Progetto Cinema

A temple of culture in the heart of Salento

In the small town of Collepasso, in the province of Lecce, the Cinema Ariston on Via Roma is much more than just a movie theater: it is a piece of local history and a vital hub for culture and social life. This is where Progetto Cinema comes to life every year, the winter auteur film festival that has made Collepasso a landmark for lovers of the seventh art across the entire Salento region for over two decades.

The roots: from the 1969 cineforum to today

The history of this festival runs deep. It was Father Celestino Tedesco who founded the town's first cineforum in 1969 at the former Cinema Vittoria. A priest dedicated for over sixty years to youth education and the promotion of culture, Father Celestino sowed a passion for cinema that has never faded. Today, that legacy is upheld by Giovanni Rollo, one of the original students of the cineforum, who curates the film selection and keeps its spirit alive: quality, reflection, and community.

An arthouse cinema beloved by the public

Thanks to the high quality of its programming, Progetto Cinema has earned the prestigious arthouse cinema status for the Ariston. The festival showcases the best of the season's Italian and international auteur films, featuring titles by the greatest names in contemporary cinema. Public participation is extraordinary: it is not uncommon for screenings to sell out, with the 400-seat theater packed to capacity.

How the festival works

• Screenings are held at the Cinema Ariston, at Via Roma 31 in Collepasso.
• Each film is generally offered in a double feature, at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM, to accommodate all viewers.
• The program is concentrated in the winter months, between winter and spring, with scheduled appointments throughout the season.

A heritage to preserve

Over the years, a true community of viewers has formed around the Ariston and its festival. In an era where local cinemas risk disappearing, Progetto Cinema proves how a provincial theater can remain vibrant and central to a community's cultural life: a model of cultural resilience that makes Collepasso and the Province of Lecce proud of their tradition.