The Cycle of Slovenian Film in Italy Expands Across Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the Year of the European capital of culture GO! 2025

With the expansion of its program, the cycle ensures that Slovenian films, enriched with Italian subtitles, transcend linguistic boundaries and reach Italian audiences as well.

The European Capital of Culture GO! 2025 brings the expansion of the Cycle of Slovenian Film in Italy to several cities across Friuli-Venezia Giulia. A long-standing initiative that bridges linguistic divides and connects audiences on both sides of the border, the cycle will this year extend beyond Gorizia, where it will be held at the Palazzo del Cinema, to Trieste in collaboration with La Cappella Underground, Udine in partnership with Cinema Visionario, Pordenone with Cinemazero association, San Pietro al Natisone with the Slovenian Multimedia Window (SMO) – Landscape and Narrative Museum, and Staranzano with Dobialab. The program offers a rich selection of contemporary Slovenian films, including award-winners from the Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož.

During the opening week of the European Capital of Culture, the cycle will present bold shades of cinematic avant-garde. On February 13 at 8:00 PM, Palazzo del Cinema in Gorizia will screen the documentary Alpe-Adria Underground! with Slovenian and Italian subtitles, exploring groundbreaking expressions in Slovenian film history. On this occasion, we will welcome the film’s author, Matevž Jerman, along with producers Andraž Jerič and Jerca Jerič from the production company Temporama.

The film, created by Matevž Jerman and Juri Meden, draws inspiration from an article by Silvan Furlan—a native of Gorizia, film critic, and the founder and director of the Slovenian Cinematheque. A pioneer in the research of Slovenian avant-garde film history, Furlan left an indelible mark on cinematic arts. This documentary is not only a tribute to his legacy but also an exploration of Slovenian film avant-garde, which continues to inspire generations of filmmakers. Screenings of the film will follow on February 20 in San Pietro al Natisone (SMO) and Udine (Cinema Visionario), February 21 again in Udine, February 24 in Pordenone (Cinemazero) and on February 27 in Staranzano (Dobialab).

In March and April, the cycle will continue at the Palazzo del Cinema in Gorizia and partner cinemas, presenting fresh cinematic works exploring intimacy, society, and space. A highlight of the program is the new documentary Gram of Heart by Jan Cvitkovič, which delves into the lives of drug addicts. In March, filmmaker Maja Doroteja Prelog will join us with her documentary Cent’anni, chronicling her partner’s triumph over a deadly illness while simultaneously confronting the unhealed wounds of their long-term relationship. In April, the program will feature Once Upon a Time in Soča Valley, in which Prešeren Award laureate Ema Kugler uses her signature visual poetics to depict Posočje’s ancient belief systems, passed down through oral tradition.

This Is a Robbery! by Gregor Andolšek, which opened the cycle in January, continues its journey through Gorizia, Udine, Pordenone, and San Pietro al Natisone. The program also retains Lunatic, directed by Igor Šterk, a selection from last year’s cycle, set to screen in Udine and Pordenone in March. Additionally, the cycle will feature Family Therapy by Sonja Prosenc, which was showcased in the Visionaries section at the Tribute to a Vision Cross-border Film Festival. After screenings in Monfalcone and Gorizia in January, the film will arrive to Pordenone in February.

With its expanded program, the cycle ensures that Slovenian films, enriched with Italian subtitles, transcend linguistic boundaries and reach Italian audiences. The lineup is packed with contemporary gems of Slovenian cinema, engaging audiences on both sides of the border and uniting them through the universal language of film.

The cycle is organized in collaboration with the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad and is part of GO Cinema Hub, an official project within the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025 program.