Diego Benzoni, Samuela Lepori, and Anna Simonetti have been awarded the 2026 writing residencies at Casa Pantrovà

The City of Lugano - in collaboration with Casa della Letteratura for Italian-speaking Switzerland, the Italian-speaking Switzerland Directing and Screenwriting Group, the Ticino Film Commission, the Castellinaria Young Filmmakers Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, and the Office for Cultural Support of the Canton of Ticino - has once again this year awarded three residencies for screenwriting projects at Casa Pantrovà in Carona.

The proposals that won over the jury were those by Diego Benzoni, Samuela Lepori, and Anna Simonetti from Ticino. The jury – composed of Erik Bernasconi (Directing and Screenwriting Group of Italian-speaking Switzerland), Laura Brenni (Culture Division of the City of Lugano), Jacopo Greppi (Castellinaria Young Filmmakers’ Festival), Maura Käppeli (DECS: Canton of Ticino’s Office for Cultural Support), Daniela Persico (Locarno Film Festival), Milena Stokar (Ticino Film Commission), and Mara Travella (House of Literature for Italian-speaking Switzerland) – unanimously selected the projects for the following reasons:

Diego Benzoni – San Domino

With the San Domino project, Diego Benzoni presents a fictional short film inspired by the true story of the internment of homosexuals imposed by the fascist regime on the island of San Domino, in the Tremiti Islands. The filmmaker’s intention is to focus on the theatrical performances that the internees organized on the island as an act of resistance and affirmation of their identity. The jury felt it was important to give voice to a forgotten story – a sensitive account centered on humanity and its capacity for resilience – that also resonates with an audience of young adults. For this reason, his project has been awarded the grant dedicated to the creators of Casa Pantrovà, Lisa Tetzner and Kurt Kläber.

Samuela Lepori – L’ultima estate sull’alpe

L'ultima estate sull’alpe is a feature-length film project loosely based on the 1926 novel La grande peur dans la montagne by Swiss writer Charles Ferdinand Ramuz. The project transposes Ramuz’s story to the Ticino setting of the Bavona Valley and the Basodino Glacier. The film centers on the theme of fear, the relationship between the valley and the alp, and how the inhabitants of these two worlds interact. All of this unfolds against a backdrop of growing suspicion and terror linked to a mysterious illness. The mountain landscape, far removed from bucolic stereotypes, serves here as an indifferent and austere witness to human suffering. Although still in its early stages, Samuela Lepori’s concept won over the jury with its great visual and evocative potential.

Anna Simonetti – Ouro Preto

Anna Simonetti’s ambitious project tells the story of a woman’s emigration from Ticino to Brazil in search of gold during the first wave of migration from Ticino (1869). The originality of Simonetti’s project lies in her decision to place at the center of her narrative the precious metal around which human beings have built a system of values, rules, and concepts that are now an integral part of our society. The jury was won over by this story of female migration, which, through the lens of gold, prompts reflection on our contemporary world and the structure of Western society.

Once again this year, one of the winning projects has been selected for the Locarno Residency. Anna Simonetti, with her project Ouro Preto, will therefore have the opportunity to present her proposal during the Locarno Film Festival to a jury composed of three prominent figures from the film industry. The jury will select the top three projects – two international and one Swiss – from among those presented, and these projects will have the opportunity to continue with a mentorship program consisting of multiple sessions held both online and in person over the course of a year. Diego Benzoni’s project San Domino, on the other hand, has been selected to be featured at the upcoming Castellinaria Young Filmmakers Festival. The jury felt that his work, in addition to its historical significance, serves as an important testament to the formation of identity and the resilience of a community in the face of extremist repression – themes that are therefore fundamental and resonate with a young adult audience.

For the first time since the Casa Pantrovà residencies were established in 2021, the residency period in Carona does not coincide with the dates of the Locarno Film Festival. In fact, drawing on the experience of previous years, it was deemed beneficial to move the residency forward by one month, from July 5 to August 2, to allow residents greater continuity in their work and the opportunity to refine their projects in preparation for the August film festival and the numerous events for industry professionals organized for this occasion.

Once again this year, an event will be organized to bring together guests, cultural professionals, and the public to share their ongoing experiences.