 2026 [Source: Cactus Film Festival]. Alessandro Bionaz and Eleonora Zappia were also guests at an event on March 7, 2026 [Source: Ele Zappia Instagram].