Kinoatelje, a cultural organisation based in Italy' Gorizia that is dedicated to promoting and producing films in the cross-border area, is joining the European Capital of Culture with two of its major projects to bring cinema to small local communities and take local film production to European audiences.

Founded in 1977 by Darko Bratina (1942-1997), a member of the Italian Senate, film critic and sociologist, Kinoatelje serves as a hub for intercultural and cross-border projects in the field of film and audiovisual media.

Kinoatelje is active in organising and promoting cultural events, research, publishing, distribution and film and audiovisual production.

Film eduucation

One of the projects it will bring to the first cross-border European Capital of Culture (ECOC) this year is Kinovozlišče (Cinema Hub), a platform for several film festivals and events.

These include the Slovenian Film Series in Italy, the cross-border film festival Tribute to a Vision, the cinema subscription series for schools Kinomagnet, the travelling Soča-Isonzo Cinema, the Silvano Furlan Open-Air Cinema, the International Youth Film Camp in Nova Gorica, and the television series Contrasts.

As part of the ECOC kick-off week, Cinema is Our Magnet! will take the pupils of primary schools in Nova Gorica and Gorizia on a film adventure on 14 February where Slovenian and Italian languages will intertwine. The event is organised in cooperation with the Slovenian National Theatre in Nova Gorica.

Italian director Alessandro Comodin and film theorist Alma Mileto will give masterclasses for young people interested in film in cooperation with the University of Nova Gorica School of Arts as part of the Go! Studio.

Cinema on the road

Since last year, the Soča-Isonzo Cinema initiative has brought open-air cinema to picturesque border locations in collaboration with key regional partners. Organisers plan to expand screenings to multifunctional venues in small towns where cinema is rarely accessible.

A documentary by Anja Medved and Nadja Velušček about childhood memories of WWII, told by residents still living on the two sides of the border, will be screened in Osek near Nova Gorica on 1 February. Screenings will also be held at DobiaLab in Staranzano, Italy, on 27 February, and Prvačina on 8 March.

Being part of the Raštel (Via Rastello) community of Gorrizia, Kinoatelje will organise film walks there as part of the BorGO Cinema project. The first will pay tribute to Gorizia-born actress Nora Gregor (1901-1949).

East/West Retrospective

Another major segment will be the East/West Retrospective, which aims to shed light on the rich cinematic heritage of the cross-border region between Slovenia and Italy on behalf of European audiences.

The selection includes a diverse range of feature films, documentaries, animated works, and newsreels that reflect the multifaceted experiences of life in multicultural areas.

The retrospective, which will travel to various European cities in 2025, will be accompanied by discussions and presentations by historians, sociologists, film theorists, and film-makers.

"Film screenings come to life within the walls of cinemas, under the stars, and on the streets. Visits from film-makers, youth education, and the preservation of heritage position film as a bridge between generations and cultures," Kinoatelje said.

The organisation is aiming to create sustainable content that will remain a part of the region's cultural pulse even after this symbolic year of culture comes to an end.

This content is brought to you in cooperation with the GO! 2025 Nova Gorica Gorizia European Capital of Culture.