REEL awarded at the Youth4Sea Project Fair in Ancona
01/06/2026
On Monday, May 25, 2026, in Ancona, the Youth4Sea event brought together young people, institutions, project representatives and stakeholders to discuss the future of territorial cooperation between Italy and Croatia, with a particular focus on youth participation, cross-border collaboration and the role of younger generations in shaping future Interreg initiatives.
As part of the event, the Project Fair offered a dedicated space for selected projects to present their activities, results and impact. Among them was REEL, led by Apulia Film Commission, which took part in the fair to share the project’s vision and to highlight the role of cinema and audiovisual storytelling as tools for cooperation, territorial promotion and dialogue between communities.
During the fair, the REEL stand welcomed many participants interested in learning more about the project, its activities and the way it uses film and audiovisual languages to promote lesser-known territories across the Adriatic area.
The strong interest shown by participants was reflected in the award REEL received at the end of the Project Fair. The project was recognised not only as the best project among those presented, but also as the project that participants said they would have most liked to take part in personally.
This recognition confirms REEL’s ability to speak to younger generations and to actively involve them in the enhancement of the cultural, natural and identity heritage of the Adriatic area. It also highlights the potential of the audiovisual sector as a strategic tool to connect people and places, promote lesser-known destinations and create new opportunities for cooperation.
A particularly meaningful contribution came from Roberto Trainotti, a 21-year-old filmmaker from Trentino who took part in REEL activities. Roberto was selected among the Italian young participants involved in the Cross-border Youth Camp, held in Dubrovnik in October 2025 and hosted by project partner Kinematografi Dubrovnik. The camp was designed to strengthen participants’ skills in cinema and directing, guiding them through the process of creating a short film, from writing to production.
The award received in Ancona represents an important milestone for REEL and for the whole partnership. It confirms the value of a project that combines creativity, youth engagement, European cooperation and territorial development, while reinforcing the strategic role of audiovisual storytelling in building bridges between Italy and Croatia.
