Italian Language Week, a gala at the Embassy in Belgrade

(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 19 OTT - The second edition of the 'Italian Language Gala' was hosted yesterday evening at the residence of the Italian Ambassador in Belgrade, Luca Gori. An evening event, conceived and realised by the Italian Embassy in Serbia in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Belgrade, to celebrate the Week of the Italian Language in the World 2024. The gala, presented by Alex Djordjevic, paid homage to our language through the testimonies of Serbian and Italian-speaking celebrities who spoke about their relationship with Italy and Italian. The guest of honour at this edition of the gala was the writer Gianrico Carofiglio.
    During the event, special attention was paid to the literary genre of comics, with the intervention of the editor of 'Politikin Zabavnik' Zeffirino Grassi. Another protagonist was Pinocchio, to whom an exhibition is currently dedicated at the IIC, celebrated with a performance by actress Vjera Mujovic and Italian student Andrej Jakovljevic. Once again this year, an important space was reserved for young people with the prize-giving ceremony of the competition addressed to Serbian students, who were called upon to recount their relationship with the Italian language and the initiatives they have undertaken to promote it.
    The event was enriched by the performance of the Italian popular music group Moresca Nova and the participation of Serbian singers Andjela Despotovic and Ivana Pantelic, who interpreted some songs by Laura Pausini, who is expected in Belgrade next December for a concert organised in cooperation with the Italian Embassy, the IIC and the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
    "The numbers on the spread of Italian in the world speak of 10 thousand language courses and 300 thousand students a year, a figure that certifies the ability of our language to synthesise affection and passion for our country, our culture and the Italian way of life. This Gala was born out of the need to pause for a moment to share Serbs' love for our language,' Ambassador Gori remarked in his opening speech.