Caro Mostro

 

Written and directed by Stefano P. Testa
Genre: Documentary, Experimental
Running time: 16’
Country: Italy
Year: 2023
Language: Italian
Subtitles: English
Cinematography: Stefano P. Testa
Editing: Stefano P. Testa
Sound Design: Nicola Gualandris
Producer: Andrea Zanoli
Production / Distribution: Lab 80 film
With: Alice Guarente, Romina Alfieri, Gabriele Penner, Stefano P. Spampatti

Synopsis:
In 1965, Elio is eighteen years old and he attends the San Carlo College in Turin. He has been pushed away from home by his father because of his undisciplined behavior. During that year, he receives some letters from his parents, his friend Nino, and his lover, Raffaella. These letters sketch out the story of a restless and rebellious young boy living through teenage crisis and the first responsibilities of adulthood. Dear Monster is a collage of overlapping words, images, sounds that recall a long gone past, brought back to light through a grim finding.

Screenings and Festivals:
Sheffield DOC Fest (Sheffield, UK, 2023) | World Premiere
Asolo Art Film Festival (Asolo, Italy, 2023) | Italian Premiere
Cinema del Reale (Corigliano d’Otranto, Italy, 2023) | Best Short Award
Faito Doc Fest (Monte Faito, Italy, 2023) | Jury Special Mention
Ceprano FIlm Festival (Ceprano, Italy, 2023)
Garofano Rosso Film Festival (Forme di Massa d’Albe, Italy) | Best Short Award – “Lacci” Section
Family Film Project (Porto, Portugal)
PERSO Perugia Social Film Festival (Perugia, Italy) | Jury Special Mention
The Unprecedented Cinema (Tallinn, Estonia)
Revolutions Per Minutes Festival (Harvard University, Boston, MA)
FLIGHT Mostra del Cinema di Genova (Genova, Italy, 2023) | Jury Special Mention, Best Short Critic Award
Rome International Documentary Festival (Rome, Italy)
FrontDoc (Aosta, Italy)
Documentaria (Noto, Italy) | Out of Competition
MAGMA Mostra di Cinema Breve (Acireale, Italy, 2023)
Visioni Italiane (Bologna, Italy, 2023) | Jury Special Mention
CinemaZERO (Trento, Italy, 2023)
Experimental Video Screening Festival in Macao (Macau, China, 2023)
Beijing International Short Film Festival (Beijing, China, 2023)
Molo Film Festival (Rome, Italy, 2023) | Best Short Award
Rifrazioni – Cineforma Collective (Rome, Italy, 2024)
Short of the Year (Madrid, Spain, 2024) | Best Experimental Short Award
Mediteran Film Festival (Široki Brijeg, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2024)

Reviews:
● Cinemaitaliano.info
● Quinlan.it
● Cineclandestino.it