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The third day of the 55th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival opens by highlighting the healing power of stories. “Tales from the magic garden” will offer touching moments to the Elements +6 section. This collective film is directed by David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar and Jean-Claude Rozec (Czech Republic/Slovakia/Slovenia, 2025, 85′). Screenings are scheduled at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM in Sala Lumiere. The story follows Tom, Susan, Derek, and their grandfather. Thanks to the children’s storytelling – an inherited gift from their recently deceased grandmother – the once silent house gradually comes back to life. Priority access for jurors and accredited guests; general audience admitted subject to availability.
A double screening is also scheduled in Sala Alberto Sordi at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM for the Elements +10 section. “The secret floor” by Norbert Lechner (Germany/Austria/Luxembourg, 2025, 95′) tells the story of twelve-year-old Karli and his move to the Alps. In the hotel his parents are renovating, Karli discovers the possibility of time travel, while also confronting the lingering shadow of Nazism in the lives of his two new friends. After seating the jurors and accredited guests, the general audience will be admitted until capacity is reached.
In Sala Truffaut at 10:00 AM, the Generator +13 jurors will experience the challenging story of Camila. At fifteen, after her mother is involved in a serious accident, she returns to live with her estranged father. Her encounter with Diego, a 28-year-old rock singer, further complicates her situation. “The skin of the water” is directed by Puerto Rican filmmaker Patricia Velásquez (Costa Rica/Chile, 2024, 79′).
The second screening for “Ollie”, directed by French filmmaker Antoine Besse, will take place at 6:30 PM in Sala Galileo, for Generator +13. (France, 2024, 102′). The film follows Pierre, a bullying victim who is also struggling with his move to his father’s farm after the sudden death of his mother. His passion for skateboarding and a new, special friend named Bertrand offer him a lifeline. Entry is restricted to those aged 13 and older, with priority given to jurors and accredited guests.
At 2:30 PM in Sala Truffaut, Generator +16 will enter the world of Lucia, a shy and sensitive sixteen-year-old facing the first emotional upheavals of life alongside a new friend. “Little trouble girls” (Slovenia/Italy/Croatia, 2025, 89′), directed by Urška Djukić, explores themes important to teens such as sexuality and the difficulty of holding onto childhood values. Entry is limited to those aged 16 and older, with priority given to jurors and accredited guests.
In Sala Blu at 10:00 AM, Generator +18 jurors will reflect on themes of immigration and its emotional impact. “Mongrels” by Jerome Yoo (Canada, 2024, 106′) is set in rural 1990s Canada, where a Korean family struggles to find their way in a new land.
A second screening of “Xoftex” by Noaz Deshe (Germany/France, 2024, 99′) is scheduled at 6:30 PM in Sala Verde, also for Generator +18. The film centers on Palestinian-Syrian teenager Nasser and his older brother Yassin, who are stuck in a Greek refugee camp while awaiting asylum. Amid comedic sketches and zombie films, they dream of moving to Sweden, even as tensions rise within the camp. Entry is restricted to those aged 18 and older, with priority access for jurors and accredited guests.
For cinema-loving parents, the Parental Experience section offers “Nottefonda” by Giuseppe Miale Di Mauro (Italy, 2024, 86’ – Italian version), screening at 10:00 AM in Sala Galileo. The film follows Ciro, obsessed with finding the red car that killed his wife, while his son Luigi tries to dissuade him from revenge. But the tragedy they’ve endured is not the only one: new developments force them to face reality. Entry is limited to adults, with priority for parents of Elements +6 and +10 participants. General audience admitted subject to availability.
In the Gex Doc section, “Cutting through rocks” by Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni (Iran/Germany/USA, 2025, 95′) is scheduled at 4:00 PM in Sala Galileo. It tells the story of Sara Shahverdi, divorced, a motorcyclist and a former midwife. Determined to advance her community, she aims to break deeply rooted patriarchal traditions by teaching teenage girls to ride motorcycles and fighting against the phenomenon of child brides. Entry is restricted to adults, with priority for parents from the Elements +6 and +10 sections, subject to availability.