The 5th edition of Cinema Barch-in, the boat drive-in, will start on Sunday, July 7th, transforming the historic Venice Arsenale into a space of entertainment and music for 5 evenings, with the support of the Municipality of Venice, Vela Spa, and the Italian Navy.
This morning the press conference to present the event was held at Ca' Farsetti, which saw the presence of Tourism City Councillor, Simone Venturini, the Operations Director of Vela Spa, Fabrizio D'Oria, the Division Admiral of the Italian Navy in Venice, Commander of the Institute of Maritime Military Studies and the Military Navy Garrison of Venice, Andrea Petroni, Nicola Scopelliti of Cinema Barch-in, and Maria Parisi from the FEMS du Cinéma Association.
The event, among the winners of the 2024 Cultural Grant from the Venice Foundation, is part of the "Marco Polo 700" and "Le Città in Festa" calendars. After the inaugural evening on July 7, the event will resume from Thursday, July 11, until Sunday, July 14, renewing the collaboration with Campari, which over the years has forged an increasingly inseparable bond with the world of cinema.
The 2024 edition, curated by FEMS du Cinéma, aims to pay homage to Marco Polo, the most famous Venetian explorer of all time, on the 700th anniversary of his death. The theme of this edition is particularly inspired by his journey along the Silk Road, as narrated in the manuscript “Il Milione”.
This work, considered one of the most fascinating texts of the 13th century, is recognized as the first contribution to mutual knowledge between Asia and Europe, and it is to this idea of a journey of mutual knowledge, coexistence, and exchange that the artistic program of the 2024 edition of Barch-in aspires. Cinema Barch-in 2024 thus gathers influences, inspirations, and suggestions from Marco Polo's travels, much like every traveller transformed by their travel experiences.
"Without the Navy, it would not be possible to organize Barch-in in the splendid setting of the Arsenale," commented City Councillor Venturini. "This event has become a tradition in the city and is now an integral part of the Venetian summer cultural program. I recall that the idea of Barch-in was born during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to a series of limitations and regulations and Venice, in its uniqueness, was well-suited to launch such an initiative. From the start, the City administration endorsed the proposal of the boat cinema under the stars, despite some technical difficulties regarding the use of boats, but its uniqueness has classified this initiative as one of the highlights of the Venetian summer. An event that has grown and improved over the years, characterized by a strong connection to the city and the element of water. We want to continue supporting the Barch-in project, like many others in the cultural sphere, expanding the offer to residents and beyond who stay in the city during the summer. It is initiatives like this that fuel participation and create community."
To commemorate the explorer's journey, the movie "Le Avventure di Marco Polo", by Emanuele Luzzati and Giulio Gianini, will be screened during the event. The work, with a total duration of 35 minutes, was commissioned by Rai in 1971 and will be presented at Barch-in divided into three parts, on three different evenings of the event, starting with the inaugural night. This will be in collaboration with the Carlo Montanaro Archive - Fabbrica del vedere and with the permission of Rai Teche.
In addition to Marco Polo, Cinema Barch-in 2024 also intends to pay tribute to the Italian Navy, which has hosted the event since its first edition in the unique location of the Arsenale of Venice, dedicating the first evening to the screening of the film "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World", which, in addition to the theme of exploration, offers a glimpse into maritime life.
During the conference, Admiral and Commander of the Institute of Maritime Military Studies, Andrea Petroni, stated: "Barch-in is an event that the Navy is happy to host every year, both because it is an initiative supported by young people and because it allows the spaces and waters of the Arsenale to be opened up for the benefit of the population. I am very pleased that the Navy can contribute to this experience."
The other evenings will maintain the traditional variety of genres and cinematic styles that characterize the program, with "Belfast" by Kenneth Branagh and an evening dedicated to younger audiences and animated cinema, in collaboration with the Venezia Comix Association, which will bring "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" to the screen, echoing the evocative tales of the Arabian Nights and the Odyssey. On Saturday, July 13, the usual Surprise Film evening will be held, presented again this year by Cineclub Venezia and dedicated to oriental cinema.
A brand-new addition to this edition of Cinema Barch-in will be the screening of a sports match on the big screen instead of a film: on Sunday, July 14, the final of the Euro 2024 European Football Championships will be shown, accompanied by an introduction and commentary by Nicolò Groja of Radio Ca’ Foscari with Emanuele Meschini and Marco Paladini.
The FEMS du Cinéma cultural association, which every year curates the artistic program of the event, has another new feature this year. For Barch-in 2024, a Short Film Contest on Water has been introduced, dedicated to works lasting a maximum of 15 minutes. The five finalist short films will be screened during the event, in the pre-film slot on three different evenings, and the winner will be awarded on Sunday, July 14.
"Once again, Vela, under the direction of the City of Venice, supports Cinema Barch-in, an event born during the pandemic and now part of the public events schedule that sees the northern section of the Arsenale, open to the city and usable every day, also thanks to the shuttle service that connects it with the Giardino delle Vergini and the exhibition spaces of the Biennale Arte 2024," added director Fabrizio D'Oria. "An initiative particularly designed for citizens who can enjoy a magical evening of cinema and music under the stars, in respect of the historic complex of the Arsenale and in perfect harmony with the very nature of the lagoon city," he concluded.
Cinema Barch-in is a free event created for the citizens of Venice, conceived and produced by Nicola Scopelliti, Silvia Rasia, and Caterina Groli in collaboration with FEMS du Cinéma.
