In Bagheria, the first edition of Animaphix Audiovisual Memories: knowing the past to imagine the future, an educational project of cinema and images for schools of all grades and levels that during the current school year will involve 64 classes for a total of about 1,600 students and teachers from 16 plexuses.
Central to the project is the role of theAudiovisual Archive as a tool for exploring collective memory and developing historical awareness, critical thinking and imaginative capacity in young people. Through the creative reuse of archival materials and the contamination between different audiovisual languages, the project enhances image education as an inclusive, participatory practice closely linked to the territory, thus strengthening the sense of belonging and cultural identity.
Specifically, Animaphix Audiovisual Memories: knowing the past to imagine the future will present a comprehensive program of educational activities and workshops characterized by guided viewings in the classroom and at the cinema, meetings with authors, and teacher training. At the conclusion of the course, during the final event scheduled for next May, three short animated documentaries made by the students will be shown, focusing on the themes of Conflict, Identity and Environment.
Guiding the participants in this educational journey are professionals from the world of cinema, education and visual culture, including Margherita Giusti (director David di Donatello 2024), Gianluca Abbate (director and visual artist Nastro d’Argento 2016), Michele Aiello (director and Visual Education practitioner), Marta Violante (documentary filmmaker), Andrea Martignoni (sound designer and co-director Animaphix Film Festival), Christian Uva (professor of Cinema and Technology, University Roma Tre), Chiara Boschiero (head of educational projects Biografilm and I Wonder Scuole), Marco Grifò (film critic and Animaphix coordinator), Letizia Cortini and Matteo Angelici (historians and archivists – Audiovisual Archive of the Workers’ and Democratic Movement), Mirco Santi and Vanessa Mangiavacca (historians and archivists – National Archives of Family Film Home Movies), Gabriele Morana and Giacomo Ceste (museum mediator and audiovisual sector expert – Ecomuseo Mare Memoria Viva), Rosalba Colla (designer and director Animaphix).
Among the partners is the SEAS Department – Economic, Business and Statistical Sciences of the University of Palermo, which, led by Professor Davide Piacentino, will take care of the monitoring and evaluation activities, helping to ensure the effectiveness and impact of the training course.
The initiative is carried out as part of the National Plan Cinema and Images for Schools, promoted by MIC – Ministry of Culture and MIM – Ministry of Education and Merit; conceived and organized by theAssociation QB – Animaphix Film Festival; in collaboration with AAMOD – Audiovisual Archive Foundation of the Workers’ and Democratic Movement (RM); Home Movies Foundation – National Archives of Family Film (BO); Ecomuseo Mare Memoria Viva (PA); TCB – The Culture Business (PD); Fanatics About Festivals Association – Biografilm Festival (BO); University of Palermo – SEAS Department – Economic, Business, Statistical Sciences (PA). Institutes involved: I.I.S. G. D’Alessandro, Liceo Ginnasio F. Scaduto, I.C.S. I. Buttitta, I.C. Scianna Cirincione.
