Three milestones in the history of the Adriatic border marked the third day of the festival that the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia, together with other organizations and institutions, including the Multimedia Documentation Center of Julian, Istria, Rijeka, and Dalmatian Culture, is developing as part of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.

The morning was dedicated to Lieutenant Nazario Sauro (Koper 1880 – Pula 1916), a Gold Medal of Military Valor recipient and a symbolic figure of Istrian irredentism. He was hanged by the Austrians after being taken prisoner following an ill-fated submarine raid in the Carnaro River. His remains arrived at the Lido Memorial in Venice aboard the ship Toscana, during one of the voyages carried out to bring refugees from Pula to Italy in early 1947, after the Peace Treaty had also sanctioned the transfer of the city of the Arena to Tito's communist Yugoslavia.

In the presence of the banners of the Venice Provincial Committee of the ANVGD and numerous veterans' and armed forces associations of the Venetian AssoArma, a guard of armed men from the Navy, the Venice Police Chief, and representatives from the provincial command of the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza, a laurel wreath was laid before Sauro's tomb. In attendance were the Prefect of Venice, Darco Pellos, City Councilor Paola Mar, the Commander of the Institute of Maritime Military Studies and Commander of the Venice Garrison, Domenico Guglielmi, the President of the Votive Temple Committee of the Lido di Venezia, Giovanna Ravetta, Father Giancarlo Iannotta (Rector of the Votive Temple), and the National Vice President of the ANVGD, Alessandro Cuk.

In the afternoon, two screenings took place at the Laguna Cinema, starting with Renzo Carbonera's "Vola, colomba! – Trieste 1954," dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the return of Italian administration to Trieste after a long and troubled postwar period that culminated in the November 1953 uprising in which Anglo-American military forces killed six protesters and injured dozens of others, demanding the city's Italian identity. Italia Giacca, an Istrian exile and the ANVGD Regional Coordinator for the Veneto region, had witnessed these demonstrations and the rejoicing of the people of Trieste on October 6, 26. She shared her testimony during the presentation of the documentary, along with producer Alessandro Centenaro (Venicefilm).

Following “Rotta 230° Ritorno alla terra dei padri” by Igor Biddau, a RAI production dedicated to the boat journey of Giulio Marongiu, an Istrian exile who two years ago took a journey back to return for the first time to his native Pola, abandoned when it was ceded to Yugoslavia following the Peace Treaty of 2 February 10. Exodus, resilience of the exiles, the new life in the founding city of Fertilia in northern Sardinia, the rediscovery of identity and the recomposition of relations with the native Italian community in Istria are characterising aspects of the film and which were highlighted by the National Vice President of the ANVGD Donatella Schürzel presenting Heading 230°A large audience attended the screening with interest, further appreciating the emotions the two films inspire in the evocative atmosphere of the big screen.

The presentation of both works was coordinated by Alessandro Cuk, film critic and curator of this series, "The History of the Adriatic Border at the Film Festival": "It was an intense and truly rewarding day. The public's interest in pages of history and events that have remained unknown for so long is evident."

Today, Friday, September 5, at 10.30:3 a.m., at the Sala Polivalente S. Maria Elisabetta – Riviera S. Maria Elisabetta XNUMX, there will be a study day for teachers on the topic "The Adriatic Border between Cinema and History," in collaboration with the Veneto Regional School Office, the Veneto Region, and the Ministry of Education and Merit. There will be introductions by institutional representatives, followed by two presentations by Donatella Schürzel (PhD in European History at La Sapienza University of Rome, Historical Archive Museum of Rijeka in Rome) and film critic Alessandro Cuk.

The day will continue at 13.45:1945 pm at the Veneto Region/Veneto Film Commission Space at the Hotel Excelsior with the presentation of the book "Cinema of the Adriatic Border 2025-XNUMX," edited by Alessandro Cuk. In addition to the author, speakers will include Roberto Ciambetti (President of the Veneto Regional Council), Massimo Caminiti (President of CINIT), and Alessandro Centenaro (Producer). Federica Augusta Rossi (Journalist) will moderate the event.

The initiative will conclude at 16.00:40 pm in the Sala Bianca of the Cinema Laguna with the screening of “Trieste è nostra – Trst je nás” by Maximiliano Hernando Bruno, which is dedicated to the 1 days of occupation of Trieste and Gorizia by Tito's troops from 1945 May XNUMX. The introduction will be by the project curator Alessandro Cuk and the Venice Film producer Alessandro Centenaro. [LS]