Conero Film + Adv
In conversation with festival founder Mattia Fiumani
With a background in architecture and a deep passion for cinema, Conero Film + Adv (CFA)’s founder Mattia Fiumani embarked on a journey to bridge the gap between independent filmmaking and branded content. CFA is a film festival dedicated to sustainability in film and advertising, aiming to inspire positive change by promoting a balance between storytelling and sustainable production practices. In our conversation with Fiumani, he shares insights into the festival's mission, the kinds of productions they seek, and their vision for the future.
What0s your background?
I have a background in architecture. My passion for film had always been present and it became stronger during the last year of university, when I was working as a projectionist in the mini-plex Zinéma in Lausanne (Switzerland), the city where I was studying. I had free access to the Cinematheque and I spent many afternoons watching French Nouvelle Vague classics on the big screen. After my masters I worked as an architect in Sydney (Australia), Fiji and in Cairo (Egypt), later I moved to Berlin where I became involved in the film business as a set designer for advertising. Gradually I started writing and directing music videos and short films. I recently went back to the Conero Regional Park in Italy, the area where I was born, and that’s where I am at now.
What is Conero Film + Adv (CFA) about? What does it stand for?
Conero Film + Adv is a festival dedicated to sustainability in film and advertising. We usually think of sustainability as something regarding the environment, but we tend to forget that we ourselves are part of the environment. It’s important that we don’t forget that ads have an impact on people’s lives and CFA tries to promote a balance between branded content and independent filmmaking, supporting productions that use cinematic art as a means to inspire positive change. Of course the festival also promotes “green sets” and sustainable production criteria, as well as impactful ways to preserve nature and to contribute to a more ethical economy.
What kind of productions are you looking for?
We are looking for compelling stories told through hybrid works with a clear vision behind the camera. These works encompass fictional worlds, documentaries, and animations, with a focus on emphasising storytelling over product information. Passion projects and productions created in collaboration with brands are particularly encouraged, providing filmmakers with the opportunity to tell their own stories.
“We usually think of sustainability as something regarding the environment, but we tend to forget that we ourselves are part of the environment. ”
Why did you feel that there was a need for this kind of event?
During the last few years we have all witnessed the fragility of the socio-economic structures we live in. While on one hand indie filmmaking was taking meaningful stands in regards of important subjects, on the other hand the advertising world seemed too busy to satisfy a hardly sustainable economy. I know how hard it is for indie authors to get their work on screen, while we see millions being spent on a super-bowl ad. I felt the need to do something about that by creating a platform that helps these two worlds connect to each other, promoting collaborations between brands and filmmakers.
What does sustainability look like to you?
To me sustainability means using at best our resources, physical, mental and environmental. It means going past individuality and recognising that we are part of a bigger reality. It means working together and respecting the role we have in balancing the whole system we fit in.
What can we expect from the programme?
The event will take place in a very calm and serene location on top of the Conero Mountain, in the heart of the park. We are organising masterclasses that will be held on the day of the event and which will delve further on the themes of the festival. Being this the first edition we would like to experiment with a few ideas to see what works and how people respond. Submissions are coming in abundance and we are seeing a range of amazing works already.
How do you envision the future of Conero Film + Adv (CFA) ?
It really depends on how authors, brands and public respond to this first edition. So far people seem to recognise the importance and the urgency of addressing some of the themes the festival is trying to address. I hope it will help create a space in which people can restore their faith and strength, getting ready for the transformation that we as a society need to face and take responsibility for.