Beatrice Pucci was called upon to give her interpretation of the parks and outdoor pursuits theme. She did so by paying homage to the yew tree located near the Fonte Avellana monastery. This yew tree (Tassus Baccata L.) was revealed by a 2012 census to be the largest and oldest in the Marche region. One of the most impressive specimens in Europe, with its 4,75 metres of circumference, the tree falls short of the national record by just a few centimetres. In the flow of images, bringing one closer and closer to the centuries-old bark, to the tree’s life, man enters in a silent dialogue with nature, in a state of complete symbiosis.

Visual artist Valerio Giacone won the nationwide call for submissions for the “genius of Marche” theme. The task was to interpret, in flipbook format, the relationship between the city of Fabriano and its paper-making industry throughout history. A bond so close, that it became one of the main factors behind the city’s 2013 inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities network, a recognition of its tradition of handicraft, arts, and folklore. The flipbook sets out from one of the oldest existing sheets of watermarked paper and goes on to encompass other themes. A soft line, within a delicate, exquisite work on the material, makes it possible for the beginning and the end to coincide.

Marche-born comic book illustrator Maicol & Mirco was given the task of portraying - in his signature witty, dry style – the town of Offida, which he knows intimately, and specifically the old and cherished tradition of the Carnival. This falls into the “gentle hills and medieval hamlets” thematic area. Snakes, horns, and fires appear on Gli Scarabocchi’s usual red background, living symbols of a tradition still going strong to this day, elements of identity suggestive of the contact and commixture between pagan and catholic culture. One of the most striking experiences in the whole region.

Roberto Catani, Jesi-born animator, winner of several international awards, approached the “made in marche” theme by meeting La Distesa, a winery and agricultural estate that uses organic farming methods, mindful of the well-being of the vines and the surrounding countryside. His flipbook is a multi-layered work, displaying the artist’s customary, refined composite technique. This includes, among other things, scratching the paper and employing a variety of colouring substances. The result is a poetic tracking-shot that moves from particulars, expanding into a wide shot, a bird’s eye view of regularly aligned vines.

Chintis Lundgren, Estonian-born animator currently living in Croatia, delved into the “Marche in blue” thematic area. With her signature lightness and oddball style, she chose to tell the story of a small anthropomorphic mosciolo (mussel), who sets off on an adventure along the Monte Conero coast. By letting the waves take him from one cove to the next, he provides an unusual perspective on the wonders of this scenic corner of the Marche. Mosciolo is the vernacular name of the wild mussel, one of the region’s most beloved delicacies and a Slow Food Presidium, whose only breeding ground is a small strip of coast in the province of Ancona, extending from Pietralacroce down to the border between the municipalities of Sirolo and Numana, with the bay of Portonovo at its centre.

Russian-born animator Maria Stainmetz, currently a Berlin resident, was chosen as the illustrator for the “spirituality and meditation” thematic area. Her work centres on the Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto and the black Madonna enshrined within, one of the most significant pilgrimage sites of the catholic world. After taking a trip to Italy to familiarize herself with the location, she came up with a twin set of visual narrations for her flipbook, the only one that can be “read” in either direction. Her digitally drawn images aim to convey a message of love transcending the earth: a cosmic love. Sacred elements turn into everyday objects, while terrestrial elements come into contact with interplanetary space. The unifying thread is the gift of life, and the baby – a creature coming from afar – is to be welcomed in his unicity.