Rovigo: Cenere gets the emerging amnesty award, Manuel Agnelli gets the big one

Rovigo: Cenere gets the emerging amnesty award, Manuel Agnelli gets the big one.

La 26th edition of the Amnesty Award in the section Emerging he saw the victory of Cenere da Bologna with "Who decides who we are?", a track on gender stereotypes imposed by society and the media, while a La Malaleche feat. Diva Eva da Milano with "Cuentalo” went the critics prize. The jury prize popular won it Obi from Turin with "Moment” in a final that also saw the competition Buva from Cerignola with "South"And Cocciglia from Aquila with "My carousel“. The Mei award also goes to Cenere and the Indieffusione award to Obi.

La final of the contest which rewards songs about human rights took place Sunday evening in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II in Rovigo on the final day of the festival "Voices for Freedom – A song for Amnesty" and of "Human Rights Week”, which invaded the city from 17 to 23 July with a packed program of music, debates, literature, sport, workshops, exhibitions and shows. The underlying theme of the event was: “D(i)rights to the future".

Protagonist of the final day was also Manuel Agnelli, who received the Amnesty International Italia 2023 Award in the Big section for his song “Severodonetsk“. The Milanese artist held a conference in the afternoon meeting at the Sala della Gran Guardia with Francesca Corbo of Amnesty International Italy, Michele Lionello, artistic director of the festival, and Edoardo Gaffeo, mayor of the Municipality of Rovigo.

On this occasion Manuel Agnelli said: “Music has the exceptional ability to give voice to those who have none. Winning the Amnesty Award represents a recognition of great value for me, as it rewards the quality of the contents and made me feel like I was useful in my own small way. In particular, the winning song was born from a reaction to the narrative of war in the media, which too often neglects the human suffering that results from it. I tried to talk about sensations, which are often the ones that take a back seat. Winning the Award demonstrates that music can be an effective lever to raise awareness and generate change, and constitutes an important recognition for those who use their art to fight for freedom and human rights."

Francesca Corbo he added: "The Award to Manuel Agnelli shows, once again, how music is a powerful tool for spreading human rights. The existence of this recognition, now in its 21st year, is proof of how human rights are something that artists have at heart and that the rhetoric of musicians who only have to sing or actors who only have to act is something now old and outdated. Music, like all art in general, is increasingly a precious ally for those who do not want to remain silent in the face of injustices and to give a voice to those who have none.".

La the evening then continued on stage in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, with the final of the contest and the award ceremony for Agnelli, who also performed and where the video clip of "Severodonetsk“, made under the direction of Gipi. There management of the evenings was entrusted to Savino Zaba and Carmen Formenton.

The prestigious and large jury between the semi-finals and the final was composed by: Giò Alaimo (Spettakolo.it), Francesco Aneloni (Arcella Bella festival), Eugenio Arcidiacono (Famiglia Cristiana), Carolina Bruni (Amnesty International Italia), Angela Calvini (Avvenire), Marco Cavalieri (Radio Elettrica), Katia Del Savio (Indiana Music Mag), Enrico Deregibus (journalist and cultural operator), Enrico Di Noia (Dischi Sotterranei), Aldo Foschini (La Musica nelle Aie), Roberta Giallo (singer-songwriter), Giuditta Gualandi (Amnesty International Italia), Michele Lionello (artistic director Voci per la Libertà), Ivan Malfatto (Gazzettino), Lorenzo Monguzzi (singer-songwriter), Gianluca Mura (Radio41), Francesco Pozzato (Voices for Freedom), Silva Rotelli (Inalienable, music and human rights), Adila Salah (Indieffusione/Noise Symphony) , Giordano Sangiorgi (Independents' Meeting), Vincenzo Soravia (Francesco Venezze Music Conservatory of Rovigo), Giovanni Stefani (Amnesty International Rovigo), Francesco Tragni (Popular Radio).

"Human Rights Week", a great multidisciplinary festival to promote human rights through art and culture, it hosted over 60 events, all with free entry, in 6 different locations, with the involvement of more than 40 associations and local entities.

Il parterre of guests arrived at Rovigo in the seven days he put it together Alba Bonetti, Manuel Agnelli, Banda Rulli Frulli, Moni Ovadia, Lisa Clark, Marco Mascia, Laura Marmorale, Giorgio Canali & Rossofuoco, Pop Rock Department of the Rovigo Conservatory…. And again Marino Bellini, Sandro Fracasso, Alessandra Annoni, Alessandro Orsetti, RomAraBeat, Alysson, Boggi, Dalbenzi, La Bottega del Compensato, Sevilay Tufekci, Ciro Grandi, Guido Pietropoli, Paolo Guolo, Erica Boschiero, Lorenzo Monguzzi, Nevruz and many other protagonists of the world of art, culture and volunteering.

Il festival, sponsored and supported by Municipality of Rovigo and the Municipality of Adria, was born from the creative force of 'Voices for Freedom – A song for Amnesty' and from the union of the experiences of dozens of local associations involved in the promotion of human rights, culture and art.

"Thanks to Human Rights Week, for seven days Rovigo truly became the capital of art and culture in favor of human rights. We had incredible feedback in all the events that characterized the festival, a great participation for a cultural proposal of absolute quality. The grand finale with "Voices for Freedom - A song for Amnesty" was the icing on the cake, with Piazza Vittorio Emanuele packed with an attentive and participatory audience" he has declared Michele Lionello, artistic director of Voices for Freedom.