On Saturday, September 19, 2026, the press conference for the presentation of the Grifo Festival – International Short Film Perugia – took place in the Sala della Vaccara of Palazzo dei Priori. This initiative is inspired by the United Nations Orange the World campaign against gender violence.
Not a program announcement, but the start of a journey: the festival aims to use cinema and artistic languages as tools for non-frontal education and active participation, with the stated objective of eradicating the roots of violence, not just counteracting its effects.
The vision presented at the conference is that of «a new world, where everyone is given the opportunity to speak with their own language», in which freedom and equality are pillars of civil coexistence. The chosen method is explicit: no lectures, but active involvement — particularly of young people, invited to share their vision of equality, respect, and combating violence through short films, artistic projects, and social initiatives.
A project linked to the 2030 Agenda
The Grifo Festival is directly linked to four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality: combating stereotypes and dynamics of oppression that lead to violence;
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: giving a voice to often marginalized individuals and communities;
- SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: a culture of respect, dialogue, and fundamental rights;
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: a network among public bodies, schools and universities, cultural organizations, media, and civil society.
Endorsements and Recognitions
The initiative is presented with the patronage of the Comune di Perugia and with the Patronage of Rai, granted by the Rai Partnerships structure in recognition of shared principles and values evoked by the project.
During the meeting, the association's president, Maria Grazia Luchetti, donated an artwork symbolizing resistance to violence to Francesca Di Luca of the State Police: a gesture that links artistic sensitivity to the daily commitment of those who confront violence in the field.
The journey continues
The festival's cultural framework will extend beyond short films, including literature, art, and science, until the Grifo Festival 2027 edition, expected in September 2027. Institutions, cultural organizations, associations, schools, media, and citizens are invited to participate as ambassadors of the values of Orange the World: equality, respect, solidarity, and dialogue.