Italian
From May 8 to 11 in Rome: the 18th edition of the festival dedicated to social issues and sustainability
Over one hundred events in four days, including screenings, talks, debates, and award ceremonies: the Tulipani di Seta Nera Festival returns from May 8 to 11 at The Space Cinema Moderno in Rome. Now in its 18th edition, the festival has established itself as a benchmark for social cinema and for telling stories of fragility, diversity, and sustainability through audiovisual language.
The event, designed to highlight invisible stories and give a voice to those who are often unheard, draws particular inspiration this year from the human and spiritual mission of Pope Francis, with a focus on overcoming the “throwaway culture” and on the importance of restoring dignity to people. As Monsignor Giovanni Fusco stated during the presentation of the event, “diversity is never a limitation, but a richness to be told—also through cinema.”
Standing beside him, host Lorena Bianchetti—who will lead the final Gala evening on May 11—emphasized that “this festival is a meaningful occasion to shine a light on what is often labeled as fragility, but is in fact authenticity.”
A record-breaking edition
Nearly 500 works were submitted this year: 300 short films, 70 documentaries, 80 SocialClips, and 50 digital series from not only Italy but also countries such as the United States, China, Russia, Argentina, Iran, and Israel. Among the selected works are contributions from well-known Italian artists such as Claudio Amendola, Anna Ferzetti, Ettore Bassi, Luca Ward, Franco Oppini, Lorenzo Flaherty, and Antonio Catania.
- Short Films, art direction by Paola Tassone, jury president Giovanni Veronesi;
- Documentaries, artistic direction by Christian Carmosino Mereu, jury chaired by Mariangela Barbanente;
- Digital Series, artistic direction by Janet De Nardis, jury chaired by Vincent Riotta;
- #SocialClip, art direction by Claudio Guerrini, with Silvia Salemi leading the jury.
Paola Tassone remembered how the selected works represent “silent struggles, often lived in the shadows, but told with deep mastery, courage, and empathy. From bullying to gender violence, from loneliness to social marginalization, cinema here becomes a tool for truth and transformation.”
Cinema and Civic Engagement
The president of the Festival, Diego Righini, has announced a symbolic yet powerful initiative: sending the 50 finalist works to the 135 Cardinal electors of the upcoming Conclave, which will begin on May 7, to offer them a broader view of the social realities that traverse the contemporary world.
The Festival therefore also represents a bridge between art and spirituality, between culture and politics, between social commitment and cinematic storytelling.
Grand finale and acknowledgements
The Gala evening will take place on Sunday, May 11th, hosted by Lorena Bianchetti, and will be broadcast in the late evening on Rai2 on July 8th. In addition to awards for the best works of the Festival, artists and public figures who have distinguished themselves for their commitment to social issues will also be recognized, including:
- “Mare Fuori”, awarded as the best TV series for the social value of its storytelling;
- The Jalisse, awarded as the best musical group for artistic and human commitment.
From 8th to 11th May in Rome the 18th edition of the event dedicated to social issues and sustainability
Over a hundred events in four days, including screenings, meetings, debates, and awards: the Black Silk Tulip Festival returns from May 8th to 11th at The Space Cinema Moderno in Rome for its 18th edition, confirming itself as a reference point for social cinematography and for storytelling about vulnerabilities, diversities, and sustainability through audiovisual language.
The event, conceived to enhance invisible stories and give voice to those who often do not have it, is inspired this year in a particular way by the human and spiritual mission of Pope Francis, with a focus on overcoming the throwaway culture and the importance of restoring dignity to people. As Monsignor Giovanni Fusco stated during the event presentation, “diversities are never a impoverishment, but a richness to be told, even through cinema.”
Next to him, the host Lorena Bianchetti, who will lead the final Gala evening on May 11, emphasized how “this festival is a significant event to shed light on what is defined as fragility and which, upon closer inspection, is actually authenticity.”
A record-breaking edition
Almost 500 works registered this year: 300 short films, 70 documentaries, 80 SocialClips, and 50 digital series coming not only from Italy, but also from countries such as the United States, China, Russia, Argentina, Iran, and Israel. Among the selected works, there are well-known names from the Italian artistic scene such as Claudio Amendola, Anna Ferzetti, Ettore Bassi, Luca Ward, Franco Oppini, Lorenzo Flaherty, and Antonio Catania.
The Festival is divided into four main sections:
- Short Films, art direction by Paola Tassone, jury president Giovanni Veronesi;
- Documentaries, artistic direction by Christian Carmosino Mereu, jury chaired by Mariangela Barbanente;
- Digital Series, artistic direction by Janet De Nardis, jury chaired by Vincent Riotta;
- #SocialClip, art direction by Claudio Guerrini, with Silvia Salemi leading the jury.
Paola Tassone remembered how the selected works represent “silent struggles, often lived in the shadows, but told with deep mastery, courage, and empathy. From bullying to gender violence, from loneliness to social marginalization, cinema here becomes a tool for truth and transformation.”
Cinema and Civic Engagement
The president of the Festival, Diego Righini, has announced a symbolic yet powerful initiative: sending the 50 finalist works to the 135 Cardinal electors of the upcoming Conclave, which will begin on May 7, to offer them a broader view of the social realities that traverse the contemporary world.
The Festival therefore also represents a bridge between art and spirituality, between culture and politics, between social commitment and cinematic storytelling.
Grand finale and acknowledgements
The Gala evening will take place on Sunday, May 11th, hosted by Lorena Bianchetti, and will be broadcast in the late evening on Rai2 on July 8th. In addition to awards for the best works of the Festival, artists and public figures who have distinguished themselves for their commitment to social issues will also be recognized, including:
- “Mare Fuori”, awarded as the best TV series for the social value of its storytelling;
- The Jalisse, awarded as the best musical group for artistic and human commitment.
