(The First Times)
Emilia and Caterina write letters to each other revisiting their adolescent memories and earliest experiences at a boarding school in the 1950s. Did they choose the lives they truly wanted, or only those that they dared to imagine?
INFO
short experimental film
16’, HD, color and b&w, 5.1
Italy/Spain
a film by Giulia Cosentino, Perla Sardella
producers Margot Mecca, Matteo Tortone
production Company Malfé Film
co-Producers Ainhoa Andraka, Zuri Goikoetxea
co-Production Company Doxa producciones
written by Giulia Cosentino, Perla Sardella
cinematography by Giulia Cosentino, Perla Sardella, Luciana Castellina, Valentini Family, De Abbondi Family
editing by Ainhoa Andraka, Davide Minotti, Perla Sardella
sound by Marzia Cordò
music by Sapore
with the voices of Emma Beonio Brocchieri, Sveva Romana Candelletta
illustration by Magda Guidi
Festival distribution by Lights On Film
2025
SCREENINGS
Visions du Réel 2025, Switzerland - World Premiere
Bellaria Film Festival 2025, Italy
Sicilia Queer filmfest 2025, Italy
UnArchive Found Footage Fest 2025, Italy
IsReal – Festival del Cinema Documentario 2025, Italy
Free Aquila Festival 2025, Italy - Lotto al Cinema Mention
Garda Cinema 2025, Italy
Ekrani i Artit 2025, Albania
Filming Italy Sardegna 2025, Italy
Short Out 2025, Italy
ShorTS - International Film Festival 2025, Italy
Toko Film Fest 2025, Italy
Edera Film Festival 2025, Italy - Special Mention
Concorto Film Festival 2025, Italy
Sole Luna Doc Film Festival 2025, Italy
MiX Festival Internazionale di Cinema LGBTQ+ e Cultura Queer 2025, Italy
Filmfestival Münster 2025, Germany
Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival 2025, Norway
Queer Lisboa 2025, Portugal
Castrovillari Film Festival 2025, Italy
Castiglione del Cinema Film Festival 2025, Italy
Kinejo Film Festival 2025, Italy
ArteSettima Festival 2025, Italy
Archivio Aperto 2025, Italy - Best Short Film Award
PerSo - Perugia Social Film Festival 2025, Italy
Incanto Film Festival 2025, Italy - Best Short Film Award (Marche Region)
BRNO16 - International Short Film Festival 2025, Czech Republic
TiSFF - Thessaloniki International Short Film Festival 2025, Greece
Linz International Short Film Festival 2025, Austria
Uppsala Short Film Festival 2025, Sweden
Jakarta Film Week 2025, Indonesia
Pink Screens Film Festival 2025, Belgium - Special Mention
MedFilm Festival 2025, Italy
Beijing International Short Film Festival 2025, China
DOC NYC 2025, USA
ViaEmiliaDocFest 2025, Italy
Catania Film Fest 2025, Italy
Kasseler Dokfest 2025, Germany
Hayah Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de Panamá 2025
Zinebi - Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Film 2025, Spain
Festival del Cinema Europeo 2025, Italy
Blue Danube Film Festival 2025, Austria/Hungary/Slovakia
Florence Queer Festival 2025, Italy - Special Mention
Primo Piano Pianeta Donna 2025, Italy
Festival Séquence Court-Métrage 2025, France
Film Festival "Non sono una signora" 2025, Italy
Dorico International Film Fest 2025, Italy
Est Film Festival 2026, Italy
IBIZACINEFEST - Ibiza Independent Film Festival 2026, Spain
AWARDS
David di Donatello 2026 - Shortlist
Florence Queer Festival 2025, Italy - Special Mention
Pink Screens Film Festival 2025, Belgium - Special Mention
Incanto Film Festival 2025, Italy - Best Short Film Award (Marche Region)
Archivio Aperto 2025, Italy - Best Short Film Award
Free Aquila Festival 2025, Italy - Lotto al Cinema Mention
Edera Film Festival 2025, Italy - Special Mention
TRAILER