The Cinema Is Our Magnet! – opening week ECC GO! 2025
Visual foundations are not just a mirror of the present or a window into the past but also a magnet for new friendships. A special event—The Cinema Is Our Magnet!—is set to take place on February 14 as part of the opening week of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025. On this occasion, students from both sides of the border will embark on a unique cinematic journey with Kinomagnet, where the Slovenian and Italian languages will intertwine. Young eyes will look beyond borders together.
At the event, students from schools on both sides of the border—including those from Gorizia, Nova Gorica, Špeter, Solkan, Dobravlje, and Renče—will meet. Together, they will step into the world of cinema, which, in the spirit of bilingualism and collaboration, will bring together young people from different cultural backgrounds and encourage them to share experiences and reflections.
The film gathering will take place at the Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, where cinematic art and the shared language of storytelling will connect young audiences. The event is organized in collaboration with SNG Nova Gorica, the Italian Federation of Arthouse Cinema (FICE), and the Italian youth film festival Giffoni. A week prior, students from Nova Gorica High School will have the opportunity to watch the film Orchestra at Palazzo del Cinema in Gorizia and engage in a discussion with its director and screenwriter, Matevž Luzar.
The first film to open the event is the short film Fuori dall'acqua by Italian director Angela Bevilacqua, which tells a subtle and moving story about overcoming fears and finding one's own path. This will be followed by the feature-length youth film Block 5 (Igrišča ne damo!) directed by Klemen Dvornik. The film follows 12-year-old Alma, who moves to a new neighborhood with her father and faces a difficult dilemma—her father’s company plans to demolish the playground that local children use for playing and socializing. Alma must team up with her new friends to protect their space and prove that playgrounds are not just insignificant corners of a city but the heart of the community.
To make the cinematic experience even more special, experienced actors Martin Gerbec, Andrijana Boškoska, and Irena Kovačević will guide the young audience into the world of both films. Through interactive introductions and playful opening scenes, they will spark imagination and prepare the audience for the cinematic experience. The event will also be introduced by Kinomagnet’s coordinator, Egle Frandolič, whose role will add bilingualism to the occasion and contribute to an even deeper connection between the audience and the stories on screen.