When we speak of a kickoff meeting, we usually refer to the event that marks the official launch of a project. It’s typically a formal, sometimes technical moment, where objectives, roles, and working methods are defined.
But in the case of Le Case di Micòl, the kickoff was something far deeper and more meaningful: a cultural and human experience, an immersive first step into the thematic and symbolic heart of the project.
From March 20 to 22, 2024, Ferrara hosted two representatives from each European partner, welcoming delegations from Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, alongside Italian representatives from the involved foundations and schools.
Organized by Ferrara La Città del Cinema, the project’s lead partner, the meeting transformed a standard institutional event into a journey through beauty, memory, and cultural identity.
A Cultural Program of Excellence
The Kickoff Meeting blended project work with cultural exploration. Every moment was designed to connect the project’s core theme—the memory of Jewish families in Europe—with the historical and artistic heritage of the city.
The MEIS – National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah
The visit began at MEIS, a national and European reference point for the history of Italian Judaism.
The partners explored a museum journey spanning over two thousand years of Jewish history in Italy—through objects, multimedia installations, archival documents, and personal testimonies.
The visit strengthened the link between the project and its historical context, giving depth and resonance to its educational mission.
Palazzo Schifanoia – The “Chapel” of Ferrara’s Renaissance
A true highlight was the visit to Palazzo Schifanoia, a Renaissance gem of the Este court.
Participants admired the famous Hall of the Months, featuring astrological frescoes that blend mythology with daily life.
Many described this space as “a secular chapel of time.”
It was a powerful experience that revealed how culture and art can become vital tools of remembrance.
The Este Castle and a City That Speaks
A guided walk through Ferrara’s city center included a stop at the Este Castle, a symbol of Renaissance power and also a silent witness to the stories of Ferrara’s Jewish community.
Streets and squares whispered layers of centuries-old memory, making Ferrara a living, narrating city—capable of inspiring the young filmmakers involved in the project.
Institutional Meeting at Ferrara City Hall
The delegations were welcomed in the Sala dell’Arengo at City Hall, where local authorities shared their support for the project.
This institutional moment was also a motivational one, highlighting the importance of building European projects that unite culture, education, and civic responsibility.
One Project, One Vision
The kickoff meeting laid not only the operational foundations of Le Case di Micòl, but also its emotional and narrative ones.
Funded by the CERV – Remembrance 2022 program, the initiative aims to uncover and share the stories of young Jewish girls who lived in Europe before the Shoah—through historical research, digital mapping, and short films created by international film students.
The Ferrara kickoff became, for all participants, a declaration of intent: this is not just about remembrance, but about restoring life and voice to interrupted stories—starting from the very places where those lives once found joy.
Ferrara, with its deep and layered cultural identity, proved to be the perfect setting to begin.
An event you don’t expect. Far more than a kickoff. A true invitation to beauty, memory, and responsibility.
The project Le Case di Micòl is funded by the CERV – Remembrance 2022 call and coordinated by Ferrara La Città del Cinema. Partners: Prague Film School, Warsaw Film School, ACT (Belgium), Blow-Up Film and TV Academy (Italy), Fondazione per il centro studi ‘Città di Orvieto’, Fondazione Giorgio Bassani, MEIS – National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah, Istituto di Storia Contemporanea di Ferrara, and Istituto di Istruzione Superiore Luigi Einaudi di Ferrara.