The Cinema Is Our Magnet! – Cross-border Film Event for the Young During the Opening Week of ECoC GO! 2025
And you, my dear ones, are the true stars of this year—you are the first proud representatives of the borderless generation, who will embody this important message and carry it out into the world. What I wouldn’t give to be in your place," - Mija Lorbek
Visual foundations are not just a mirror of the present or a window into the past but also a magnet for new friendships. This was confirmed at the film event Cinema is Our Magnet!, which took place on February 14th as part of the opening week of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025. On this occasion, students from both sides of the border embarked on a unique cinematic journey with our programmme Kinomagnet, where the Slovenian and Italian languages intertwined. Young eyes looked beyond borders together.
"The title of the first borderless capital in the history of the ECoC shines a light on our region like a projector on a screen. After such an outstanding opening, the atmosphere is already charged with a special energy, making today’s event title absolutely perfect. And you, my dear ones, are the true stars of this year—you are the first proud representatives of the borderless generation, who will embody this important message and carry it out into the world. What I wouldn’t give to be in your place," said Mija Lorbek, director of the public institute GO! 2025, leading the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica – Gorizia, as she addressed the young participants at the start of the event.
At the event, students from schools on both sides of the border—including those from Gorizia, Nova Gorica, San Pietro al Natisone, Solkan, Dobravlje, and Renče—met. Together, they stepped into the world of cinema, which, in the spirit of bilingualism and collaboration, brought together young people from different cultural backgrounds and encouraged them to share experiences and reflections. The film gathering took place at the Slovenian National Theatre in Nova Gorica, where young viewers forged new friendships through the art of film and the shared language of storytelling. The event was organized in collaboration with SNG Nova Gorica, the Italian Association of Auteur Cinema (FICE), and the Giffoni Youth Film Festival.
“Cinema is Our Magnet is a wonderful motto – we hope this event will continue in the future, become a tradition, and strengthen the connections between schools even more. Let film unite us like a magnet,” said Mirjam Kalin from Dobravlje Primary School.
“We are incredibly happy to bring together students from different schools—I believe this is what truly matters. This is the real European capital of culture. We’ve had enough of empty words from adults and institutions—it is crucial that children genuinely feel part of this community. For a long time, we have heard talk of connection, of making this city one, but today, it has finally become a reality for our children, who otherwise have few opportunities to engage with Slovenian culture,” shared Antonella Vitolo from G. I. Ascoli Lower Secondary School in Gorizia.
We began with the short film Fuori dall'acqua / Na suhem by Italian director Angela Bevilacqua. This subtle and moving story about overcoming fears and finding one’s own path left a strong impression on the young audience. It was followed by the feature-length youth film Block 5 by Slovenian director Klemen Dvornik, which follows 12-year-old Alma in her fight to save the neighbourhood playground, a central space for children to gather and play. The film ended with multiple rounds of enthusiastic applause in the theatre.
Adding a special touch to the event were our brilliant Charlie Chaplins, played by actors Andrijana Boškoska, Irena Kovačević, and Martin Gerbec, who guided the young audience into the world of film. Through interactive performances and playful opening scenes, they prepared the children for an immersive cinematic experience. The event was also introduced by Egle Frandolič, head of Kinomagnet, whose bilingual role helped create an even stronger connection between the audience and the stories on screen.