The 2nd edition of “Mònde – Festival of Cinema and Routes “ – whose name refers to its host city – Monte Sant’Angelo and at the same time recalls the word “world” in French, reflecting its larger dimension and universal value – was presented on 1 October 2019 at a press conference in Bari, in the Conference Room of the Presidency of the Apulia Region.

From 10 to 13 October 2019 the unique and beautiful setting of the historic Rione Junno of Monte Sant’Angelo, within the Gargano National Park, will host the film festival dedicated to the theme of travel, in all its nuances and meanings.

“Mònde is a real challenge, which pursues three objectives: a territorial marketing tool capable of promoting places together with the cinema; a social innovation because it narrates about the places not only as landscapes but also as communities, and shows its host city Monte Sant’Angelo and its inhabitants – guardians of traditions and identity. The festival is a part of a broader strategy, which also focuses on the routes, necessary to economic profit and promotion of the territory “, said the Regional Councilor for Tourism and Cultural Industry Loredana Capone.

In support of the festival, the Regional Councilor for Budget and Programming Raffaele Piemontese declared: “This festival is a piece of a much larger puzzle, born from the talent of those who know the territory, and involving associations, institutions and local community. It is able to give life to an important project, which makes the city of Monte Sant’Angelo take a leap in quality”.

«Mònde is a unique festival, with a highly original format that links and integrates the different areas of cultural enhancement with audiovisual expression. A film festival that talks about cultural, physical, temporal, interior crossings … Mònde, the mountain, leads us to discover ancient and recent memories through an all-round cinematic experience, while walking, traveling, discovering “, has explained the president of Apulia Film Commission Simonetta Dellomonaco, underlining together with the general director of Apulia Film Commission Antonio Parente that “it is one of the festivals of the Apulia Cinefestival Network “, invested by the Apulia region and representing an important reference for the territory of the Gargano, rich in beauty and cultural values ​​yet to be discovered through cinema ».

Mònde is looking for a constant dialogue with a territory of an inexhaustible narrative and imaginative potential such as the Gargano. Retracing on foot the ancient routes of pilgrims and crusaders and the traces of the millennial presence of man in the Gargano territory, or immersed in the wild nature of the Umbra Forest, the routes of Mònde – organized by the Monte Sant’Angelo Francigena Association – are an experience not to be missed. It will discover the Umbra Forest, the Abbey of Santa Maria di Pulsano with a guided visit to the Hermitages, the Basilica of San Michele Arcangelo and the Rione Junno.

«We are here to testify how much the territory has believed and invested in the theme of the routes. It was 2007 when we started work on the stretch of the Via Francigena of the South that crosses our territory. Today it is truly an immense joy to see the route that has been made and that we will continue to follow “, declared the president of the National Park Authority of the Gargano Pasquale Pazienza, accompanied by the Councilor Pasquale Coccia.

During the four days of the Festival it will be possible to immerse into slow travel and simply travel, in good practices and environmental and social sustainability. It will also be possible to discover or rediscover Monte Sant’Angelo, the city of two UNESCO sites: the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel and the ancient beech forests of Umbra.

“Monte Sant’Angelo is one of the world destinations of the great routes and pilgrimages and narrating this phenomenon via cinema art is certainly a great cultural activity. Internationalization, events and seasonal adjustment are at the center of our cultural and tourist strategy, which is why we support, and we will continue to conduct this festival “, commented the Councilor for Education, Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Monte Sant’Angelo Rosa Palomba.

To illustrate the program of the 2nd edition of Mònde the artistic director Luciano Toriello explained the film selection: “I am a documentarian, so I select the films as I build them. In a film about a route I see faith, tradition, spirituality but also secular tourism, trekking. The programming includes all of these topics, in this way the walker completes his experience with films, workshops and musical shows».

The Festival starts on Thursday, 10 October at 4 pm with the official opening and the inauguration of the photo exhibition by Pino Maiorano, a curator of Mònde 2019 preparation. Mònde 2019 will pay tribute to “La Legge” by Jules Dassin, a film shot in 1958 in the Gargano – there will be a special screening during the festival.  The past and memory will be also recalled thanks to the strong collaboration with the Istituto Luce, which will launch the “Luce Cinecittà” with the screening of “Lascia stare i santi” by Gianfranco Pannone, “Butterfly” in the presence of the director Casey Kauffmann, “Dafne” by Federico Bondi and “Anjia” in the presence of the director Roland Sejko.

During Sunday 13 October conclusion of the works of “Gargano DOC – School of documentaries on the Paths and Cultural Routes” will take place, which were carried out in collaboration with Istituto Luce-Cinecittà.

The films’ screenings will be divided into two competitive sections, documentary feature films and short films, schools’ mornings and workshops that represent a journey into the tales and stories of other countries, showcasing the nature of Festival Mònde narrating about Apulia and learning about the rest of the world.

Then special screenings and meetings will take place, including “Il bene mio” in the presence of director Pippo Mezzapesa and screenwriter Antonella Gaeta.

Space will also be given to the docufiction with the screening of an episode of the “Overland” series – and the meeting with Beppe Tenti, explorer, producer and creator of the RAI format dedicated to documentary expeditions – and with “BOEZ – Let’s go away”, followed by a discussion with the director Paola Pannicelli, the producer Roberta Cortella and the main characters Alessandro Paglialonga and Francesco Tafuno.

There will also be concerts and shows. On Thursday 10 October there will be Ambrogio Sparagna, one of the most important musicians of the European popular music, star of the La Notte della Taranta Festival in 2004-2006, founder and director of the Italian Popular Orchestra of the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome.

Saturday, 12 October there will be “Parole Note” live with Giancarlo Cattaneo and Maurizio Rossato, a show that accompanies public in an unexpected inner journey through a multisensory experience uniquely made by flow of readings, images and music.

On 11-13 October 2019 the International Conference “Francigena: Via to Rome, Santiago, Jerusalem” will take place in the C. Angelillis Municipal Library, jointly organized by the Apulia Region, the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways and the Italian Center for Compostellan Studies.

“Monde – Festival of Cinema and Routes” is an initiative of the Apulia Region Tourism and Cultural Industry Department based on the resources of the FSC Pact for Apulia 2014-2020 – produced by Apulia Film Commission within the framework of the Apulia Cinefestival Network intervention with the contribution of the Gargano National Park and the Municipality of Monte Sant’Angelo. Creator and organizer of the event: artistic direction – Luciano Toriello and MAD – Memorie Audiovisive della Daunia.

The event, organized in collaboration with the Association Monte Sant’Angelo Francigena and Istituto Luce Cinecittà, also enjoys the patronage of the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways.

More information: https://www.mondefest.it/

Source: press release