The homage to Sergio Leone, Ugo Tognazzi and the myth of Aeneas
The 10th edition of the Festival delle Cities Identitarie, conceived and directed by the actor and director Edoardo Sylos Labini, was presented this morning at the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies. The Festival will take place in Pomezia from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th July.
The Festival, created to tell and promote the identity symbols of provincial cities, will pay homage to the characters and places linked to this municipality in the Pontine countryside, with shows, talks and book presentations. At the center of the event, the myth of Aeneas, the historic Tognazzi Village, founded in Torvajanica in the 1960s by Ugo Tognazzi, and the Master of world cinema, Sergio Leone, buried by his will in Pratica di Mare and of which this year marks 35 years since his passing.
“It is an edition that I care a lot about because it is held in Pomezia, the city where I was born and raised. In this tenth edition there will be many important characters and we will talk about the identity symbols of the territory, fundamental to the history of Italian culture. We will talk about the myth of Aeneas, who landed on the shores of Pratica di Mare to found the ancient Lavinium, the cradle of Rome and the West. I would like to thank Mayor Felici, a great mayor, and I am proud to be able to bring my contribution to the city where I was born.” So Edoardo Sylos Labini.
“Together with Edoardo Sylos Labini we strongly wanted the creation of Identity Cities in Pomezia. It is a project that I welcomed with enthusiasm because I know how important the relaunch of this city rich in archaeological beauty is.” Thus Veronica Felici, mayor of Pomezia.
In the three evenings, hosted by the artistic director of the Festival, Edoardo Sylos Labini, who was born and raised in Pomezia, guests will be: the actor Gianmarco Tognazzi, who will reveal some anecdotes linked to his father Ugo, founder in the 60s and 70s of the Tognazzi Village, a legendary meeting place for the world of entertainment and Dolce Vita; the director of Rai News 24 Paolo Petrecca, who will talk about the Latin roots of the area and the Romanness linked to the myth of Aeneas; the comedian Gabriele Cirilli; Luciano Lanna (Cepell director) and Adriano Monti Buzzetti (Cepell president) who will speak on the topic of relaunching reading in Italy; the President of the Chamber’s Culture Commission, Hon. Federico Mollicone, who will discuss on stage with Sylos Labini. Taking inspiration from the novels of the Premio Strega Antonio Pennacchi, singer of the Pontine countryside, and from his diary “Fasciocomunista”, a historical-cultural path will be traced to leave behind the political conflicts of the last century and launch a message of national unity that starts from our identity roots. And again, the co-director of Friday di Repubblica Marco Madoni; the actress and voice actress Stella Gasparri, who will recite the verses of Virgil’s Aeneid which celebrate the deeds of the Trojan hero; the director of the City of Pomezia Museum Claudia Montano, who will talk about the foundation of Pomezia in 1938 by Mussolini; the choreographer, performer and director Barbara Altissimo, protagonist of a dance theater workshop that becomes a unique show, a tribute to antiquity thanks to contemporary movement; the singer-songwriter Daniele Stefani, who also wrote the song “Italiani”, the official theme song of the Festival.
The final evening, dedicated to Maestro Sergio Leone, will be hosted together with Edoardo Sylos Labini by the deputy director of TG1 Incoronata Boccia, with guest Luca Verdone, who dedicated two important documentaries to Leone. Also connected is the great Carlo Verdone, who owes the beginning of his career to the Maestro, who produced his first two films. On stage, the extraordinary voice of the actress and singer Alma Manera and the Ensemble of maestro Colicchio, in an exciting journey to the notes of Ennio Morricone, author of many soundtracks for Sergio Leone. Closing in the name of irony with the memes of the king of satire, Federico Palmaroli aka Osho, with a very special contribution from #lepiubellefrasidiosho.
The Festival is organized with the contribution of the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Pomezia and the CEPELL – Center for Books and Reading which, within the event, will be present with the exhibition “Reading Identitary Cities”. The Asacert “Effetto Arte” and “Sustainable City” Awards will be awarded during the event. Media partner of the event is Rai News 24.
