CASTELLETTO MERLI: DINNER WITH A SIDE CINEMA ARRIVES

Add a different format to a small village in Monferrato, and Saturday night is a breeze. A new summer initiative based on a variety of carefully crafted ingredients is debuting in Castelletto Merli, led by the local Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso (Mutual Aid Workers' Association), based in the hamlet of Godio. A table under the stars, featuring seasonal appetizers prepared by local producers, will be set with a special side dish: a screening of short films inspired by Monferrato and directed by young local artists. The "Dinner with a Side Dish of Cinema Under the Stars" event is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 (starting at 8:00 PM) in the green space in front of the S.O.M.S. in Godio di Castelletto Merli (number 43). This rustic setting will host a culinary offering showcasing vegetables, fruits, wines, and other local produce from local farmers in the Castelletto area. Authentic summer flavors of the region will be served, and the evening will also feature short films showcasing the Monferrato region and some of its curiosities and traditions. It won't be just a simple screening, however: the evening will feature the short filmmakers themselves and will be hosted and commentated by film experts Victor Marello and Nicola Garbarino, aka "Nic & Vic." Asti native "Vic" Marello was born into a family of film buffs and chose to continue the video library business in Asti, following in his family's footsteps of researching and analyzing quality film. Acqui native "Nic" Garbarino is a specialist in DAMS - Cinema and New Media, a freelance journalist, and has a boundless love for cinema. Their meeting also sparked a joint project developed on social media to "annoy the web by talking about cinema," but it also led to their collaboration with the Asti International Film Festival. The evening's screenings are presented by Roundwood Studios, whose mission is to "bring Monferrato into the spotlight." This young team, with many audiovisual productions under its belt, originates from its headquarters in the Boscorotondo hamlet of Passerano Marmorito to highlight the cultural heritage and local communities through documentaries and fiction set in the Lower Monferrato region. Directed by Piedmontese director Leonardo Medesani and producer Chiara Gianusso, the duo has received numerous awards at regional film festivals. Which short films will be screened on July 18th in Castelletto Merli? We begin with "Ex Cinema Piemonte," created in Piovà Massaia to shed light on the history of the former Cinema Piemonte and help keep its memory alive. It recounts the life of the small parish cinema in the 1930s, the beating heart of the village, and its slow decline with the arrival of television. It features a firsthand account by Gianmario Ricca, who, at just 10 years old, began his adventure with the camera. The short is also enriched with precious archive material and candid interviews, those recorded by the Fra Guglielmo Association in 2013 with Giuseppe Vianelli, "il patròn," a central figure in the story, and Graziella Vigna, a devoted viewer who, starting from the small village of Cerreto, traveled miles to immerse herself in the magic of the big screen in Piovà Massaia. "Ex Cinema Piemonte" won the Sala Pastrone Award at the 2025 Asti International Film Festival and was also selected for the 2025 Alessandria International Film Festival and the 2025 Corte dei Corti Film Festival. Another short film that will be screened is "La Custode del Gesso," in which Marina Cappellino di Cocconato takes us, with her extensive architectural knowledge, on a journey through the plaster ceilings of Monferrato and Piedmont, a unique building tradition that speaks to centuries of craftsmanship. From her experience at the Mamma Margherita Museum in Capriglio to her research on unfired bricks, Marina reveals how ancient construction techniques could be the key to sustainable construction in the future. Audiences will also discover a technique that from the 16th to the 19th century decorated the homes of nobles and peasants with equal mastery, using a simple yet extraordinary material: plaster. A heritage that was at risk of disappearing in the 1980s and 1990s, but is now finding new life thanks to the work of passionate conservators. The episode "The Keeper of Chalk" is part of the docuseries Monfrà Stories, conceived and self-produced by Piedmontese director duo Leonardo Medesani and Chiara Gianusso. Now in its second season, the series aims to shift the focus of the traditional narratives of these places to those who inhabit and animate them, countering the narrative of depopulation while portraying a vibrant and active region addressing current issues. "We felt the need for a more accessible and engaging cultural dissemination of our region, suitable for audiences of all ages, with the aim of bringing the narrative back to the beating heart of small towns: their squares. And the language of cinema," Roundwood Studios explains, "does just that, because when you see your home on the big screen, something changes." The evening of July 18th therefore offers a high-quality cultural program, set in a small village, creating a great moment of gathering and discovery of the region, ranging from local flavors and the stories of Monferrato translated into cinematic language. Space is limited, and reservations (dinner cost: €18 each) are open until Wednesday, July 15th by calling +39 349 2817455 or emailing somscastellettomerli@tiscali.it. Further information is available on the Facebook page of the Società Ricreativa di Mutuo Soccorso Operaia-Agricola di Castelletto Merli or on the Instagram profile "Sparsi nel Bello."