Valentina Castellani-Quinn appointed Artistic Director at MATIFF, Matera International Film Festival, a new "Sundance" in the heart of Italy

Photo credits: Valentina with Enrico Bufalini,  Director Cinecitta' Studios / Archivio Luce  and Lawyer Paolo Picarelli 

Matera, Italy — In a powerful step toward bridging cultures and promoting peace through the universal language of film, Valentina Castellani-Quinn has been appointed as the new Artistic Director at MATIFF, the Matera International Film Festival. Her inaugural initiative, titled “A Drop of Hope,” aims to inspire dialogue between nations, communities, and faiths through meaningful, thought-provoking cinema.

The program was unveiled against the backdrop of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site and former European Capital of Culture. With its ancient stone walls and millennia of history, Matera stands as an enduring symbol of resilience, diversity, and the capacity for transformation—making it a poignant setting for this new cultural endeavor.

Photo Credits: Valentina Quinn on a masterclass with Luce Cardinale, niece of Iconic actress Claudia Cardinale 

“A Drop of Hope” is not just a film program—it is a cultural movement. Inspired by the deeply impactful work of The Parents Circle, a grassroots organization made up of Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones in the conflict and now work together for peace, Castellani-Quinn’s vision with Fuina, is to use cinema as a bridge rather than a battleground. She believes that film, more than any other medium, has the unique power to reach across divides and invite audiences into conversations that matter.

“Cinema today is one of the most powerful platforms for conveying ideas—through imagery and dialogue, it transcends boundaries and speaks directly to the soul,” said Castellani-Quinn during the program’s unveiling.

Her focus is particularly on youth but extends to all generations, encouraging viewers not to passively absorb the content often pushed by social media algorithms, but to reflect, question, and engage. The films curated under A Drop of Hope seek to stimulate empathy, awareness, and ultimately, peaceful action.

This year’s edition of MATIFF featured 100 international films, including several European premieres. Among the standout selections were "Eleanor the Great", a much-anticipated directorial debut by Scarlett Johansson, and I Bambini di Gaza (The Children of Gaza), a poignant documentary directed by Loris Lai and produced by the legendary Tarak Ben Ammar. The latter, which had its U.S. premiere at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, received the prestigious Best Feature Film award at MATIFF—testament to its raw honesty and emotional depth. Among the many Films MATIFF Presented the International Premiere of the newly restored Version in color of the Iconic Pier Paolo Pasolini Film " IL VANGELO SECONDO MATTEO".

Photo Credits : Valentina Quinn with President RAI CINEMA Nicola Claudio

Photo Credits: Valentina with President and Founder MATIFF, Leonardo Fuina

With Castellani-Quinn at the helm of the international program, MATIFF is not only celebrating cinematic excellence but is also positioning itself as a cultural force for good—a festival where storytelling becomes an instrument of unity rather than division.

As the world faces increasing polarization, initiatives like A Drop of Hope serve as a reminder that peace does not begin in the halls of politics, but in the hearts of individuals—and often, it begins with a story.

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