The eighth edition of the Messapica Film Festival (MEFF) takes place in Mesagne, Italy, from July 20 to July 26. The event features an international competition of six films, educational workshops, and a series of cultural debates held at the Castello Normanno Svevo and various city locations. All festival activities are free to the public.
International Film Competition
The festival’s core competition, held each evening at 8:45 p.m. in the Atrio del Castello Normanno Svevo, showcases works from around the globe. According to festival organizers, the selected films explore themes of identity, migration, human rights, and social transformation.
The competing films for the 2024 edition include:
- Tutto quello che resta di te (Palestine) by Cherien Dabis
- Giovani madri (Belgium) by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
- La mia famiglia a Taipei (Taiwan) by Shih-Ching Tsou
- Sentimental Value (Norway) by Joachim Trier
- Familiar Touch (USA) by Sarah Friedland
- L’anno nuovo che non arriva (Romania) by Bogdan Mureșanu
A jury comprised of filmmaker Antonietta De Lillo, ethnologist Ulrich Van Loyen, and cinematographer Matteo Cocco will determine the winning film.
The Role of the Piccolo Cinema Ken Loach
A central feature of the MEFF is the "MEFF Young" arena, managed by teenagers aged 11 to 18. This initiative, which operates out of the Piccolo Cinema Ken Loach, is part of the Piano Nazionale Cinema e Immagini per la Scuola, a program promoted by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education.
The cinema serves as a permanent cultural hub where students select films, manage public screenings, and host discussions. For 2025, the project has been designated as a pilot for the Welfare Culturale program of the Puglia Region.
Presidi di Umanità: Daily Debates
The festival includes a series of seven public meetings titled "Presidi di Umanità" (Presidiums of Humanity), held daily at 7:00 p.m. in Piazza Commestibili. These sessions address contemporary social issues, including:
- The situation in Palestine, featuring the Italian Spokesperson of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
- Legal and civil rights, including a discussion on the graphic novel Da che parte stai? inspired by the story of Pietro Grasso.
- Migration and asylum policies, with contributions from Arturo Salerni and Gianfranco Schiavone.
- Gender-based violence and the culture of respect.
Festival Closing and Tributes
The festival concludes on July 26 with an homage to Marjane Satrapi. The event will feature a special screening of her film Persepolis. Throughout the week, the Piccolo Cinema Ken Loach will also host screenings of documentaries by Luigi Di Gianni, a figure in Italian ethnographic cinema, alongside a presentation of work regarding the research of Ernesto de Martino.
Festival director Floriana Pinto noted that the event has evolved into a year-round project, emphasizing the role of cinema as a tool for social inclusion. Mesagne Mayor Francesco Rogoli added that the festival’s integration of youth participation and civic engagement has established the city as a laboratory for cultural innovation.
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