March 27, 2025 ~ 6 PM
The Italian Cultural Institute of Washington and the DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) present the screening of “Green Over Gray: Emilio Ambasz” (2023, Muse Factory Project), directed by Francesca Molteni and Mattia Colombo.
The movie portrays the green architectural revolution envisioned by architect and industrial designer Emilio Ambasz, a pioneer of theoretical and design development’s impact on climate and the integration of Nature in architectural design.
Through exclusive interviews with Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma, Toyo Ito, James Wines, Stefano Mancuso, and Barry Bergdoll, as well as never seen before footage and archive images, this Italian documentary offers a glimpse into the world of this extraordinary architect. Discover the genius and revolutionary contributions of this man whose futuristic creations have left an indelible mark on architecture and its history.
Directed by Francesca Molteni and Mattia Colombo
Italy 2023
Documentary film
Total runtime: 55 minutes
Language: Original interview languages, with English subtitles
LOCATION
📍Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
FRANCESCA MOLTENI
Francesca Molteni, graduated in Philosophy at the Università degli Studi in Milan, studied Film Production at New York University. Since 2002, she produces and directs documentaries, tv formats, videos and installations, and curates design exhibitions. In 2009 she founded MUSE Factory of Projects, a production company based in Milan, particularly focusing on contemporary, design and architecture culture.
Among the last films, ‘Openings. Gazes beyond the limit’; ‘Superdesign. Italian Radical Design 1965-75’; ‘The Power of the Archive. Renzo Piano Building Workshop’; ‘NEWMUSEUM(S). Stories of Company Archives and Museums’; and ‘A friendly place. 150 years of Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice’.
She received the Award for Innovation assigned by the President of the Italian Republic, the Compasso d’Oro honorable mention, and the Cathay Pacific Award for women entrepreneurs. She’s a contributor to La Repubblica, Vogue, Casa Vogue, AD, Elle Decor; and the author of the book Icone d’impresa [Icons of Enterprise], Carocci.
MATTIA COLOMBO
Mattia Colombo’s first documentary short Il Velo [The Veil] was in competition at Vision du Réel; EIFF Edinburgh International Film Festival; AFI Silverdocs Discovery; Dialektus Film Festival; XI Circuito Off (Venice) where it won two awards. The documentary Alberi che camminano [Trees that walk], written with Erri De Luca, competed in many international festivals. Voglio dormire con te [I wanna sleep with you], Italian-French production with the support of the Lombardia Film Commission and the CNC, was selected to compete at several festivals including Cinéma du Réel 2015. Il passo [The step], written and directed with Alessandra Locatelli and Francesco Ferri, was presented at Visions du Réel (Nyon) and as a special event at Filmmaker Festival, Milan. He directed Ritmo Sbilenco [Lopsided rhythm], a documentary about the italian band Elio e le Storie Tese. Uninvited, a biopic about Marcelo Burlon, outsider fashion designer and DJ, was released in theaters in 2017. Mattia directed B Heroes (2021), produced by YAM112003 for SKY UNO and SKY DOCUMENTARIES, and Sconosciuti Puri (2023), together with Valentina Cicogna, a documentary film on the activity of Labanof, a laboratory founded by the coroner Cristina Cattaneo that deals with the identification of the “nameless dead”.
In addition to the many thousands of audience members DCEFF serves with their in-person programming, it offers year-round virtual screenings to passionate and environmentally-conscious viewers across the United States and the world.This year’s programming spans from March 20 through March 29. For more information visit: https://dceff.org/festival/