On November 6th and 7th, 2023, IGSD co-badged the conclusion events of the project "FunKino, Cinema for Inclusion", co-led by Dr. Sara Vannini (Information School) and in partnership with the association Zabbara (Palermo, Italy). The project, sponsored by the Wenner Gren Foundation aimed to co-create engaged research through the participatory methodology FunKino – “the cinema that is having fun”, with migrant youth in Sicily.
The project featured two key events: First, a film screening at the Student Union Auditorium on November 6th, which showcased the short film “Jabal - The Mountain”, co-created during the participatory workshops, and the documentary "EU 013 - The Last Frontier", which depicts the socio-political climate for migrants in Italy and its migrants detention centres. Both films were directed by Zabbara's co-founder Alessio Genovese. The screening was followed by a discussion with the director and the authors. Second, and a theoretical and practical workshop on November 7th, held at The Wave, offering insights into the FunKino participatory storytelling methodology and premiered two unpublished short films created by participants in Palermo.
FunKino methodology is a collaborative, democratic approach that blends narrative warm-up games to build a shared grammar, fostering a community of authors from diverse backgrounds. This methodology empowers individuals to create stories for the cinema industry and promote inclusive imagery. It has evolved over five years, addressing various exclusionary contexts.
Together, these events celebrated diverse voices, promoted collaboration, and highlighted the power of participatory methods in engaging communities.