The Embassy of Italy in Washington and the JxJ DC Jewish Film & Music Festival organized an event celebrating Italian cinema to mark the screening of producer and director Giuseppe Piccioni’s film The Shadow of the Day (L’ombra del giorno), one of the two Italian motion pictures selected by the ongoing Jewish film and music festival from May 11th through May 21st in Washington. The other Italian film at the festival is Where Life Begins. The screening of the feature film, which tells a story of love and courage set in the Ascoli Piceno of 1938 and of the Italian racial laws, was followed by a conversation with Giuseppe Piccioni, guest of the festival.
“Movies like The Shadow of the Day, which recollect the past and connect it to the present, are crucial for viewers to build a conscience and remain vigilant. Through telling such compelling stories, the art of cinema provides us with the tools to illuminate a path of humanity, and hopefully leads us to a better world where we shall never go through the horrors of the past,” highlighted Ambassador Zappia at the opening of the event at the Embassy of Italy in Washington.
Italy was one of the first countries to commemorate January 27th as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, an international anniversary to remember the victims of the Holocaust and the importance of combating anti-Semitism. As every year the entire diplomatic network, the Embassy and Consulates of Italy, are actively committed to raising awareness against all forms of racial and religious hatred.
Jennifer Zwilling (CEO of Edlavitch DC Jewish Community), Yael Luttwak (Artistic Director of the JxJ Jewish Film & Music Festival), and director Giuseppe Piccioni attended the event.
