Corigliano d'Otranto: The Real Cinema Festival kicks off with documentary as the main focus.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Festa di Cinema del Reale (Real Cinema Festival) will be held on July 19th at the Castello Volante in Corigliano d'Otranto. The festival will celebrate its 22nd edition in a single evening, from 8:00 pm until dawn. This new and experimental format focuses on documentary filmmaking and offers a program open to improvisation.

Two starlit screens set up on the Castle's terraces will showcase a selection of works from leading national and international film circuits and archives. One of the two screens will feature the filmmakers, including Albanian director Roland Sejko with the Apulian premiere of his film "Acqua, porta via tutto," with music by Teho Teardo; director Isabella Mari and actress Marina Rippa with the documentary "Si dice di me," about theater workshops with women in Naples' tough neighborhoods. The same screen will screen "Man Number 4," the award-winning short film by British director Miranda Pennell; the documentary "Il cielo sopra Brindisi," produced as part of the national cinema and images for schools program; and two films with live music by Admir Shkurtaj and Giovanni Martella.

The second terrace offers a program curated in collaboration with 'Cine?', dedicated to experimental cinema, with a tribute to Chris Marker and several short films selected from the Zavattini Prize of the Audiovisual Archive of the Workers' and Democratic Movement and the shorts from the Home Movies Almanac of the National Family Film Archive, along with a live soundtrack featuring original music by Albis Umbra. This year, the Festival also combines screenings with live music, visual arts, performances, musical aperitifs, DJ sets, and workshops and experiences at the free construction site.