A project entirely from Abruzzo that lights up the big screen with a story of solidarity and social commitment, honored in the heart of Rome at the 2025 Italia Green Film Festival.
Rome, June 26, 2025 –“Safara,” the second documentary film produced by TakeMeBack – Corrieri Solidali, won the award for Best Documentary at the2025 Italia Green Film Festival, one of Italy’s leading events dedicated to environmental, ethical, and social cinema.
Selected from over 600 films from around the world, “Safara” —directed by Paolo Calcagni—won over both the jury and the audience with its powerful storytelling and profound human message. The awards ceremony took place at Rome’s historic and prestigious Teatro Argentina, in an atmosphere marked by strong engagement and keen interest in the themes addressed by the films in competition.
The award was presented by Franco Nero, an actor who has become a symbol of Italian cinema worldwide, to Antonio Di Leonardo, co-founder of TakeMeBack. With a career spanning over six decades, Franco Nero has played iconic roles in more than 200 films, from Sergio Corbucci’s legendary *Django* to his appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s*Django Unchained*. Currently the festival’s honorary president, Nero brought his charisma and extensive international experience to the stage of the Teatro Argentina, lending further prestige to the award. Representing TakeMeBack were also Lorenzo Antonelli and Giuliana Colucci, underscoring the collaborative and shared nature of a project that combines communication, on-the-ground action, and social vision.
Among those in the audience were numerous prominent figures from Italy’s cultural and institutional spheres, including former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore, director and actor Michele Placido, actor Enrico Lo Verso, and writer and environmentalist Sergio Bambarén, as well as numerous representatives from the worlds of film, media, and international cooperation.
Now in its sixth edition, the Italia Green Film Festival has established itself as one of the most influential forums for dialogue on cinema, the environment, human rights, and civic engagement, thanks to the artistic direction of Pierre Marchionne. The IGFF selects and honors works that combine artistic quality with content capable of generating social impact and critical reflection. It is a cultural platform that gives a voice to filmmakers, activists, and storytellers committed to addressing the pressing issues of our time.
“Safara” is a project entirely based in Abruzzo, created by a group of young filmmakers from Chieti who decided to document, with an authentic and engaged perspective, the mission of the Corrieri Solidali in Tanzania. The film chronicles the human and logistical journey involved in delivering school supplies to various schools and orphanages in the Arusha area, a region where access to essential educational resources remains a daily and urgent challenge even today. But“Safara” is not merely a visual testimony: it is a work that raises urgent questions about equity, education, and collective responsibility toward future generations. It is cinema that serves as a tool for awareness and action, capable of restoring dignity to stories often overlooked by the global media spotlight.
Currently making the rounds at national and international film festivals,“Safara” is awaiting a distribution platform that will finally allow the general public to see it. This wait is not merely technical, but also cultural and moral: because sharing this story means making a tangible contribution to changing many others.
The official national premiere of“Safara” will take place at the Supercinema in Chieti, to coincide with its upcoming reopening to the public. This event will not only be a moment of prestige for the city, but will also further highlight the TakeMeBack – Corrieri Solidali project and its commitment to telling stories of solidarity, culture, and social justice.
📩 Press contacts, interviews, and further information:
lorenzo@takemeback.eu
giuliana@takemeback.eu