Promotional Events

Date:

09/03/2020

Main promotional events organized by the Consulate of Italy in Kolkata during 2022

Ottobre 2022

- Seminar “Choosing Italy for Movies and Special Events” was organised by the Consulate General of Italy, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture. Film directors, film producers, tour operators, travel agencies and event mangers got the opportunity of interacting with Giordano Bruno Guerri, President of Fondazione Il Vittoriale degli Italiani and with Roberto Stabile, Head of Special Projects of the DGCA of the MiC at Cinecittà.
The incentives from the Italian ministry for film productions in Italy, as well as for the distribution of Italian movies in India were explained during the seminar and the B2B session. Il Vittoriale degli Italiani, Lago di Garda, Erice and Collodi (Known in the world for Pinocchio) were specifically promoted as possible destinations for tourism, film productions and special events.

- "Signing of the MoU between Jorasanko Thakurbari and Fondazione Il Vittoriale degli Italiani"
The Signing of the MoU for the twinning between Jorasanko Thakurbari and Fondazione Il Vittoriale degli Italiani was organised by the Consulate General of Italy in collaboration with Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. Giordano Bruno Guerri, President, Fondazione Il Vittoriale degli Italiani, and Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhary, Vice Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University, have signed an MoU between two of the most-visited "House Museums" of poets in the world, with a view to enhancing cultural relations between Italy and India.

- The Screening of the film ‘Il Cattivo Poeta’‘Il Cattivo Poeta’ by Gianluca Jodice, on the last years in the life of the great poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, was organised at Netaji Bhawan, Kolkata. The importance of the Italian writer and his connections with India were discussed by Giordano Bruno Guerri, President of ‘Fondazione Il Vittoriale degli Italiani’. Roberto Stabile, ‘Head of Special Projects of the DGCA of the MiC at Cinecittà’, was also present.

September 2022

- Workshop on "Restoration of paintings": A workshop on “Painting Restoration” was organised together with Kolkata Institute of Art Conservation. The modern restoration techniques were explained to the young Indian artists, through some practical examples.

- Seminar on Wildlife Conservation in India: A seminar on wildlife conservation in India, focusing on the royal Bengal tiger, was organised by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata. Participants got the opportunity to interact with eminent personalities and experts such as Debal Ray, Indian Forest Services, Anurag Danda, Director of the Sundarbans Program of WWF – India and Mario Liberali, curator of the exhibition.

- 2 WORKSHOPS ON PAINTING AND APPLICATION OF MIX MEDIA ON CANVAS: Inspired and guided by the Italian artists Maurizio Boscheri and Daniel Calovi, and with the special participation of Katayun Saklat, the students of art schools in Kolkata (Government College of Art & Craft, NSHM Knowledge Campus) and some art-lovers took part in the 2 workshops at the Kolkata Center for Creativity, painting a subject inspired by the works of the visiting Italian artists.

- TIGRIS: THE QUEEN of WILDLIFE: Exhibition of oil on canvas and mixed media "TIGRIS: THE QUEEN of WILDLIFE" by Maurizio Boscheri and Daniel Calovi, curated by Mario Liberali, organised at EMAMI Art Gallery (KCC) (17-25 September 2022) to celebrate the national animal of India, the royal Bengal tiger.

- Seminar: The Consul General of Italy, Gianluca Rubagotti and the CEO & Secretary General of The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Claudio Maffioletti, addressing the members of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce on possible collaborations in the field of HORTICULTURE in India with italian technology.

- “Remembering Dante”: To commemorate Dante Alighieri’s 700th death anniversary, the students of Fine Arts of Viswa-Bhrarati University created nine pieces of art-works, inspired by the Divine Comedy, using different forms of artistic expression, such as oil on canvas, watercolours, digital art, sculpture, installation. An exhibition was therefore organized at Kala Bhawan, in Shantiniketan, curated by Sanchayan Ghosh and inaugurated by the Consul General of Italy in Kolkata Gianluca Rubagotti, together with the professors of Viswa-Bhrarati University.

August 2022

Third edition of the High Tea with the students, at Fire And Ice Pizzeria. The CG of Italy meets with a group of students who are ready to leave Kolkata to pursue their higher studies in Italy. Different cities, different courses, but the same enthusiasm for a new chapter of their life which opens up. Great interaction with three young Kolkatans, Sonia, Vedika and Rashni, who studied in Italy and now are back to Kolkata with their baggage of knowledge and experience in and for the city and its people.

July 2022

Worlds of Poets - Dante, Tagore and D'Annunzio: a literature seminar was organised by the Consulate General of Italy in collaboration with Victoria Memorial, to strengthen cultural collaborations between Italy and India through literature, in the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. The seminar was focused on the life and works of three eminent poets: Dante Alighieri, Rabindranath Tagore and Gabriele D'Annunzio.

The seminar was held at Victoria Memorial (Conference Hall), with opening addresses from Jayanta Sengupta (Secretary & Curator, Victoria Memorial Hall) and Gianluca Rubagotti (Consul General of Italy in Kolkata). The keynote address was by Prof. Sukanta Chaudhuri (Professor Emeritus, Jadavpur University), highlighting the influences of Italian poets, especially Dante Alighieri, on the Bengal Renaissance and Rabindranath Tagore’s works.
A video message from Italy has followed, to kick off the process which will unite two of the most-visited house-museums of the world: il Vittoriale degli Italiani and Jorasanko Thakur Bari.

A series of papers were then presented: by Mario Prayer (Sapienza University, Rome), on the cultural relations between Italy and Bengal, by Sujata Mukherjee (Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata) on the roles of man and nature in Tagore’s work, by Giordano Bruno Guerri (President “Vittoriale degli Italiani”, Gardone Riviera), on the Indian footprints in D’Annunzio’s life, by Pietro Gibellini (Ca’ Foscari University, Venice), on the influence of Dante Alighieri on D’Annunzio’s works. The last two papers have highlighted other artistic forms, such as dance, by Aishika Chakraborty (Jadavpur University, Kolkata), and music, by Luisa Prayer (Conservatory of Music ‘Giuseppe Verdi’, Milan).

The seminar was followed by the launch of ‘Suddhilok’, the Bengali translation by Alpana Ghosh of Il Purgatorio by Dante Alighieri, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, which has been published by Jadavpur University Press.

June 2022

- A preview of the oil on canvas and mixed media paintings by Maurizio Boscheri and Daniel Calovi on the Royal Bengal Tiger was organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata at Taal Kutir on the occasion of the Italian National Day.

- Photographic Exhibition "Photographs of Italy -- Fotografie dell'Italia" of Gabriele Basilico (From Friday 3rd June 2022 to 19th June 2022) was organised in collaboration with Archivio Gabriele Basilico, Milano at Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata.

- Five Seminars/Guided Tours conducted by Nola Minolfi of the exhibition “Photographs of Italy -- Fotografie dell'Italia" by Gabriele Basilico on 4th, 7th, 10th, 12th & 16th June 2022. The students of Rabindra Bharati University, NSHM knowledge Campus, National Academy of Photography, Calcutta School of Contemporary Photography and Sister Nivedita University enjoyed exploring the exhibition and the work of Gabriele Basilico with the Italian artist Nola Minolfi.

May 2022

- Kolkata-Naples Friendship Cup for Girls: the football tournament with tribal and various minority girls was held on 13, 14 and 15 May 2022 at the Tollygunge Police Line Grounds. The football tournament, with the patronage of the Municipality of Naples and the support of the Consulate General of Italy in Calcutta, was organized to provide girls from difficult social backgrounds with emancipation, trust and self-esteem.

- A show of traditional bengali art (pathachitra, hand puppets and puppets) representing the story of Pinocchio. The Italian tale of Pinocchio was rendered in a Bengali puppet show fusing Italian music, sight and sounds. The event was organised by FREED in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata.

- Giornata dell'Europa (il 9 maggio 2022) "Day of Europe (9th May 2022)" – Screening of the film “The STARTUP: acendi il tuo futuro”.

April 2022

- Dance Solo Performance by the Italian choreographer Matteo Sedda in collaboration with the local visual artist Rudra Kishore Mandal, directed by Stefano Fardellli, supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata.

- WORKSHOP ON PERFORMING ART “DANCE” - the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata, in collaboration with the School of Performing Arts, Sister Nivedita University, has organized this International Dance Workshop. The contemporary & urban dance choreographer Stefano Fardelli has conducted the Workshop for 40 students.

- WORKSHOP ON PAINTING - the Consulate General of Italy in Calcutta, in collaboration with the Department of Fine Arts and Design, Sister Nivedita University, organized a workshop on painting. The Italian artist Maurizio Boscheri and his curator Mario Liberali conducted the Workshop with about 30 students.

- Mural Painting (2 April 2022 to 8 April 2022) Maurizio Boscheri, an Italian wildlife painter, has come especially to Kolkata (accompanied by his curator Mario Liberali) to paint a spectacular mural in Gariahat in association with artists from the Government College of Arts. This is a gift by him and the people of Italy to the City of Kolkata and its inhabitants. The project was organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata in collaboration with 71 Palli Baishaki Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity, a women-only organization.

- Charity dinner with the Rotary Club of Calcutta (Kolkata) to raise funds for the Bengal Tiger: the dinner focused on the theme "Save the tiger" with the Italian wildlife painter Maurizio Boscheri and his curator Mario Liberali. A contemporary dance show by Matteo Sedda choreographed by Stefano Fardelli was also perfomed.

- The Bengal Global Business Summit 2022 ( 20th and 21st April 2022) in Kolkata. Seminar on the opportunities of business partnerships between Italy and West Bengal, India, was organised with the Embassy of Italy, Italian Trade Commission, Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce (IICCI), Italian Export Credit Agency-SACE, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

March 2022

- "Due Fiumi: A Confluence of Poetry, Dance and Music on the Tiber and the Ganges: the event was organised onboard a Luxury River Cruise to honour the two important rivers of Italy and India. The performance by the first dancer of foreign origin conferred with the Padma Shri award, lIeana Citaristi, an Italian-born Odissi dancer, has once again shown the rich cultural connections between Italy & India. A video on the Tiber by Giancarlo Cammerini followed, accompanied by the poem recitation of Luigi Pirandello’s “Pianto del Tevere" (Cry of the Tiber) by Sujay Prasad Chatterjee (English) and Marco Luly (Italian). The music was composed & directed by Rohan Dasgupta (sitar), Abir Naha (flute), Swarnendu Mandal (sarod) and Arunava Mukherjee (tabla).

- Tata Steel Bhubaneshwar Literary Meet 2022: the Consul General of Italy in Kolkata has participated for the first time, together with Padma Shree awardee Iliana Citaristi, at a panel of Tata Steel Bhubaneshwar Literary Meet 2022. The conversation with Malavika Banerjee was on the traces of Italians in India in the past few centuries, up to today. The Italian Odissi dancer Iliana Citaristi shared her experience of living in Odisha for more than 40 years.

- Seminar on furthering business opportunities in various fields in Orissa in collaboration with Embassy of Italy, Italian Trade Commission, Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce (IICCI), SACE, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) & Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) with the SMEs & business leaders of Odisha. In front of an audience of more than 70 local businessmen, the presentations focussed on 5 specific sectors: food processing, agricultural machinery, port logistics, tourism, mining and heavy industry machinery.

- Seminar: Pursuing Post Graduate Engineering Courses in Italy: the Consulate General of Italy in collaboration with the Government of Odisha hosted a seminar on pursuing Post-Graduate Engineering Courses in Italy. The students and the faculties of the main universities of Odisha interacted directly with Gianluca Rubagotti - Consul General of Italy in Kolkata, Federica Maria Giove - Director of Uni-Italia India, Prof. Nicola Saccani – Associate Professor at University of Brescia, Italy & Mr. Suman Kumar Das - PHD Student at the University of Brescia, Italy. The participants were given an insight of the various study opportunities in Italy as well as the prospects of availing of merit-based scholarships.

- “Due Fiumi - A Confluence of Poetry, Dance and Music on the Tiber and the Ganges” was organised by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata at a hotel in Bhubaneshwar: a rare blend of various art forms was brought to life by artists from Italy & India.
The Odissi dance choreographed & performed by Padma Shri awardee Ileana Citaristi has once again shown how India & Italy are culturally linked with each other. The music for the whole event was composed & directed by Rohan Dasgupta. The poem ‘Pianto del Tevere – Cry of the Tiber’, by Luigi Pirandello, was recited by Sunil Bhagwani in Italian and Jatin Nayak in Oria.

-Tata Literature Festival, Kolkata - Panel 1 "Italian Brahmin to Firpo" the Consul General of Italy, Gianluca Rubagotti in Kolkata participated with Isabella Nardi & Manu Pillai in conversation with Sujaan Mukherjee. The Italian footprints across India were discussed during the talk.

- Tata Literature Festival, Kolkata - Panel 2 "Dante’s Divine Comedy - A 700-Year Journey" the Consul General of Italy, Gianluca Rubagotti talking about Dante Alighieri in conversation with Samantak Das. The impact on Bengali literature of one of the world's greatest literary masterpieces, the "Divine Comedy", was discussed by Sukanta Chaudhuri and Doyeeta Majumdar.

- SANJH KAAHON EPISODE XX, Lecture presentation by Isabella Nardi “Indian Art in Italy, Italian Artists in India” organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata in collaboration with the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata.

February 2022

- Your Voice Matters:a presentation of the art works of Nola Minolfi on 17/Feb/2022 to a group of 15-20 women at the Italian restaurant Fire and Ice Pizzeria Kolkata.

- Photo exhibition on Tram/Wheels (19/Feb/2022 to 27/Feb/2022) – second part of “From Kolkata to Italy: of souls in celebration”. A selection of photographs displayed on two tram wagons in three different depots of Kolkata (Esplanade, Shyambazar, Gariahat). Photographs by: Rajib De (Kolkata), Alessandro Rosani, Giuseppe Ialuna & Rossana Coslovi (Italy).

- The Consulate General of Italy participated with the Italian Pavilion at the 45th International Kolkata Book Fair 2022, from 28/February/2022 to 13/March/2022 at Central Park, Salt Lake, Kolkata.

              – Photo exhibition of the selected photographs “From Kolkata to Italy” part 1 & 2.
              – Photo exhibition of the photographs of the 2 adventures of Puchki & Cookie in Italy.
             – Launch of the Catalogue based on the photographic exhibition “From Kolkata to Italy” part 1 & 2.
              – “Love, Tragedy Eternity” an interdisciplinary spectacle based on the story of doomed lovers Paolo & Francesca, drawing reference from Dante Alighieri's "La Divina Commedia", performed by Dancers' Guild.

January 2022

- A virtual seminar (28/Jan/2022) was organised by the Consulate General of in Italy in Kolkata in collaboration with the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IICCI) with the Horticulture Department, Government of Nagaland on projects related to growing fruits with Italian agro technology.

Main promotional events organized by the Consulate of Italy in Kolkata during 2021

December 2021

- In collaboration with the Centro Nazionale del Cortometraggio, Italy and the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata, the Italian Consulate has celebrated the 2021 Edition of "10 Italian Short Films Around the World".

- Christmas Concert & High Tea 2021 was organised at Kenilworth Hotel on 12th December 2021. Christmas Carols have been sung by the Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys Academy & Calcutta Blind School with Kanishka at the Piano.

- Special Screening of the Italian Film OTTO E MEZZO (with English subtitles), a film by Legendary Director FEDERICO FELLINI, Starring MARCELLO MASTROIANNI & CLAUDIA CARDINALE at NEW EMPIRE CINEMA on 17th of December, 2021.

- KCC –Laboratory –Love, Tragedy & Eternity.

November 2021

- Seminar to honour the life and works of Mr. Louis Mandelli: The Consulate General of Italy in collaboration with FREED in Kurseong organised a seminar to honour the life and works of Mr. Louis Mandelli, an ornithologist of Italian origin who spent a significant part of his life in the Darjeeling region. Among the speakers, Massimo Spadoni, Scientific Attaché from the Embassy of Italy, New Delhi, elaborated on the effects of climate change on vulnerable lands, with a particular attention to tea plantations, which are widespread in the region of Darjeeling.

- Photographic exhibition "Sacred Rivers, Streams of Knowledge: The Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata in collaboration with the West Bengal Transport Corporation inaugurated the photography exhibition "Sacred Rivers, Streams of Knowledge" aboard the Kolkata Heritage River Cruise on 10th November 2021.
The exhibition comprises photos of the river Tiber, in Italy and of the Ganges in India, captured by Italian photographer Mr. Giancarlo Cammerini @giancarlo.cammerini at various locations starting from their sources until their merging with the seas.
The performance was followed by a seminar in which Massimo Spadoni, Scientific Attaché from the Embassy of Italy, New Delhi, and Debal Deb, biologist and ecologist explained the role of rivers in the ecosystem and their cultural and environmental significance, emphasising the detrimental effects of climate change.

- Exhibition, the adventures of “Puchki and Cookie in Italy" has been organised by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata in collaboration with the Kolkata Police Museum. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Commissioner of Police, Soumen Mitra, IPS, with the Consul General of Italy.

- "Pizza Napoletana" to kick off the celebrations of the 6th edition of the "WORLD WEEK OF ITALIAN CUISINE". This event was held at the premises of the Italian Consulate in Kolkata with the participation of the Italian cuisine lovers from different walks of life.

- "LA NONNA ENCOUNTERS THE STAR” -Special Italian Dinner by “Michelin Star Chef Adriano Baldassarre – was held at the Fire And Ice Pizzeria, Kolkata to Celebrate the 6th edition of the World Week of Italian Cuisine.

- “MASTERCLASS by Michelin Star Chef Adriano Baldassarre at SNU” The Consulate General of Italy in collaboration with the Sister Nivedita University has organized the MASTERCLASS to celebrate the 6th Edition of the World Week of Italian Cuisine in India. The students got a chance to intract with Michelin Star Chef while mastering the art of Pasta & Pizza Making.

- Dante Alighieri’s 700th Death Anniversary. Students from the School of Fine Arts and Design, Sister Nivedita University participated in the exhibition ‘Remembering Dante’ on 27th November at SNU campus. The exhibition was dedicated to and inspired by Dante and his immortal works. The artworks on display portrayed the essence of Dante and his work, as interpreted by the students through different media. The Consul General of Italy in kolkata together the Vice Chancellor of Sister Nivedita University also distributed certificates and prizes to the participating students.

October 2021

- ‘Gusto Italiano', an evening of Italian Fashion & Food hosted by the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata at The Taj Bengal in the presence of H.E. Vincenzo DE LUCA, Ambassador of Italy to India, to introduce two Italian Luxury brands to Kolkata.

- H.E. Vincenzo DE LUCA, Ambassador of Italy to India, together with Soumen Mitra (IPS), Commissioner of Police, and Prof. Tathagata Chatterji, addressing the physical and virtual audience of the seminar on Heritage Preservation & Conservation in Kolkata, organised at the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

- Interactive session with the main businessmen in the fields of leather and textile, organised by Rajiva Sinha, Chairman of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. H.E. Vincenzo DE LUCA, Ambassador of Italy to India, illustrates the projects of integration of Italian and Indian SMEs in value chain.

September 2021

- Photo exhibition Part II ‘From Kolkata to Italy: of souls in celebration’Italy: of souls in celebration’, by Rajib De, Alessandro Rosani, Rossana Coslovi & Giuseppe Ialuna, curated by Francesca Rosani.
More than 70 black and white photographs of Kolkata and various Italian cities, in collaboration with The Lalit Great Eastern hotel and Bakery, 4th-18th September.

- High Tea with Students

The Consul General meets with Indian students going to Italy to pursue higher education at the presence of former students in Italy who came back to Kolkata, in collaboration with Taj Bengal, 15th September.

August 2021

- Glass bottle painting workshop ‘Forza Azzurri’ for various kids of Kolkata to celebrate sport achievements, in association with FREED.

- From Kolkata to Italy - of places in dialogue On Wheels.
Selection of photographs displayed on two tram wagons in three different depots of Kolkata (Esplanade, Shyambazar, Gariahat), 24th August-2nd September, in collaboration with the WBTC (West Bengal Transport Corporation).

July 2021

- Webinar on business opportunities between Italian and WB companies, in collaboration with Bharat Chamber of Commerce

- Photo exhibition Part II ‘From Kolkata to Italy: of souls in celebration’

June 2021

- Visit of the CG to three district hospitals in North 24 Parganas and Bolpur to inaugurate the medical equipment donated by
Italian citizens, coordinatedby the association ‘Insieme per mano’

- Webinar on restoration and conservation of cultural heritage in collaboration with the National trust for Italy (FAI) and
the local association PUBLIC

May 2021

- River to River Florence Indian Film Festival

March 2021

- Inauguration of Photo Exhibition "From Kolkata to Italy ~ Of Places in Dialogue"

February 2021

- World Day of the Commedia dell'Arte 2021