Italy Reads Past Editions

Italy Reads 2020

• 1st prize (€ 500): Chimera, by students of Professor Rita Gatti at Liceo Scientifico "Tullio Levi Civita", Rome
• 2nd prize (€ 300): Pollution Lifestyle, by students of Professor Loredana Quinto, IMS Giordano Bruno, Rome
• Honorable Mention for Thought-Provocation: A Fable for Today, by students of Professor Monica Rizzo at ISS Niccolò Machiavelli, Rome
• Honorable Mention for Motion Graphics: Ecoland - A new World, by students of Professor Anita Sparacio at Liceo Scientifico Statale "R. Donatelli - B. Pascal", Milan
• Honorable Mention for Creative Concept: Silent Spring in the 21st Century, by students of Professor Andrea Ridolfi at Liceo Scientifico Giovanni Keplero, Rome
• Honorable Mention for Educational Strengths: Silent Spring, by students of Professors Eleonora Cruciani and Francesca Galli at IIS Niccolò Machiavelli, Rome.

Italy Reads 2019

• 1st prize (€ 500): Journey Through a Modern Man's (confused) Mind, by the students of Class V EE, Professor Laura Galante at Liceo Classico Europeo Marco Foscarini, Venice
• 2nd prize (€ 300): Praise life!, by the students of Class V E, Professor Daniele Funaro, Licei Vittoria Colonna, Rome
• Honorable Mention for Best Script: Looking for Life, by the students of Class 4 N, Professor Marinella Putano Bisti and Professor Annunziata di Dea at Liceo Classico Sperimentale Statale Bertrand Russell, Rome
• Honorable Mention for Originality of Concept and for using Whitman's criteria to describe a place: My Rome by the students of Class 4N, Professor Marinella Putano Bisti and Professor Annunziata di Dea at Liceo Classico Sperimentale Statale Bertrand Russell, Rome
• Honorable Mention for bringing one of Whitman's key ideas into a different context using a clear and well-timed narrative: Why should you not speak to me? by the students of Class IV E, Professor Elisabetta Ranieri at Liceo Scientifico Statale Morgagni, Rome

Italy Reads 2018

• 1st prize (€ 500): The Lame Shall Enter First, by the students of Class IV A, Professor Gatti at IIS Leopoldo Pirelli.
• 2nd prize (€ 300): I Confess I Love, by the students of Class V B, Professor Guaia, Liceo Benedetto da Norcia.
• Honorable Mention for Best Script: Interviewing Flannery O'Connor, by the students of Class IV A, Professor Scarnecchia at Liceo Statale Sperimentale Bertrand Russell.
• Honorable Mention for Artistic Interpretation: A dance: an act of grace for Good Country People by the students of Class IV C, Professor Gatti, IIS Leopoldo Pirelli.
• Honorable Mention for Best Setting: Alexander's Dream by the students of Class IV C, Professor Cessari at Liceo Scientifico "Francesco Sbordone", Napoli.
• Honorable Mention for Best Atmosphere: Crossing Paths by students in Class V O of Professor Rizzo at Liceo Linguistico Niccolò Machiavelli.
• Honorable Mention for Originality: The Lame Shall Enter First by the students in Class IV B of Professor Sterpetti at IIS Leopoldo Pirelli.
• Honorable Mention for Outstanding Casting and use of the camera: Loss of Innocence by students of Class V E, Professor Ridolfi at Liceo Scientifico Giovanni Keplero.

Italy Reads 2017

• 1st Place Prize (€500): With Words Comes Freedom, by Professor Giuliana Lilli's students at Liceo Bertrand Russell.
• 2nd Place Prize (€200): for I'm Not Afraid to Know, by Professor Stefania Caprioli's students at Liceo Scientifico J.F.Kennedy.
• Honorable Mention for Best Concept and Directing: for To See Her Is a Picture, Professor Lucioli's students at Liceo Aristofane.
• Honorable Mention for Best Lighting: for Waves of Consciousness, by Professor Papacchini's students at Liceo Immanuel Kant.
• Honorable Mention for Best Choreography: for Will There Really Be a Morning?, by Professor Zumbo's students at Liceo Bertrand Russell.
• Honorable Mention for Best Composition, Audio (Vocal Track), and Editing: for Blossoming, by Professor Ciaffaroni's students at Liceo Augusto.
• Honorable Mention for Best Mise-en-scene: for Silence Is Really Loud, by Professor Caprioli's students at Liceo J.F. Kennedy.
• Honorable Mention for Best Acting: for Fantasies of Reality (this video is a tribute to Ezra Pound) by Professor Caronna's students at Liceo Dante Alighieri.
• Honorable Mention for Best New Media Interpretation: for Same Day, Same Fades... Emily Dickinson, by Professor di Forenza's students at Liceo Vittoria Colonna.

Italy Reads 2016

• 1st prize (€ 500): The Glass Menagerie, by Professor Andrea Ridolfi's students in Class 5H, Liceo Scientifico Giovanni Keplero of Rome, awarded for originality of filmmaking technique.
• 2nd prize (€ 200): Chained, by the students of Professor Silvana Calvanese and Professor Angela Pastore in 5B and 5C, Liceo Scientifico Carlo Pisacane of Padula, awarded for the original adaptation of the play.
• 3rd prize (€ 100): Second Chance, by Professor Grazia Maria Bertini's students in Class 5M, Liceo Ginnasio Statale Virgilio, awarded for the original interpretation of one of the key themes of the play.
• Honorable Mention - No Need to Hide, by Professor Antonella Guaia's students in Class C, Liceo Classico Benedetto da Norcia, Rome
• Honorable Mention - The Reunion, by Professor Marinella Putano Bisti's Class 4M, Liceo Classico Statale Sperimentale Bertrand Russell, Rome
• Honorable Mention - The Glass Menagerie, by Professor Flaminia Micciolo's Class 4I, Liceo Classico Statale Sperimentale Bertrand Russell, Rome

Italy Reads 2015

• First Place Award (€500) - The Bluest Eye Book Trailer by Professor Elisabetta Ranieri's 4F Class at Liceo Scientifico G.B. Morgagni. Judges commented: "For its original, appropriate and playful use of computer gaming in recreating the novel's characters, setting and narrative. Its use of sound was accurate at replicating the novel's gloomy mood."
• Second Place Award (€300) - shared by two classes: My Mute Shout by Professor Alessandra Tedeschini's 5AL Class at Liceo Immanuel Kant, Rome. Judges commented: "This is an interpretation of the novel through different original choices (black and white, the piano score, and a series of events that are turned backwards). There is great attention to detail, as in the young woman's makeup."
• Second Place Award - The Bluest Eye by Professor Cinzia Cetraro's 5D Class, the "PSG9 Group", at Liceo Scientifico Isaac Newton, Rome. Judges commented: "This video made use of charming visuals, a moving soundtrack, and a vibrant voice-over."
• Honorable Mention - The Bluest Eye  by Professor Rita Gatti's IV-L Class at Liceo Linguistico Leopoldo Pirelli di Roma. Judges commented:  "This entry is notable for its particular choice of using original drawings to tell Pecola's story in a concise way. The original artwork was simple but meaningful and essential. The voice-over also contributed to a smooth narration."
• Honorable Mention - Goodbye Little Dumpling by Professor Antonella Nifosi's V-D Class at Liceo Keplero, Rome. Judges commented: "This video was produced with careful research of photographs and appropriate reading choices. The soundtrack and voice-over fit in nicely."
• Honorable Mention - An opposite world...how would it be? by Professor Claudia Caccio's 4-CL Class at Liceo Kant, Rome. Judges commented: "This is an interesting take on racism and its nature. The video employs many narrative tools from drawings to acting and interviews."
• Honorable Mention - Shadows by Professor Cinzia Cetraro's 4-F Class at Liceo Scientifico Isaac Newton, Rome. Judges commented: "This video deserves mention for its contemporary approach that put the novel's major themes into today's social context to see how they relate to us and what kind of behavior they should prompt."

Italy Reads 2014

• First Place Award - €500, to be used by the class as they choose, goes to A Farewell To Arms, by students in Class IV–D, "The Chalkboard Group" (Professor Cinzia Cetraro), Liceo Isaac Newton, Rome. One of the judges commented: "In a word, this video is stunning . . . beautiful condensation of the complexities of the novel's story told in via the beautiful medium of animation. Truly a work of art. The students and teachers involved in making this video should be very proud of their work."
• Second Place Award - €300, to be used by the class as they choose, goes to Curiosity increaseth knowledge - The enchantment of reading, by students of Class V-C, (Professor Maria Gabriella Gatti), Liceo Scientifico Archimede, Rome. One of the judges commented: "A beautiful video that not only champions the importance of reading but also depicts a significant aspect of Hemingway's novel. A first rate telling of a multi-layered story in a brilliantly concise way."
• Honorable Mention - Acid rain, by students at The Swiss School of Rome (Professor Yvette Manigold). One of the judges commented: "Truly a great work of interpretive art. Innovative, avant-garde and groundbreaking. A truly original and bold take on the novel. This video took artistic risks that paid off greatly. First rate."
• Honorable Mention - Rain, by students of Class V, Liceo Scientifico S. Anna Falletti Di Barolo, Rome (Professor Francesca Minutello). One of the judges commented: "A very nice adaptation of the central themes of the novel into the present. This video makes Hemingway's novel clearly relevant to students of today."

Italy Reads 2013

• First Place (500 euro prize): The Namesake by students of Class 1 A, Liceo Classico at Liceo Immanuel Kant. Their teacher is Professor Alessandra Tedeschini.
• Second Place (300 euro prize): Interview with Hyenas by students of Class 3 H, at Liceo Scientifico Statale “Innocenzo XII” in Anzio. Their teacher is Professor Fortuna Pappalardo.
• Honorable Mention: Let Me Be by students of Class 3 C at Liceo Immanuel Kant, Rome. Their teacher is Professor Claudia Francesca Cacciò.
• Honorable Mention for Best Acting: One Hand, Five Homes by students of Class 5E at Chris Cappell College, Anzio. Their teacher is Professor Ida Balzano.

Italy Reads 2012

• For English language schools division, there was a tie between two classes. The 1st prize of 500 Euros was shared equally by: The Great Gatsby, submitted by students of the 9th year and their teacher Anna Madden at St. George's British International School Rome, and Shadows of a Page, submitted by students of the 12th year and their teacher Anna Madden at St. George's British International School Rome.
• For Italian Licei division, the 1st prize of 500 Euros was awarded to: Two Sides of a Dream, submitted by students of the V-B and their teacher Fortuna Pappalardo at Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Innocenzo XII'.
• Finalist in this category was awarded to The Great Gatsby, submitted by students of the IV-D and their teacher Cinzia Cetraro at Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Isaac Newton'.
• Best Production Design: Dreaming of Gatsby, submitted by students of the III-E and their teacher Antonella Guaia at Liceo Classico 'Benedetto Da Norcia'.
• Best Cinematography: Black and White Dream, submitted by students of the IV-D and their teacher Marialuisa Garruba at Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Marcello Malpighi'.
• Best Direction and Best Editing: Stay moment, you're beautiful - The Great Gatsby, submitted by students of the III-D and their teacher Rossella Manni at Liceo Ginnasio Statale 'E. Q.Visconti'.
• Best Screenplay: Interview after Gatsby's Death, submitted by students of the V-CL and their teacher Claudia Cacciò at Liceo Ginnasio Statale 'Immanuel Kant'.
• Best Actress, awarded to two students, one from each of the two divisions of the contest: Eleonor Carpigo from Shadows of a Page, St. George's British International School Rome, and Alessia Appignani, from Two Sides of a Dream, Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Innocenzo XII'.
• Best Actor: Nikola Bialkov from Two Sides of a Dream, Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Innocenzo XII'.
• Best Supporting Actresses: 'The Yellow Girls' from Interview after Gatsby's Death, Liceo Ginnasio Statale 'Immanuel Kant'.
• Best Scenery: Interview after Gatsby's Death, Liceo Ginnasio Statale 'Immanuel Kant'.

Italy Reads 2011

• First Prize: Liceo “Newton,” Class IV-F, Prof. Cinzia Cetraro
• Second Prize: Liceo “Newton,” Class III-D, Prof. Cinzia Cetraro
  Special Prize for Exceptional Artistic Merit: Liceo “Innocenzo XII,” Class IV-B, Prof. Fortuna Pappalardo
• Finalist: Liceo “Pascal,” Class III-C, Prof. Anne-Marie Peduto
• Finalist: Liceo “Keplero,” Class IV-G, Prof. Antonella Nifosi

Italy Reads 2017 Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency joins the Italy Reads Keynote event by reading a selected poem by Emily Dickinson from the International Space Station on Agenzia Spaziale Italiana mission VITA and welcoming former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Watch Paolo Nespoli's greeting.

Italy Reads 2013 welcomes Professor Isabel Clough Marinaro for a special Italy Reads lecture Destination Italy, immigration in a changing nation. 

Italy Reads 2020 Student Interview of Keynote Speaker Antonio Lopez

Italy Reads 2020, Special Events, Student interview of Ryan Anderson (JCU 2001), WFP Deputy Country Director for Uganda

Italy Reads 2019 Interview of Keynote Speaker Ed Folsom

Italy Reads 2018 Student Interview of Marc Bosco

Italy Reads 2017 Student Interview of former U.S Poet Laureate Billy Collins