Calendar

“The verses popped up in my head like corn sizzling in boiling oil, and words needing to be written seemed to be knocking at my door“.
This is how Gioconda Belli remembers her beginnings as a poet. Her poetry intertwines the unceasing search for female identity with the rise of her social consciousness, the explosive awareness of herself and her civil passions. What emerges from this is the image of a woman who is sweet and sensual and yet strong and combative, someone who was willing to adopt courageous stances during a tormented era in her country, though without sacrificing the intimate emotions of her female being.

Isabella Ragonese
Actress, director and theatre writer Isabella Ragonese received her acting diploma at the Scuola Teatès in Palermo. From her early career, she began to write, direct and perform her own works, such as Che male vi fo and Bestino, winning competitions for emerging artistes, including the INDA (Istituto Nazionale Dramma Antico) Prize in 1998.
Her debut in cinema was in the Emanuele Crialese film Nuovomondo, and she later appeared in a series of other films including Tutta la vita davanti by Paolo Virzì, Un altro mondo by Silvio Muccino, La nostra vita by Daniele Lucchetti and Il giovane favoloso by Mario Martone.
As well as her work in theatre and cinema, she also appears in a number of TV series, such as Il commissario Montalbano, Rocco Schiavone and Tutto il giorno davanti.
She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Nastro d’argento in 2010, the Premio Shooting Star at the Berlin Cinema Festival Berlino (2012) and the Premio Globi d’Oro (2017).

Claudio Cojaniz
After finishing his formal schooling, pianist and organist Claudio Cojaniz turned to composition, creating a number of works which in 1990 led to his winning Japan’s prestigious Irino Prize with Spheres for Tokyo’s National Symphony Orchestra. He later turned his talents to jazz, and recorded his first disc Piano solo, dedicated to Thelonious Monk. He has made many records, both as a soloist and as a member of various bands. Cojaniz has also composed music for film and TV and worked with renowned musicians such as Alexander Balanescu and Arto Tuncboyaciyan. He continues to perform numerous concerts both in Italy and abroad. Cojaniz currently lives in Roccella Jonica.