As sheep amongst wolves, Lyda Patitucci wins the Ortigia Film Festival.

Last Updated: July 23, 2023

Come pecore in mezzo ai lupi di Lyda Patitucci vince l'Ortigia Film Festival

#Siracusa
The winners of the 15th edition of Ortigia Film Festival have been announced. The international festival, held in the city of Siracusa from July 15th to 22nd, 2023, had Giuseppe Fiorello as the guest of honor. He awarded the Best Film OFF15 and bid farewell to the festival audience in a conversation moderated by Steve Della Casa.

The jury for the feature film competition, chaired by Laura Delli Colli and including Margherita Ferrandino and Elena Lietti, highlighted the excellent quality of a diverse selection of interesting and distinct works. They particularly appreciated the performances of young actors and actresses in the competition, singling out Livia Antonelli in “L’anima in pace” by Ciro Formisano, Dominique Donnarumma and Giuseppe Pirozzi in “Piano piano” by Nicola Prosatore, Matteo Oscar Giuggioli in “Billy” by Emilia Mazzacurati and Tiziano Menichelli, who played the young Walter in “Denti da squalo” by Davide Gentile.

The Best Film OFF15 award went to “Come pecore in mezzo ai lupi” by Lyda Patitucci, which was praised as a surprising debut by an author who confidently directed an original first work. It was described as a soulful and intense thriller, both in its criminal scenes and more intimate sequences, where even feelings have a dark heart.

A Special Mention OFF15 was given to “Billy” by Emilia Mazzacurati for being a tender film that delicately portrays its protagonists in an imaginary province, crafting a coming-of-age story that balances between waiting and everyday life, smiles and bitterness, dreams and the reality of life, and a sometimes surreal imagination that showcases the sensitivity of an already interesting author.

The Best Performer OFF15 award was given to Isabella Ragonese and Vincenzo Pirrotta. Ragonese was recognized for her chilling and determined performance in “Come pecore in mezzo ai lupi” as a protagonist with a double identity who drowns contradictions and feelings in the daily lives of two parallel worlds, concealing her own vulnerabilities. Pirrotta was praised for his portrayal of a man without qualities, embodying the pettiness and despair that plague a male cast in “Spaccaossa,” which displays the malfeasance where even the perpetrators are victims, exploiting the desperation of those willing to gamble for a better life. The award was presented by the Regional Councilor for Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment of the Sicilian Region, Elvira Amata.

A Special Mention OFF15 was given to Vivian Bellina for her role in “Ciurè” by Gianpiero Pumo. Bellina received recognition for her simplicity and humanity in approaching the role, creating empathy and strong involvement in the search for the liberating breath that Ciurè embodies.

The SIAE Best Screenplay OFF15 award, dedicated this year to Andrea Purgatori, a longtime friend of the festival, went to Valerio Cilio and Gianluca Leoncini for “Denti da Squalo” by Davide Gentile. The screenplay was praised for transforming the apparent structure of a crime novel, filled with violence and fear, into a coming-of-age story of a young boy who overcomes his pain and daily loneliness through curiosity and compassion for a captive shark. From an unconventional premise, the screenplay delivers unexpected twists that go beyond the usual noir elements.

The jury for the international short film section, chaired by Barbara Chichiarelli and including Rita Abela and Bruno Di Chiara, awarded the Best Short Film OFF15 to “Jocu” by director Marco Santi. The film was commended for its careful and meticulous depiction of reality and its ability to encapsulate and gracefully portray an important event in the history of Italian criminal law, specifically the last crime punished by the death penalty. The excellent work by the technical and artistic cast transports the viewer to post-war Italy, torn apart by hunger, where the division between the north and south, wealth and poverty, hindered mutual trust and trust in the state. The Best Short Film in the International Short Film Competition also received the Laser Film OFF15 Award, which includes 8 hours of video post-production color correction at the Laser Film laboratories in Rome.

The Rai Cinema Channel OFF15 Award went to “Cicatrici” by Paolo Civati for its ability to tell the daily tragedy of violence against women through a modern and engaging narrative form. This award recognizes the best “web-oriented” short film among the selected ones, acknowledging its effectiveness in being disseminated through web channels. The award includes a contract for the purchase of rights for the short film, valued at 3,000, by Rai Cinema, which will be showcased on www.raicinemachannel.it and its partner websites.

The Sebastiano Gesù OFF15 Award for the winner of the international documentary competition was given by a jury chaired by Giulia Cosentino and Pierfrancesco Li Donni, with members from the CSC, Centro Sperimentale Cinema, Sicilian branch. The award went to “Cocoricò Tapes” by Francesco Tavella for its meticulous research and extensive use of an archive in terms of volume and origin. The documentary was praised for its stylistic coherence, presenting a collective and intimate story that blends pop culture, the underground scene, and erudition into a neo-mythology with powerful emotional impact. It was commended for its respectful and honest treatment of the historical complexity of one of the most controversial cultural landscapes of the last decades, exploring the uncharted territory of entertainment while avoiding typical dichotomies. A special mention was given to the documentary “Lala” by Ludovica Fales for its innovative dramaturgy, the willingness and courage to experiment in an unprecedented and risky project, and the inherent social value of the film’s production, exemplifying the existential continuity between image and life that characterizes and must continue to characterize our cinema.

The Audience Awards were also announced, with “Ciurè” by Gianpiero Pumo winning the Audience Award for Best Film OFF15, “Nica” by Giuditta Vasile winning the Audience Award for Best Short Film OFF15, and “Devoti Tutti” by Bernadette Wegenstein winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary OFF15. For the fifteenth consecutive year, Scena Apparente, the leading company in film set design, awarded the Ficupala prize to the best film, best performer, and best screenplay of the competition. The specially designed object is presented as part of the festival.

As part of the festival’s 15th edition, the exhibition “Off sposa l’arte” (Off embraces art) was displayed in the Antico Mercato di Ortigia throughout the event, from 11 am to 8 pm, showcasing continuous hours.

Over time, Ortigia Film Festival has developed a strong identity tied to Italian cinema, continuously renewing and expanding its offerings, exploring new audiovisual realities, and gaining recognition nationally and internationally. Its visibility and consensus achieved over the years from institutions have allowed the festival, founded by Lisa Romano with the cultural association Sa.Li.Ro’ and directed by her and Paola Poli, to receive the prestigious President of the Republic Medal. Throughout the years, the festival has also garnered support from various organizations such as MiC, the Sicilian Regional Council for Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment, the Department of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment – Sicilia Film Commission, as part of the Sensi Contemporanei project, Ars, and the Municipality of Siracusa, as well as SIAE, Unesco, Rai, Rai Cinema Channel. The media partners for the 15th edition of the festival were Ciak, Cinecittà News, Cinematographe, and Taxidrivers. The main sponsors were Università Mercatorum, La Sicilia di Raimondo Limone di Siracusa IGP, and Vivaio Giannuso.