The retrospective Oriente Vzhod / Occidente Zahod – The Border Through Film and History
Through selected film works, from feature films to documentaries and newsreels, it embodies Europe's multicultural experience.
The retrospective Oriente Vzhod / Occidente Zahod – The Border Through Film and History is part of the official programme of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025 in Nova Gorica and Gorizia. Through a carefully curated film selection, it offers insight into the complex history and cultural dynamics of the borderland between Slovenia and Italy. Films from different periods shed light on life at the crossroads of nations, ideologies, and social transformations, challenging the traditional perception of borders—not merely as dividing lines but as spaces of transition, exchange, and connection.
This multi-year project, developed by Kinoatelje in collaboration with numerous partners, builds upon symposiums where experts have explored the significance of newsreels, archival materials, and local film cultures in narrating history and shaping identities. The retrospective extends this research through cinematic storytelling, aiming to reach a broader European audience.
The selection includes feature films, documentaries, animated films, and newsreels, revealing the impact of political and social divisions on life at the border. Themes such as identity, migration, emancipation, nationalism, fascism, communism, and power relations emerge through these films, offering reflections on both historical and contemporary European experiences.
In addition to outstanding classics of Slovenian and Italian cinema, the retrospective also features contemporary co-productions between the two countries, bringing fresh perspectives on their shared history and future. The program will showcase works by renowned filmmakers such as France Štiglic, Jože Babič, Matjaž Klopčič, Luigi Zampa, Franco Giraldi, Gianni Alberto Vitrotti, Dorica Makuc, Karpo Godina, Želimir Žilnik, alongside a younger generation of filmmakers like Gregor Božič, Laura Semani, Anja Medved, Matteo Oleotto, Alberto Fasulo, Erica Rossi and many others, who explore the complexity of the borderland through their own artistic lens.
To provide a more comprehensive experience, the retrospective will be accompanied by a series of discussions featuring historians, film theorists, and filmmakers, as well as a catalogue with analytical essays offering deeper insights into the significance of borderland film production.
The official launch of the retrospective will take place on April 10, 2025, in Gorizia and Nova Gorica. In the following days, it will tour various locations across the wider cross-border Gorizia region before embarking on a European journey, visiting cities such as Timisoara, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Vienna, Rome, and more.