Atelier Pelikula is an international project for young people from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, including those from Istria, Trieste, and Rijeka. This innovative initiative, carried out by the organizations Sonda from Vižinada, Filmaktiv from Rijeka, Primi Piani APS from Trieste, and the Municipality of Vižinada is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program.

Atelier Pelikula is a ten-month-long international project that began in September 2024 and will run until June 2025. Initiated by Sonda in Vižinada, it aims to promote social inclusion, creative expression, and intercultural exchange. The core activity is a series of film workshops where young participants will learn about filmmaking, develop their video projects, and address topics they find meaningful. Workshops in Vižinada, Rijeka, and Monfalcone are led by mentors—experts in film art and representatives of the participating organizations. They include Davor Sanvincenti, a multimedia artist whose work focuses on the phenomenology of audiovisual experiences and the anthropology of visual culture; Maša Drndić, an artist, designer, and documentary filmmaker exploring themes of identity, belonging, and collective memory and Massimo Mucchiut, a filmmaker specializing in documentaries and reports on complex topics such as human rights, the environment, society, and minorities.

The project involves young participants aged 16–25 from the Bengali community in Monfalcone, immigrants from Ukraine and the Middle East in Rijeka, and youth from rural parts of Istria. The result will be videos addressing socially relevant issues. This is an exceptional opportunity for young people, especially those facing social or economic challenges, to express themselves creatively, develop new skills, and build confidence in a supportive environment. All interested young people who belong to the specified target groups and wish to participate can contact the involved organizations for more information. In addition to the workshops, international film industry experts will deliver lectures, sharing global practices and examples of working with vulnerable youth. These insights will equip the mentors with methods they can apply in their own communities. The project, led by Sonda, is driven by the belief that creativity can bridge social inclusion and intercultural exchange. As a long-standing advocate for regional initiatives, Sonda reaffirms its commitment to fostering young people’s creative potential and enriching the cultural life of the local community.

“Sonda has always believed in the transformative power of creativity to improve communities. Atelier Pelikula embodies this idea—a project that uses film to empower young people and give them a voice in a supportive environment. Our mission was to create an opportunity where Vižinada becomes a hub for ideas, exchange, and inspiration for young people from the region and Europe. This project not only benefits the youth but also adds a new dimension to the cultural life of our community, establishing Vižinada as part of the European cultural landscape”, said Silvija Kovačić, Executive Director of the Sonda Association.

Through this collaboration, the project aims to strengthen the capacities of the participating organizations, creating long-term partnerships and enabling the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Special emphasis is placed on non-formal education and inclusion, with the goal of developing methodologies that these and similar organizations can use as a foundation for future projects targeting vulnerable youth groups. The project seeks to promote integration, intercultural learning, and intersectoral collaboration, reducing cultural, economic, and geographical barriers through the medium of film art.

A key partner, the Municipality of Vižinada, actively supports the project and demonstrates the importance of strengthening public policies aimed at youth and social inclusion. Atelier Pelikula thus represents a significant step toward empowering the community and supporting young people, helping them express themselves through art and face the challenges of modern life.

The project is funded under the small-scale partnership program KA-210-YOU by the Agency for Mobility and EU Programs as part of Erasmus+, co-financed by the European Union.

For more information about the Erasmus+ program, visit the websites of the national agency AMPEU and the European Commission.