ROME (ITALPRESS) – Once again this year, on the occasion of the 35th Telethon Foundation Marathon on Rai networks, scheduled from Saturday, Dec. 14 to Sunday, Dec. 22, Rai Cinema has made a short film for Fondazione Telethon directed by Francesca Archibugi and produced by Fandango with Rai Cinema. The short film, titled “Una giornata pazzesca,” tells the story of Maria Vittoria, known to her friends as “Mavi,” a 10-year-old girl suffering from SMA, spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular disorder characterized by the progressive death of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the spinal cord that impart movement commands to muscles. SMA affects about 1 in every 10,000 newborns and is the most common genetic cause of infant death.For this disease, thanks to the Telethon Foundation, 37 research projects have been funded and 51 researchers have been involved.Mavi has a big dream, that of becoming a famous journalist, which she fulfills in the short film because she meets and interviews President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who for the first time appears in a short film in which he plays himself as an actor.”This is a small film that gave me more emotions than a colossal: getting to know the important and tireless research work of the Telethon Foundation for rare children’s diseases, meeting the imaginative and optimistic spirit of Mavi, a ten-year-old girl suffering from SMA and wheelchair-bound since birth, the beauty and privilege of filming at the Quirinale and directing President Mattarella. Who is not only the extraordinary man we all know, but also a person of infinite sweetness and irony. After each take, I could hear him asking Mavi: how do you think we did?” says director Francesca Archibugi. “Una giornata pazzesca is a story that encompasses dreams and hopes, those of the small and volcanic Mavi and those of the Telethon study and research. Fandango is proud to have been involved in this project as a producer, so we thank the Telethon Foundation and Rai Cinema, the director Francesca Archibugi and all those who participated, with irony and willingness: the crew and cast, Mavi and her family, our President Mattarella and all his staff,” say Domenico Procacci and Laura Paolucci, producers of Fandango.”It has been 19 years that Rai Cinema has stood by the side of Fondazione Telethon in the battle against rare diseases, in the belief that the power of images and cinema sometimes exceeds that of words,” commented Paolo Del Brocco, Rai Cinema CEO. “This, however, is a special year. From the idea of one of the authors to whom we are most attached and fond of, Francesca Archibugi, a small film was born that has something truly unique, indeed extraordinary. The willingness shown by our President is unprecedented, and the message of hope that he conveys to little Mavi and to each of us to try to achieve our dreams is a great gift for everyone,” he added. “We are very proud of the short film directed by Francesca Archibugi and we sincerely thank all those who contributed to the realization of the work. Mavi is at the center of this story with the resourcefulness and awareness she demonstrates every day and sends an important message to the many young people who live the challenge of disability. Their desire to become great and autonomous is a precious asset while our responsibility is to support them with every possible tool. The participation of President Mattarella honors us and confirms the attention that the Quirinale has always shown to the mission of Fondazione Telethon,” said Ilaria Villa, Director General of Fondazione Telethon.This is the nineteenth short film produced by Rai Cinema for Fondazione Telethon and will be broadcast through all digital channels of the Foundation, Rai and Fandango and on the Quirinale website.From December 20 to 22, the short film will also be screened at the 80 cinemas of the UniCi circuit, a network of independent cinemas distributed throughout the country https://www.unicicinema.it/.
– Quirinal press office photo –
(ITALPRESS).
