A major educational film initiative involving more than 2,000 students and 300 teachers across Sicily is set to conclude this week with a series of public screenings showcasing ten short films created by young people from communities in the provinces of Agrigento and Messina.
The project, titled Cinema e Immagini per la Scuola – La Decima Musa nei luoghi di pietra (“The Tenth Muse in the Places of Stone”), was developed by the cultural association Associazione Hystrio as part of Italy’s National Cinema and Images for Schools Plan, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Merit.
Inspired by the long-running “Teatri di Pietra” cultural initiative, the programme was designed to connect younger generations with Sicily’s historical, artistic and environmental heritage through audiovisual storytelling. Organisers said the initiative aimed to transform cinema into a tool for education, cultural identity and community engagement.
The screenings will take place on 25, 26 and 27 May at three venues across Sicily, including the restored CineAuditorium at Montevago’s Città dei Ragazzi, the historic Cinema Di Francesca in Cefalù and the Multisala Badia Grande in Sciacca.
Students explore myth, migration and memory through film
The ten short films were produced following two months of workshops focused on scriptwriting, storytelling and production, alongside intensive filming sessions led by professionals from the Italian audiovisual sector.
The films revisit Sicily’s landscapes and communities through the perspectives of children and teenagers, blending mythology, oral history and contemporary social themes.
Caltabellotta and the challenge of depopulation
One of the featured works, Li notti di lu balacu, explores the hilltop town of Caltabellotta through the eyes of students from the area’s only remaining middle school class. Using video diaries and interviews, the young filmmakers document traditions, legends and landmarks including the Madrice church, the Pizzo and the Calvario.
The film also quietly addresses the issue of depopulation, a challenge affecting many rural Sicilian communities as younger residents leave for larger cities or opportunities abroad.
Ancient mythology reinterpreted by a new generation
At the archaeological park of Eraclea Minoa Archaeological Park, students produced two short films — Itaca per sempre and Sotto le ceneri — drawing on classical mythology and contemporary reinterpretations of Homeric characters including Ulysses, Penelope and Cassandra.
The ruins become a symbolic meeting point between antiquity and modern youth culture, reflecting on historical memory and identity.
Modern heroes at Ribera Castle
Another production, Diana e gli altri, filmed in Ribera, uses the legend of Princess Diana Moncada as a starting point for a broader reflection on contemporary heroism. Through performance, visual fragments and imagery centred around Ribera Castle, students examine changing ideas of courage and resilience.
Earthquake memories transformed into theatre
In Montevago and nearby Santa Margherita di Belìce, students worked among the ruins left by the devastating 1968 Belice earthquake.
Primary school pupils created the films Se avesti and Baracche e cattedrali, revisiting the tragedy and the difficult reconstruction period that followed, while also imagining future possibilities for the community.
Older students produced Il filo e il volo and Come nasce una guerra, theatrical short films inspired by classical texts including “Theseus and Ariadne” and “The Apple of Discord”, both of which will later be staged as part of end-of-year school performances.
Nature and heritage at the centre of Tusa films
In the Halaesa valley around Tusa and Pettineo, students focused on the region’s centuries-old olive trees in the films L’abbraccio and Il vecchio ulivo.
Combining humour and contemplation, the productions imagine interviews with ancient olive trees and reflect on environmental heritage, memory and local identity.
Industry professionals guide educational programme
The project also included training sessions for teachers led by visual education specialists Paolo Musu and Leandro Picarella.
Students worked under the guidance of film professionals including director Paolo Pasquini, videomaker Agnese Ciaffei and actress Alexia Cozzi. Activities were coordinated by Maria Clara Amato, while scientific supervision was overseen by Alessandro Rais.
Organisers said the programme would culminate in a collective “video mosaic” bringing together all of the student productions into a single narrative reflecting the voices and aspirations of younger Sicilians.
Representatives from local authorities and participating cultural institutions are expected to attend the screenings.
Screening schedule across Sicily
Montevago – 25 May
Two screenings will be held at 9:30am and 11:30am at the Auditorium Città dei Ragazzi, featuring productions from the Istituto Comprensivo “Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa”.
Cefalù – 26 May
A screening at 10:00am at Cinema Di Francesca will showcase works from schools in Ribera, Caltabellotta and Cattolica Eraclea.
Sciacca – 27 May
Two further screenings, at 9:00am and 11:00am, will take place at Multisala Badia Grande featuring productions from the Istituto Comprensivo “Tusa Mistretta”.
Admission to all events will be free, subject to venue capacity.
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