(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
10/04/2025 - Visions du Réel 2025, Switzerland - World Premiere
10/05/2025 - Bellaria Film Festival 2025, Italy
23/05/2025 - Sicilia Queer filmfest 2025, Italy
01/06/2025 - UnArchive Found Footage Fest 2025, Italy
29/05/2025 - IsReal – Festival del Cinema Documentario 2025, Italy
28/05/2025 - Free Aquila Festival 2025, Italy
11/06/2025 - Garda Cinema 2025, Italy
18/06/2025 - Ekrani i Artit 2025, Albania
19/06/2026 - Filming Italy Sardegna 2025, Italy
01/07/2025 - Short Out 2025, Italy
28/06/2025 - ShorTS - International Film Festival 2025, Italy
24/07/2025 - Toko Film Fest 2025, Italy
02/08/2025 - Edera Film Festival 2025, Italy
16/08/2025 - Concorto Film Festival 2025, Italy
15/09/2025 - Sole Luna Doc Film Festival 2025, Italy
1/09/2025 - MiX Festival Internazionale di Cinema LGBTQ+ e Cultura Queer 2025, Italy
19/09/2025 - Filmfestival Münster 2025, Germany
19/09/2025 - Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival 2025, Norway
19/09/2025 - Queer Lisboa 2025, Portugal
20/09/2025 - Castrovillari Film Festival 2025, Italy
25/09/2025 - Kinejo Film Festival 2025, Italy
27/09/2025 - Archivio Aperto 2025, Italy
02/10/2025 - PerSo - Perugia Social Film Festival 2025, Italy
02/10/2025 - Incanto Film Festival 2025, Italy
01/10/2025 - BRNO16 - International Short Film Festival 2025, Czech Republic
20/10/2025 - Uppsala Short Film Festival 2025, Sweden
01/11/2025 - Pink Screens Film Festival 2025, Belgium
08/11/2025 - MedFilm Festival 2025, Italy
08/11/2025 - Beijing International Short Film Festival 2025, China
15/11/2025 - DOC NYC 2025, USA
12/11/2025 - ViaEmiliaDocFest 2025, Italy
13/11/2025 - Catania Film Fest 2025, Italy
18/11/2025 - Kasseler Dokfest 2025, Germany
19/11/2025 - Hayah Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de Panamá 2025
21/11/2025 - Zinebi - Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Film 2025, Spain
15/11/2025 - Festival del Cinema Europeo 2025, Italy
22/11/2025 - Blue Danube Film Festival 2025, Austria/Hungary/Slovakia
26/11/2025 - Florence Queer Festival 2025, Italy
27/11/2025 - Primo Piano Pianeta Donna 2025, Italy
10/12/2025 - Festival Séquence Court-Métrage 2025, France
03/12/2025 - Film Festival "Non sono una signora" 2025, Italy
06/12/2025 - Dorico International Film Fest 2025, Italy
20/02/2026 - IBIZACINEFEST - Ibiza Independent Film Festival 2026, Spain
08/03/2026 - Los Angeles Italia - Film, Fashion and Art Festival 2026, USA
26/03/2026 - Salem Film Fest 2026, USA
03/04/2026 - Wicked Queer: Boston's LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2026, USA
22/04/2026 - Lovers Film Festival 2026, Italy
28/04/2026 - Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen 2026, Germany
10/05/2026 - Immaginaria International Film Festival 2026, Italy
22/05/2026 - Videoex 2026, Switzerland
29/05/2026 - The Xposed Queer Film Festival Berlin 2026, Germany
05/06/2026 - Thailand International LGBTQ+ Film and TV Festival 2026
19/06/2026 - Cinema Jove - Festival Internacional de Valencia 2026, Spain
17/06/2026 - Le Festival du Film de Fesses 2026, France
29/07/2026 - FMK - International Short Film Festival 2026, Italy
25/08/2026 - Festival Internacional de Cine LesBiGayTrans 2026, Paraguay
AWARDS
Videoex Festival 2026, Switzerland - Special Mention
David di Donatello 2026 - Shortlist
Le Festival du Film de Fesses 2026, France - Fessée Du Jury
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