“Garden in Movies aims to offer a moment of reflection on current events through cinema, immersed in a place where beauty becomes a political, social, and cultural act of protection. Inhabiting this context of art and nature means entering a space for dialogue capable of elevating our gaze and raising questions about what is happening to us as a territory, community, and planet. This event grows like a garden with patience, developing its own soul rooted in the many presents we experience. Drawing inspiration from gardens, it proposes the exercise of coexistence as an answer that nurtures relationships and disarms conflict.” Comments Ornella Sgroi, artistic director of the event.
6:00 PM | Conversation in the Garden
Set in the frame of the Terrazza del Palmento (Note: The Palmento served as a filming location for “The Godfather Part II” and still preserves part of Coppola’s original set design).
- Title: “The Mafia in Cinema: Between Mythologization, Memory, and Anti-Stereotypes”
- Guests: Valentino Picone (actor, screenwriter, and director—known, among many films alongside Salvo Ficarra, for La Matassa and It’s the Law) and Roberto Di Bella (President of the Juvenile Court of Catania and author of the national law “Liberi di scegliere”, which inspired film and TV works).
7:00 PM | New Italian Cinema (Interview & Discussion)
- Guest: Alessandro Sperduti (actor and composer)
- Guest Bio: A well-known face of cinema and television, having made his debut at a very young age (I liceali). He has worked with directors such as Ermanno Olmi, the Taviani brothers, Nanni Moretti, Ivan Cotroneo, and Pupi Avati (for whom he composed a theme for the soundtrack of L’orto americano and is currently working on his new set). His recent works include the international series The Leopard (alongside Benedetta Porcaroli). In 2026, he was on set for Mel Gibson’s latest film.
9:00 PM | Screenings
- Short Film: Giardino d’inverno (Winter Garden) by Monica Felloni, Italy, 2023. The director and the two lead actresses, Angela Longo and Gaia Santuccio, will be present.
- Synopsis: Images blend with music to speak for themselves. The movements of the two characters transport the viewer into a silent yet deeply meaningful dialogue, set against a backdrop of nature and architectural space—itself a main character. Runtime: 12 min.
- Feature Film: My Favorite Cake (Il mio giardino persiano) by Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha; Iran, France, Sweden, Germany (2024). Runtime: 97 min.
- Synopsis: An unexpected, sweet, and bittersweet encounter between a lonely woman and a lonely man, set against the backdrop of a decadent Iran, transforms into something unforgettable.
*For adults, participation is subject to the standard entry conditions of the Radicepura Garden Festival, with a special single-day admission rate of €8.00.
