CROC Winter - Casali Refuge
Cinema and chats by the fireplace in the Sibillini Mountains
About CROC Winter
A high-altitude cinema festival
CROC Winter is the winter version of CROC, the film project curated by the association C.A.S.A. - Cosa Accade Se Abitiamo (What Happens If We Live There) in collaboration with the Casali Refuge. The festival takes place in Casali di Ussita, a small hamlet in the Municipality of Ussita, in the Province of Macerata, in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains National Park, in the Marche region. Here, at about a thousand meters above sea level, cinema becomes a pretext for gathering, eating, and discussing together by the refuge's fireplace.
The evening format
Each event follows the same convivial ritual: the refuge opens at 7:00 PM, dinner is served at 7:30 PM with typical dishes from the Marche mountains accompanied by a tasting of craft beers, and the screening begins at 9:00 PM, followed by a debate with the director or guests of the evening. The participation fee includes dinner and tasting, with the possibility of vegetarian and vegan menus upon request. Places are limited and booking is mandatory.
Cinema that tells the story of the Apennines
The selected documentaries revolve around the themes of mountains and high-altitude areas: the memory of places, extractive policies, post-earthquake reconstruction, depopulation, and conflicts related to tourism and major events. The festival also critically addresses the impact of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on mountain territories. Cinema thus becomes a tool for collective reflection on the future of a fragile and symbolic Apennine region, hit hard by the 2016 earthquake.
A cultural outpost for the territory
More than just a festival, CROC Winter is a cultural and social outpost: it brings life and debate to a high mountain hamlet during the coldest months of the year, when these places risk becoming deserted. The initiative is part of the broader work of C.A.S.A. and the Porto di Montagna project, which for years has been trying to maintain human and cultural presence in the villages of the Sibillini, between Ussita and the neighboring municipalities of the Marche region.
CROC Winter — edition 2026
The third edition of CROC Winter was held in four events at the Casali Refuge in Casali di Ussita: on January 23, February 6, February 20, and March 6, 2026. The common thread was reflection on the transformations of mountain territories, between the memory of places, extractive policies, and future prospects for the Apennines. The opening evening featured the documentary Il Grande Gioco (The Great Game), on the impact of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, followed by La Teleferica (The Cableway), dedicated to mining memory, and subsequent events on post-earthquake reconstruction and the heritage of the Sibillini.
Programme CROC Winter 2026
- January 23 - Il Grande Gioco: documentary on the impact of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, curated by the C.I.O. collective
- February 6 - La Teleferica: the mining memory of Maremma, with director Romina Zago and economic historian Augusto Ciuffetti
- February 20 - L'Ultima Neve (The Last Snow): post-earthquake reconstruction and conflicts related to ski resorts in the Apennines
- March 6 - 500 Anni Dopo (500 Years Later): the restoration of the chapel of Madonna della Cona
All evenings: refuge opens at 7:00 PM, dinner at 7:30 PM, screening and debate with guests at 9:00 PM.
Highlights CROC Winter 2026
- Four mountain documentaries followed by a debate with directors and guests
- Dinner with three typical courses and tasting of three craft beers
- Intimate atmosphere by the fireplace of the Casali Refuge
- Critical reflection on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics and the future of the Apennines
Prices CROC Winter 2026
Practical information — CROC Winter
Where
Casali Refuge, Via Sant'Anastasio, Casali di Ussita hamlet (MC), Sibillini Mountains.
How to get there
By car from Camerino or Visso along the provincial roads of the Sibillini; the nearest train station is Camerino-Castelraimondo (Civitanova-Albacina line), then continue by car. Mountain roads: in winter, check weather conditions and equip yourself with snow chains or winter tires.
Booking and costs
Participation €25 per person (dinner with three courses and tasting of three craft beers included). Mandatory booking via email to [email protected] or WhatsApp to 328 6173591. Vegetarian and vegan menus available on request.
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Where does it take place — CROC Winter
Rifugio Casali
Via Sant'Anastasio, 62039 Ussita