“When these themes are woven into storytelling, they penetrate more deeply into the collective consciousness. Having a platform for environmental narrative, cinematic narrative, is extremely important for us,” explained Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who participated in the awarding of prizes to the competing films. He also emphasized the importance of presenting environmental themes through narrative. The Municipality of Rome is committed to the two pillars of the fight against climate change—mitigation and adaptation—but there is another aspect that must be encouraged, as indicated by the acronym MAST: Mitigation, Adaptation, Societal Transformation. “We need an awareness that goes beyond mere rationality and imposed limits.”
Together with the Mayor, Sabrina Alfonsi, the Councilor for Agriculture, Environment, and Waste Management, expressed great satisfaction, stating:
“An incredible festival that, compared to last year, saw a growing audience. This means the Festival has taken root in the city and will continue to grow. A Festival that the city needs because it is essential for citizens to be involved in addressing the climate emergency. It is important that individual actions follow the collective initiatives we are undertaking.”
The second edition of Cinema In Verde, held from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 September at the Rome Botanical Garden—with a lineup of films united by a green thread returning to environmental storytelling—welcomed almost 3,000 people. They participated in morning workshops, talks, film screenings, and the six films in competition. This success confirms the public’s interest in a theme that touches people’s lives, sometimes explicitly and often implicitly.
“This year’s numbers give us great hope,” stated Simonetta Lombardo, one of the Festival’s founders and CEO of Silverback. She added:
“What human beings can and must do is start actively regenerating our resources—beginning to restore to ecosystems a part of the balance we have disrupted. We hope this regeneration can also foster a new way of coexisting among even diverse communities. Is it a utopian horizon? Perhaps, but I believe we need to dream of the best for humanity within a new relationship with nature and living beings. Cinema can help us long for this horizon and prompt us to act. This is one of the profound reasons behind organizing a festival dedicated exclusively to the narrative of environmental sensitivity.”
The Festival was initiated and organized by Sapienza University of Rome – Department of Plant Biology and the green communication company Silverback, marking an unprecedented collaboration between scientific institutions and companies involved in the ecological transition. The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Waste Management actively supported the initiative, along with the entire Municipality of Rome—especially the Culture Department. Throughout its journey, the Festival gathered other important partners, ranging from GSE (Energy Services Manager) to Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, from AICS (Agency for Development Cooperation) to Barilla-Mulino Bianco, and the Comieco consortium.
