Spark

Italy, 2023, 18 min.

Color, O.V. Sardinian, Italian

Director and writer: Alberto Diana

Cast: Leonardo Schirò, Pietro Burrai, Davide Grillo, Daniela Vitellaro, Andrea Melis

DOP: Francesco Piras

Editing: Davide Orrù

Sound: Roberto Cois

Set design: Luca Noce

Costume design: Stefania Grilli

Hair and makeup: Stefania Bettini

Casting: Stella La Boccetta

Executive production: Manuela Buono

Production: Istituto Superiore Regionale Etnografico della Sardegna, Slingshot Films with the contribution of Fondazione Sardegna Film Commission

Synopsis. Angelo is 15 years old and lives in a small village in Sardinia in the early post-WWI period. He is very shy, and he is teased because of the disability of his elder brother, Agostino. He cannot defend himself and he would like to show more self-confidence, like his best friend, the charismatic Bastiano. Life flows in an apparent rural stillness, but the arrival of the Fascist Blackshirts disrupts the peace of the small community. While the villagers celebrate in the square in front of a big bonfire, Angelo can no longer hesitate and must decide which side he is on.

Festivals: Torino Film Festival (2023) Italy; Passaggi d’autore (2023) Italy; Valsusa Film Festival (2024) Italy; Figari Film Festival (2024) Italy; Mecal – Festival internacional de cortometrajes de Barcelona (jun 2024) Spain; Edera Film Festival (2024) Italy; Andaras Film Festival (2024) Italy; Svaneti International Film Festival (jul 2024) Georgia; Salento International Film Festival (sep 2024) Italy; Voghera Film Festival (oct 2024) Italy; Limbas de minoria (oct 2024) Italy; Give Peace a Screen (oct 2024) Italy; Front Doc (oct 2024) Italy.

Prizes: Premio Fare Memoria – ANPI (Valsusa Film Festival, Italy); Best Italian Short (Salento International Film Festival, Italy); Best Photography (Voghera Film Festival, Italy); Parla corto! Prize for short films in minority languages (Limbas de minoria, Italy).

Trailer:

Stills: Roberto Montis