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“When Charity Calls”, a story told through images, music and entertainment Saturday, 20 October in Rome at the Auditorium Conciliazione during the “Finding Vince 400” Film Festival

The Vincentian Family, during the “Finding Vince 400” Film Festival, is organizing together with the Synod of Bishops “When Charity Calls: Charity as a Privileged Place for Vocational Discernment” on Saturday, 20 October at 6PM in Rome, at the Auditorium Conciliazione. “Finding Vince 400 is an attempt to change the way we look at poverty, considering the changes in social conditions and new media: by the same token, «When Charity Calls» is a different way to testify to the freshness of the Vincentian charism, that has just started its fifth century of life, in the wake of the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul” explains the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, Father Tomaž Mavrič, CM. This event is an opportunity to think, with the language of art, about Charity and the love of God as it is experienced in the poor and the outcast, that has changed the life of Saint Vincent de Paul and that still calls men and women from around the world, every day, to counter new forms of poverty. “You can be a disciple only if you love. Vincentians are people who love, not people who do. Faith and the experience of St. Vincent are in God’s love. He lifted the veil of Trinitarian life and contemplated the loving souls inhabited by the Trinity. But he is not just happy with feeling love. It became a “mission” to him, explains Father Luigi Mezzadri CM, commenting on Saint Vincent de Paul’s thinking “Action for the poor comes from God. Saints put God’s love at the summit in a supreme way, whereby the action of the Church and mankind should strive to glorify His name, to promote the Kingdom’s enlargement and cooperate to the triumph of the Will… The Vincentian vocation is to love God and make people love Him: « It is not enough for me to love God if my neighbor does not love him » (XII, 262). This love must inspire all actions and direct love towards all creatures so that they are only loved in God and for God. But this love must lead to love for our neighbor”. Many Italian and internationally-acclaimed artists will take turns on the stage of the Auditorium, starting with Jim Caviezel, who played Christ in Mel Gibson’s film The Passion, who will share his spiritual journey in a candid interview. The star of Angel Eyes and Unknown has been very active in the religious domain for years, in addition to his artistic work. As for music, Ron – one of the most popular and appreciated Italian song writers – will be performing, as well as the Gen Verde international group. Piera Degli Esposti and Massimo Popolizio will read excerpts from C. Peguy’s The Portico of the Mystery of  the second vertue Sarah Maestri and Giovanni Scifoni will make us discover Saint Vincent’s story, life and way of praying through his writings and the rewritten story of his life. “When Charity Calls” is a story told through images, music and entertainment, directed by Andrea Chiodi and hosted by Arianna Ciampoli. The director explains: “Talking about charity is a beautiful challenge and doing so starting from Saint Vincent’s extraordinary character gives us the opportunity to reread his story and discover writers who have spoken about this virtue in a poetic and impactful way. I decided to start with Saint Paul and then Charles Peguy through the voice of two great artists of Italian theater and cinema like Piera Degli Esposti and Massimo Popolizio. We could not overlook the story of Saint Vincent to rediscover its most important moments and meaningful words, and I wanted to give this task to two young film and tv actors like Sarah Maestri and Giovanni Scifoni; Giovanni will rewrite Saint Vincent’s story for us, with the ironic style with which he has charmed audiences online and on Tv 2000 (and still does). And then music with Ron and the extraordinary voices of the international group Gen Verde. However, for something to be more understandable and true – Andrea Chiodi says in conclusion – we must listen to those who live this way every day and can help us understand, so we will hear directly from Vincentians themselves and from an international voice like actor Jim Caviezel. A story told through images, music and words and its recurring image will be a little girl, who will symbolize charity, purity and the simplicity with which good deeds can be done”.

 

 

“Finding Vince 400” begins on October 18, the International Film Festival inspired by Saint Vincent de Paul

October 18 is the opening day of Finding Vince 400” (FV400), the International Film Festival and Competition dedicated to Saint Vincent de Paul to talk about the globalization of charity, that will take place in Castel Gandolfo (Rome), at the Mariapoli Center, until Sunday, October 21.

“Finding Vince 400” was officially presented in Rome in 2017 during the Symposium dedicated to the fourth centennial of the Vincentian charism: it will be a festival where the theme of the globalization of charity will be explored through all artistic languages during a competition.  Creative artists, storytellers and screenwriters were asked to talk about poverty in a new and original way, through different artistic expressions. FV400 participants worked hard to change the way our society looks at poverty and the new forms of deprivation that are affecting men and women around the world and thus will convey the charism of the Vincentian Family to globalize charity through imagination and creativity.

“Finding Vince 400″ is not just cinema: next to feature-film and short-film screenings, debates will take place with the artists around art and the meaning of their work. The themes of poverty, compassion and communion with God will permeate every aspect of the Film Festival with the freshness of the Vincentian Charism: for instance, there will also be interactive exhibitions that will rely on the creativity of Festival participants. Artists, film-makers, historians, photographers, writers, artists who are willing to talk about their vocation will interact with the audience. Several internationally-acclaimed artists have participated in this initiative by sending their own personal message expressing their participation and closeness to Finding Vince 400 and who will be attending the Festival, including Clarence Gilyard, who is known in particular for his role as ranger James Trivette in Walker Texas Ranger and as the private investigator Conrad McMaster in Matlock and for having played roles in important films like Die Hard and Sheree J. Wilson mostly known for her performance as April Stevens in Dallas and Alexandra “Alex” Cahill-Walker in Walker Texas Ranger.

Among the artists who have enthusiastically supported “Finding Vince 400” we must mention Martin Sheen who, in his long career, has received six Emmy Award nominations as Best actor in a leading role in a tv series for his performance in the West Wing, for which he has also won a Golden Globe and two SAG Awards.

There is also great expectation for the presence of actor Jim Caviezel, who played Christ in Mel Gibson’s film The Passion, who will take part in a few events during the Festival and will share his testimony on Saturday, 20 October in Rome, at the Auditorium Conciliazione, when the Festival will “move” to the capital city for an event organized by the Vincentian Family together with the Synod of Bishops: “When Charity Calls”. This event is an opportunity to use the language of art to think about Charity and God’s love as it is lived in the poor and the outcast, that changed the life of Saint Vincent de Paul and is still calling men and women from around the world every day to counter new forms of poverty. Jim Caviezel together with Piera degli Esposti, Massimo Popolizio, Sarah Maestri and Giovanni Scifoni, Ron and Gen Verde with their presence will testify to the works of Saint Vincent de Paul, at the beginning of the fifth century of the Vincentian Charism, in a story told through images, music and entertainment directed by Andrea Chiodi and hosted by Arianna Ciampoli.

 

PRESS RELEASE – The first edition of “Finding Vince 400”, the International Film Festival dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul, will be held in October 18 through 21.

The first edition of “Finding Vince 400”, the International Film Festival dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul, will be held in October 18 through 21.

“Finding Vince 400” is the international film festival dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul: officially presented in Rome in 2017 during the Symposium for the fourth centenary of the Vincentian charism. “Finding Vince 400” is the attempt to decline the theme of globalization of charity in all artistic languages in the framework of a contest. Creatives, storytellers, and screenwriters are called to deal with the theme of poverty through several artistic expressions in a new and original way. Over three thousands of them from 109 countries have responded to the appeal launched by the great Vincentian Family that works all over the world according to the spirit of its founder, St. Vincent.

The purpose of this initiative is to give voice to new forms of audio-visual communication that help us to change our vision of poverty in our communities. It is an attempt to respond to the new demands related to poverty that haunt us throughout the world. We need to change our point of view, and go beyond our long-established traditions in order to globalize our response to poverty, that is, charity, by means of a deep attachment to the principles of Vincentian spirituality.

The “Finding Vince 400” Festival – along with the adjoining contest – will take place in Castel Gandolfo (Rome, Italy) from 18 to 21 October 2018. It will include three sections: “Finding Vince 400 – Shorts”, addressing those who will submit a short film, “Finding Vince 400 – Features”, addressing those who will submit a feature film, and “Seeds of Hope”, addressing under 18 competitors. The proposed theme is the same for the three sections: the service to the poor.

The Festival at Castel Gandolfo will also feature the North-American actor Jim Caviezel, who interpreted Jesus in The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson.

For more information, please download the press release

 

 

Press Office

Mrs. Elena Grazini

Communication

+39 338 190 24 36

elena@elenagrazini.it

 

 

PRESS RELEASE – The Venice Film Festival presents “Finding Vince 400”

The Venice Film Festival presents “Finding Vince 400”, the international film festival named after St. Vincent de Paul and inspired by the theme of a globalized love

“Finding Vince 400”, the International Film Festival dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul, will be officially introduced at the Venice Biennale Cinema 2018 in the context of the 75th International Film Art Exhibition. The presentation will take place on Sunday, 2 September at 12:00 am at the Hotel Excelsior (Meeting Room Tropicana 1) of the Lido di Venezia in the premises of the “Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo” (Organization for Entertainment Foundation) of CEI, the Italian Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Officially introduced in Rome in 2017 during the Symposium for the Fourth Centenary of the Vincentian Charism, “Finding Vince 400” is an attempt to explore the theme of a globalized love in all artistic languages ​​within a film competition. We asked creatives, storytellers, and screenwriters to describe poverty in a new and original way through diverse artistic expressions. Over three thousands of them from 109 countries have responded to the appeal launched by the great Vincentian Family that works all over the world according to the spirit of its founder, St. Vincent de Paul.

There are two sections in which it is possible to take part in the Competition, whose final phase will take place in Castel Gandolfo, Rome, Italy, October 18 through 21. “Finding Vince 400”, for those who submit a short or a feature film, and “Seeds of hope”, for under 18 authors. The proposed theme is the same for both sections: service to the poor. “Plant a seed, watch it grow” is the slogan for the second section, addressing young people: to create an art that inspires a service to the poor. The goal of Finding Vince 400 Film, the organizers write, is to bring together a community of artists who have inspiring ideas on how to change our perspective on poverty. We remind you that the deadline for receiving the works of art in this category is Friday, August 31, 2018 at 11:59 pm (USA-PACIFIC STANDARD TIME); please see the attached explanatory note.

Many artists took to the field to promote “Finding Vince 400”; the last in order of time was Martin Sheen. This well-known North-American actor has always been aware of the importance of social issues and commitment to the community. He recalls in a video message the appeal of Pope Francis addressed to all for a greater commitment in service to the poor, in reference to Jesus’ words, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). “Since movies talk a universal language, the aim of the Festival is to reaffirm the power of cinema to globalize love and re-direct poverty in the way St. Vincent de Paul did four centuries ago,” explains Martin Sheen. “This international festival will stimulate the authors’ imagination by inspiring a new creativity towards poverty to serve the poor with a more adequate response.”

VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/283313298/e8faae646e

For information

Elena Grazini

Communications

+ 39 338 190 24 36

elena@elenagrazini.it

 

PRESS RELEASE – Preparations are still underway for “Finding Vince 400”

To date, more than 3000 works from 109 countries will participate in the contest that is linked to “Finding Vince 400” (FV400), the International Film Festival and contest dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul to tell the story of the globalization of love.

Competing works are coming from every continent, with the short and feature film sections garnering the most submissions so far. “Finding Vince 400” was officially presented in Rome in 2017 during the Symposium celebrating the 4th centennial of the Vincentian charism. It is a festival in which the theme of the globalization of love will be explored through a contest in which all artistic languages will be used. The challenge for creative artists, storytellers and screenwriters will be to talk about poverty in new and original ways, through multiple artistic expressions. Contestants will strive to change the way our society looks at poverty and new forms of deprivation affecting men and women around the world. They will also have to disseminate the charism of the Vincentian Family and the goal of globalizing love through imagination and creativity.

The popular US actress, producer and model Sheree J. Wilson is one of the Festival’s supporters. You can check out her video here:

https://famvin.org/it/2018/05/nuovo-video-invito-a-finding-vince-400/

Due to the many requests they have received, Festival organizers have extended the submission deadline until 31 August for the two sections entitled “Seeds of Hope” and “Short or Future Film”.

Plus, people from around the world who wish to attend you can register now online. The fv400.com website will provide all necessary information to attend the Film Festival and stay in Castel Gandolfo during the event, for those who need accommodation. Our website and social media channels will constantly provide updates on this.

It is possible to participate in the “Finding Vince 400” contest in the following two sections:

Seeds of Hope”. This section is for youths under 18 and is dedicated to one single theme: serving the poor. To participate in this section, i.e. to “make seeds of hope”, the theme must be developed through any form of creative expression (from storytelling, to poetry, from painting to sculpture, music etc.). Contestants must send their work – videos, images or creative productions – to the following email address submit@fv400.org or register at http://fv400.com/ by 05/28/2018. On that date, a form will be activated for contestants to submit their work until 08/31/2018. The artists chosen by the jury will be rewarded with a free trip and stay in Castel Gandolfo for the duration of the event.

“Finding Vince 400” Short or Feature Film. This section is for short and feature films, focusing on serving the poor and changing the way society looks at poverty. Artists selected by the jury will be rewarded with a free trip and stay in Castel Gandolfo for the duration of the event.

The award-giving ceremony will take place in Castel Gandolfo between October 18 and 21, 2018.

The deadline for submissions and registration is 05/25/2018 at http://fv400.com/. On that date, a form will be activated for contestants to deliver their final productions until 08/31/2018.

For information

Elena Grazini

Communications

+39 338 190 24 36

elena@elenagrazini.it

 

 

press@famvin.org +39 338 190 24 36