Ravenna: Festival Corti da Sogni 2025. 60 short films from all over the world

The international festival Shorts from Dreams – Antonio Ricci arrives at the 26esima edition.

Screenings will begin at Mariani Cinema in the days of Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th April, then continue from 9th to 12th April at the Teatro Rasi in Ravenna.

A further appointment is announced in summer, All 'Arena del Sole in Lido di Classe, with the environmental-themed short films of the section Green Planet.

As regards the international competition, they were almost 1.000 short films arrived in selection.

During the 6 short films from 60 countries will be screened over 21 days: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Peru, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.

Many of the proposed works have participated in the most important international festivals, from Cannes to Venice, from Rotterdam to Clermont-Ferrand and are candidates for prestigious awards such as the David di Donatello.

"We are pleased to welcome the start of this new edition of the Corti da sogni festival, which this year too promises to be full of proposals and content. – declares the acting mayor Fabio Sbaraglia.

With its programming, capable of combining different styles and languages, this festival, year after year, has managed to carve out a very important space for itself in the city's cultural offering, becoming a regular event for many spectators, both male and female, and conquering an ever-growing audience of loyal fans.

A big thank you goes to the Antonio Ricci club for the passion, dedication and expertise with which, in each edition, it has been able to offer the city a quality festival capable of offering us an ever new and open vision of the world.".

"The new frontiers of artificial intelligence, the challenges of climate change, the paradoxes of modern society and international anxieties and conflicts are at the centre of the approximately 1.000 works entered in the event that tell us about a world that is changing at great speed. – they comment Roberto Artioli e Matthew Popes representing the Antonio Ricci Dreams Circle.

Free from the rigid market rules imposed by the mainstream, short film directors retain a wide margin of freedom and give us their vision of the world.

Like every year, in the theater people will laugh, be moved, and questions will arise thanks to the multiple languages ​​proposed by the protagonist works.

We will screen short films from all over the world, we will have national and international guests and we are pleased to underline the great vivacity of Italian cinema for which the Marescotti Award, which will go to the best performance in a short film made in Italy.

The historic section dedicated to animated cinema continues Joseph Masters. Unfortunately, Angela Holden, wife of the great engraver from Ravenna, left us a few months ago. To her, who in all these years supported and followed us also by being part of the jury of the section dedicated to animation, goes a big thank you from the Sogni club.

By the way, last year the animated short that won the Short Films from Dreams Festival (“In the Shadow of the Cypress”) then triumphed on the night of the Oscar.

The 2025 edition also sees further growth of the Green Planet Award with an even greater consolidation of the school laboratories. The meetings organized by the Dreams Circle have involved over 500 male and female students.

Furthermore, the fruitful collaborative relationship with the company continues Cinemaincentro which, also this year, guarantees great support for the success of the event. A special thanks goes to all the volunteers who make the festival possible and to the supporters of the event which is organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Ravenna – Department of Culture.

Finally, we would like to highlight the contribution of the teaching staff and the students of the Nervi Severini Art High School of Ravenna who have created a small bust that will be given to the winner of the Marescotti section".

These are the Competition sections: European Sogni Award (for European works), Sogni D'Oro (reserved for international shorts), Giuseppe Maestri Award (animated works), Ivano Marescotti Award (for best performance), Made in Italy (for Italian short films), Mitici Critici (reserved for short films for schools), Film School (made by film schools and universities), Green Planet and Green School (works on environmental themes and the relationship between man and nature), Creatività in corto (audience award).

The mention Creativity in short It is an award that goes to the short film most appreciated by the public and will be chosen from all the shorts in the program.

The finalist works of the Green Planet They will also be screened in the summer under the stars ofArena del Sole in Lido di Classe during Nature Festival organized bySolaris Association.

THEEntrance to screenings will be at a cost of 5 €, with reduction to 3 euro for under 25 and over 65.

Il Short Films from Dreams Festival is organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Ravenna – Department of Culture and Society CinemaincentroIn partnership with UIC and the association Solaris. Thanks Ravenna Theatre for their collaboration, professionalism and hospitality during the festival days.

Special events

The fisherman, the alien, the sea

di Elizabeth Zavoli

Produced by the National Geographic Society (Tuesday 9th April, Cinema Mariani)

In June 2023, the population of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) has exploded in the Goro lagoon. Here, Alessio Cut, fisherman and clam farmer, faces this new environmental challenge recovering a traditional sustainable fishing technique thus demonstrating an enormous spirit of resilience faced with the collapse of his world.

The film is part of a larger visual storytelling project called “An alien at my table” and funded by the National Geographic SocietyThe project, which lasted one year, was carried out in 2023 by Elizabeth Zavoli with the collaboration of the science journalist Francis Martinelli.

The project aimed to document the solutions that coastal communities in Italy, Greece and Croatia are developing for mitigate negative impacts that the invasive alien species Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) has an impact on local ecosystems, the fishing economy and tourism.

These solutions aim to transform a threat to biodiversity in an opportunity for promote sustainable fishing practices on a small scale, as well as for reduce fishing pressure on indigenous species. Biological invasions are a growing factor of change for European marine ecosystems and can be defined as a form of “biological pollution".

The Atlantic blue crab has arrived in Mediterranean Sea at the beginning of the 20th century and since then it has spread widely in the Ionian-Adriatic area (Greece, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania). Climate change has also favored the adaptation of the blue crab in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the most invaded marine regions in the world.

Elizabeth Zavoli She is an Italian photojournalist, documentary photographer and filmmaker since 2009.

He earned a degree in Environmental Sciences in 2001. Her love for the natural world led her towards the environmental journalism to tell questions about the effects of the climate change on coastal communities, to the responsibility of the markets of the global North in inducing the deforestation especially in emerging economies, to mercury pollution and poor waste management.

Zavoli has received several journalism awards, including the European Journalism Centre (EJC) in 2016, Earth Journalism Network (EJN) in 2021, National Geographic Society (Emergency Journalist Fund) in 2021. Since 2022 it is a National Geographic Explorer. He has won several international photography awards, including the 68th Maggie Awards and the 78th POYi. It is contributor by Getty Images and New York Times.

Homage to Tonino Guerra: “Tango Tonino”

(Saturday 12th April – Rasi theatre)

Animated short film made by Russian director Boris Korshunov.

The work is based on the works of the Italian director, poet and screenwriter Tonino War, especially on his story “Portrait of a mother” Series “The Seven Notebooks of Life”. The central idea of ​​the short revolves around the beauty of life at any age. It serves as a reflection and a nostalgic journey. Tonino War he once said: “Life is never too long”.

In the cold Moscow winter, the Laura's mother, Tonino's wife, surrounded by Tonino's gifts and drawings, puts a record in the gramophone. The sounds of the tango bring the drawings and animated clothes to life, making her spin in a dance of memories.

downburst

(Wednesday 9th April – Teatro Rasi)

Short film by Matteo Franchini ed Emma Berardi.

“Downburst” it is the fruit of the work of 2 directors under 20 and a team from Ravenna composed of other very young people. The authors and interpreters will be present at the Rasi Theatre to meet the public.

downburst tells the story of the 17 year old James, who lives and sees the world very differently from his peers. His parents, trapped in work and personal routines, often leave him to fend for himself and the only figure James can get in touch with is the grandpa.

Matteo Franchini is an artist, director, photographer, screenwriter and cinematographer of 18 years of Ravenna. He is in his final year of Nervi-Severini Art High School in the audiovisual and multimedia course.

His passion for video was born in 2017 when he created a small music video clip with his father for school. From that moment he began experimenting with small videos and then attended high school and studied the theory behind cameras and video cameras, the history of cinema, philosophy, literature and poetry, all aspects that helped him improve as an artist and director.

Emma Berardi, born in 2005, is an emerging director from the area of Ravenna, currently attends the film school in Rome. Starting as self-taught director, he created some beginner-level short films, developing his skills and expanding his creative vision.

"This film holds a special place in our hearts because it marks our first participation in a film festival, where it was honored with an award.” comment the two authors. The leading actor, Andrea Salicetti, in fact won the Best Interpretation Award for the Newcomers section at the seventh edition of the Believe Film Festival of Verona.

Fice's Author's Shorts

(Tuesday 8 April, 18pm, Cinema Mariani)

Every year the Federation of Arthouse Cinemas selects Italian and international short films which are then shown in theatres recognised by the Cool. Thanks to the collaboration with Cinemaincentro, the festival offers the short films that made it to the top five for the conquest of the David di Donatello:

The confession of Nicola Sorcinelli

With the end of the world looming, 2 young lovers lost in a suspended past they find themselves questioning their feelings.

Sunday Evening by Matteo Tortone

Alex is an ultra, his team has just lost a game and he returns home with an empty head. He lives with his grandmother in the absence of his parents and sells Rivotril pills to earn some money.

Majoneze by Giulia Grandinetti

Elyria She lives with her family following the strict rules imposed by her father, hiding her anger with obedience. A strong desire for rebellion grows in her day after day and will lead her to perform a bitter, but necessary act of revolution.

The Girl from Prague by Andrèe Lucini

Francis and Heloise, through old photos, reconstruct the history of Masha and Gianlorenzo, their grandparents. She is an exile in Prague, he works for the Italian Embassy. They fall in love shortly before the Russians occupy Czechoslovakia, in 1968. They flee to Rome but Maša is driven by an uncontrollable desire for freedom.

The egregores' theory by Andrea Gatopoulos

He doesn't remember much from that time. Things have faded, like the color of a painting after too much light. The only thing that bothers him is this music. It keeps coming back… He thinks he's forgotten what it meant. All he knows for sure is that he can't get it out of his head.

The sections, the short films in competition and the programme

European Dreams Award

The jury: Matteo Cavezzali (writer and founder and artistic director of the ScrittuRa festival) Tiziano Gamberini (Cinemaincentro and Cinema Mariani), Jamie O'Rourke (director).

The short films in competition: Room Taken by O'Grady – Peyton (Ireland); Loulou by Raphael Thet (France); Manmade by Plum Stupple-Harris (UK); Cèntrico by Luso Martínez (Spain); The Tooth by Sergei Annenkov (Russia); Hearts of stone by Tom van Avermaet (Belgium); Chicken broth soup by Deniz Büyükkırlı (Türkiye); Big by Olga Dymskaya (Russia); Dreams, hopes and rotating dolphines by Adil Burak Aydin (Türkiye); Juves de marzo by Luis Murillo Arias (Spain); Karateka by Florence Fauquet (France).

Sweet Dreams (International Fiction)

The jury: Albert Bucci (artistic director and founder of the Soundscreen Film Festival), Nicolò Baraccani (Cinemando.blog and Cinemaincentro) and Andrea Valmori (artistic director of the NOAM Film Festival, teacher and cultural disseminator).

The short films in competition: Sara by Ariana Andrade Castro (Peru); Hatch by Alireza Kazemipour, Panta Mosleh (Canada); Hafekasi by Annelise Hickey (Australia); Burul by Adilet Karzhoev (Kyrgyzstan); Ayo by Yolande Eckel, Françoise Ellong-Gomez (Cameroon); Palestine Island by Nour Ben Salem, Julien Menanteau (Palestine); Sunflower Girl by Holly M. Kaplan (USA).

Giuseppe Maaestri Award (Animated Short Films)

The jury: Simone Bisantino (critic and editor of Nocturno), Flavio Fabbri (senior manager, creative Strategy at Salesforce), Camilla Panebarco (Project Manager at Panebarco & C), Virginia Gambatesa (streamer and content creator).

The short films in competition: Playing God by Matteo Burani (Italy); Estidama Angela by José Luis Quirós, Paco Sáez (Spain); Où va le mond? by Mickaël Dupré (France); Monyio by Hu-Hsiang Tao (Taiwan); In our hands by Camillo Sancisi (Italy); La petite ancetre by Alexa Tremblay Francoeur (Canada); Black (out) & White by Gianni Zauli (Italy); Prends Chair by Armin Assadipour (France).

Made in Italy (Italian fiction)

The jury: Alberto Beltrani (delegated councilor of the Cinemaincentro cinema circuit and vice president of Fice Emilia-Romagna), Edo Tagliavini (director), Corrado Ravaioli (journalist and communications expert).

The short films in competition: Majonezë by Giuia Grandinetti; The Aquarium by Gianluca Zonta; Pinocchio Reborn by Matteo Cirillo; Superbi by Nikola Brunelli; Apnea by Fabio Patrassi; Bob and weave by Adelmo Togliani; Amarena by Sabrina Iannucci; Selfie by Giulio Manicardi.

Ivano Marescotti Award (Best Italian Interpretation)

The jury: Lucia Vasini (theatre and film actress), Riccardo Marchesini (director), Emma Benini (actress).

There are five candidates for the Marescotti award.

The following will compete for the prize: Caterina Bagnulo (Majonezë); Davide Calgaro (Freediving); Simone Casanica (Bob and weave); Cecilia Bertozzi (Amarena); Asia Galeotti (Selfie)

Film School (short films made by film schools and universities)

The jury: Fourth and Fifth H classes of the Art High School of Ravenna, coordinating professors Claudio Marcone and Nicola Caruso.

The short films in competition: At night by Roberta Martinelli (Italy), Near the heart by Clément Joly-Gavache (France); Shaolin office by Alexis BOUILLÉ (France); Swim and float by Janina Lutter (Germany); Maccaria by Giulia Minella (Italy); Layla by Oscar Baron, Emma Ferréol, Rachel Gitlevich, Diego H. Blanco, Narda Rodríguez, Lucille Reynaud (France)

Green Planet (best environmental short film)

The jury is entrusted to experts from the scientific world: Giovanna Morigi (quantum physicist and professor at Saarland University), Pierluigi Randi (meteorologist and president of Ampro), Chiara Samorì (professor of Environmental Sciences and Sciences and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability, University of Bologna) and Vanessa Spadavecchia (environmental scientist).

The short films in competition: Ada by Mahmut Taş (Türkiye); Somber Tides by Chantal Caron (Canada); Drop by Claudio Quattrone (Italy); Damji of Nazanin Chitsaz (Iran); Cuando todo arde by María Belén Poncio (Argentina); Life by Damien Mayoussier (France); When The Wind Rises by Hung Chen (Taiwan).

Mythical critics

The jury: Ics Novello middle school, Second C class Oriani Scientific High School of Ravenna. Coordinator Professor Angela Malfitano.

The short films in competition: The time will come by Loredana Crispino (Italy); Adia by Alberto De Simone (Italy); The Dutchwoman by Juri Ferri (Italy); Would you rather by Fabrizio Quagliuso (United Kingdom); Empty Places by Viola Folador (Italy); Bob and weave by Adelmo Togliani (Italy); Love and chewing gum by Arianna Di Stefano (Italy); Ciao Bella by Mathilde Norholt (Denmark)

Green School

The jury is composed of: Second C class, Montanari Institute. Coordinating teacher: Federica Iaffaldano.

The short films in competition: Green Desert by Andrea Gioia Lomoro (United Arab Emirates), Damji by Nazanin Chitsaz (Iran); Drop by Claudio Quattrone (Italy); Ada by Mahmut Tas (Turkey); Nebbia by Tommaso Diaceri (Italy); Life by Damien Mayoussier (France); Golden Sea by Erik Sémashkin (France).

The program of the Festival

Monday 7th April, Cinema Mariani – 20,30pm

The short films being screened: Big by Olga Dymskaya (Russia); Jueves de Marzo by Luis Murillo Arias (Spain); Estidama Angela by José Luis Quirós, Paco Sáez (Spain); Burul by Adilet Karzhoev (Kyrgyzstan); Black (out) & White by Gianni Zauli (Italy); Superbi by Nikola Brunelli (Italia9; Karateka by Florence Fauquet (France); La petite ancêtre by Alexa Tremblay Francoeur (Canada); Dreams, hopes and rotating dolphines by Adil Burak Aydin (Türkiye).

Tuesday 8th April, Cinema Mariani

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The short films shortlisted for the David di Donatello: The Confession by Nicola Sorcinelli; Domenica Sera by Matteo Tortone; Majoneze by Giulia Grandinetti; The Girl from Prague by Andrèe Lucini; The Eggregores' Theory by Andrea Gatopoulos.

20 hours: 30

The short films being screened: When The Wind Rises by Hung Chen (Taiwan); Life by Damien Mayoussier (France); Damji by Nazanin Chitsaz (Iran); Ada by Mahmut Taş (Turkey); The Fisherman, the Alien, the Sea by Elisabetta Zavoli (Italy); Cuando todo arde by María Belén Poncio (Argentina); The Stone Age by Antonio Malfitano (Italy); Somber Tides by Chantal Caron (Canada); Drop by Claudio Quattrone (Italy); Hatch by Alireza Kazemipour, Panta Mosleh (Canada).

Wednesday April 9

Mariani Cinema – 8.45

The short films being screened: The time will come by Loredana Crispino (Italy); Adia by Alberto De Simone (Italy); The Dutchwoman by Juri Ferri (Italy); Would you rather by Fabrizio Quagliuso (UK); O posti vuoti by Viola Folador (Italy); Bon and weave by Adelmo Togliani (Italy); Love and chewing gum by Arianna Di Stefano (Italy); Ciao Bella by Mathilde Norholt (Denmark).

Rasi Theatre - 20.30 

Majonezë by Giulia Grandinetti (Italy); In our hands by Camillo Sancisi (Italy); Palestine Island by Nour Ben Salem, Julien Menanteau (Palestine); Downburst by Matteo Franchini, Emma Berardi (Italy); Chicken broth soup by Deniz Büyükkırlı (Turkey); Amarena by Sabrina Iannucci (Italy); Ayo by Yolande Eckel, Françoise Ellong-Gomez (Cameroon); Monyio by Hu-Hsiang Tao (Taiwan).

Thursday 10 April, Teatro Rasi

8,30 Hours - Green School Category

The short films being screened: Green desert by Andrea Gioia Lomoro (United Arab Emirates); Damji by Nazanin Chitsaz (Iran); Drop by Claudio Quattrone (Italy); Ada by Mahmut Taş (Turkey); Nebbia by Tommaso Diaceri (Italy); Life by Damien Mayoussier (France); Golden Sea by Erik Sémashkin (France); Où va le mond? by Mickaël Dupré (France).

20,30

Sunflower Girl by Holly M. Kaplan (USA); Cèntrico by Luso Martínez (Spain); Green School section awards; Life by Damien Mayoussier (France); L'acquario by Gianluca Zonta (Italy); Mythical Critics awards; Hafekasi by Annelise Hickey (Australia); Loulou by Raphael Thet (France9; Selfie by Giulio Manicardi (Italy); The Tooth by Sergei Annenkov (Russia).

Friday 11th April, Rasi Theatre

8,30 Hours - Category Mythical Critics

At night by Roberta Martinelli (Italy); Near the heart by Clément Joly-Gavache (France); Shaolin Office by Alexis Bouillé (France); Swim and float by Janina Lutter (Germany); Maccaria by Giulia Minella (Italy); Layla by Oscar Baron, Emma Ferréol, Rachel Gitlevich, Diego H. Blanco, Narda Rodríguez, Lucille Reynaud (France).

20.30

Hearts of stone by Tom van Avermaet (Belgium); Pinocchio Reborn by Matteo Cirillo (Italy); Manmade by Plum Stupple-Harris (UK); Sara by Ariana Andrade Castro (Peru); Playing God by Matteo Burani (Italy); Apnea by Fabio Patrassi (Italy); Room Taken by TJ O'Grady – Peyton (Ireland); Stori Trailer by Marco Felli (Italy). Made in Italy Award.

Saturday 12th April, Teatro Rasi – 20,30

Special Event: short film Tango Tonino by Boris Korshunov (Russia) – tribute to Tonino Guerra.

Final evening of the festival with Screening and award ceremony of the winning short films.