Welcome from president Bonapace

When I think about how old the TrentoFilmfestival is—we are fifty-eight this year—I cannot help but think about all of the people who have enabled the world’s oldest mountain film festival to renew itself, win international acclaim and prestige, and become a landmark for all facets of mountain culture. Three generations, dozens of men and women, have made all of this possible with their hard work and professional attitude. However it is their immense love of the mountains, one that knows no age limit, which has made the Festival such a great success.

In what is my first year as president, I have seen for myself that the above qualities are the added value that enables the TrentoFilmfestival to continue. Nor should we forget, however, the planning input and funding provided over the years by the Festival’s partners, namely the City Councils of Trento and Bolzano and the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). Special thanks must also go to the Autonomous Province of Trento.

At the end of last year’s Festival, which had first-class content and was acclaimed by the public, we had to ask ourselves “Will we be able to organise an edition of equal quality next year?” This was a legitimate question, but one was that soon answered as we began to piece together this year’s event and our ‘climbing team’ set to work, designing projects and making contacts.

This young team, motivated by the passion that has always surrounded the TrentoFilmfestival, has once again built a content-rich edition that will stimulate the interest of a wide section of the public with its first-rate, original films selected from more than 330 entrants from all over the world. There will also be literature meetings with prestigious authors and events dedicated to great mountaineering achievements. Additional events will look at sustainability, the limits of development, the fever afflicting Planet Earth, and the direct consequences on an already fragile mountain environment and on mountain professions, including mountain guides.

The TrentoFilmfestival can be followed on a comprehensive website that this year will also be available on the main social networks. The Festival will last an entire year with official events in several Italian cities and dozens of evenings which, thanks to the sections of the CAI and cultural associations, will act as ambassadors for mountain cinema.

We wish everyone Buon Festival!

Egidio Bonapace
President of the TrentoFilmfestival