International Jury – SBIFest 2025
We are pleased to introduce the International Jury of the SamhainBaucogna International Film Festival 2025, composed of distinguished figures from the fields of culture, academia, journalism, film criticism, and social engagement.
The Jury is entrusted with the task of viewing and evaluating the competing works with full independence, assessing them from artistic, technical, and narrative perspectives, and selecting the winners in each category.
Through their experience and sensitivity, the members of the Jury will help highlight the works that best embody the spirit of the festival — a free, human, and independent cinema, capable of fostering dialogue among cultures and reflecting on the challenges of our time.
Nicola Guarino - Jury President
Nicola Guarino, born in Avellino in 1958, is a university professor and journalist with a long academic and cultural career. After moving to Paris in 2004, he teaches at La Sorbonne University, where he has conducted courses in literature and cinema, with a particular interest in cinematic language.
He has collaborated with major newspapers such as L’Unità and Paese Sera. Today, he is a co-founder and editor of the website Altritaliani.net, a platform dedicated to Italian culture abroad.
In 2023, he published his first book of short stories, Tutto qui, a collection that explores the connections between Naples and Paris. The work has received excellent reviews and has been presented in numerous cities in Italy, France, and Luxembourg.In 2023, he published his first book of short stories, Tutto qui, a collection that explores the connections between Naples and Paris. The work received excellent reviews and was presented in several cities across Italy, France, and Luxembourg.
In 2025, he published his second novel, La Varietà Umana (The Human Variety), an intricate blend of reality and imagination, published by La Valle del Tempo, and now available in major bookstores.
Violetta Luongo
Violetta Luongo, a professional journalist from Naples born in 1980, holds a degree in Modern Literature from the University of Federico II in Naples. She has collaborated with various national and international media outlets, including the Rome-based news agency Adnkronos, Tgr Rai Campania, Il Corriere della Sera, and other online, video, and print publications. She is the presenter of the local news broadcast Tv Campi Flegrei.
Violetta teaches communication and journalism in a course aimed at primary school students, university students, and those under 35 as part of a project promoted by the City of Naples. She is also a curator of exhibitions, cultural events, and art catalogs in collaboration with the cultural association "Il Corvo" of Pozzuoli, which has been active in the area for over 25 years.
She is the author and co-author of several books, including:
- TERREeMOTI del cuore. Il racconto del ricordo (Valtrend Editions)
- ArteXArte - Dieci talenti vulcanici (Ilmondodisuk Editions, 2013)
- Enzo Tortora. Almeno un dubbio per un uomo perbene. Il caso giudiziario e il caso giornalistico trent’anni dopo(UCSI Editore, 2013).
Santho Iorio
Santho Iorio, journalist, film critic, and organizer of film festivals. Born in Cuorgnè (TO) 48 years ago. Married to Elena, he has five children: Federico, Martina, Francesca, Simone, and Gabriele.
He has always been dedicated to organizing and promoting a series of cultural events that have made a lasting impact. Among these is the success of the film festival "Due città al Cinema," where he served as artistic director from 2011 to 2022.
For many years, he has collaborated as a journalist with the newspaper “Quotidiano del Canavese,” covering cinema, culture, and political news.
Nada Matrag
I am a writer — whenever inspiration allows it!
An amateur theatre actress since adolescence, I also attended a music conservatory in my youth.
More recently, I have developed a passion for cinema and contemporary dance, and have participated in several workshops in these fields.
I also work in cultural and artistic mediation and had the great pleasure of hosting and being part of the jury for the first edition of the festival during the closing ceremony held in Tangier.
Mostafa Belhassan
My name is Mostafa Belhassan, and I am a community activist with a deep passion for art and creative expression. For several years, I have been actively involved in the cultural sector, leading theatre workshops for young people and enthusiasts of the performing arts. My goal is to promote culture, personal development, and communication through theatre and creativity.
I have also had the opportunity to host and moderate various film screenings, followed by debates and discussions on the social and cultural issues they address. I participated in the organization of the Mountain and Rural Film Festival, an enriching experience that allowed me to contribute to the promotion of local heritage and rural cinema.
In addition, I regularly conduct workshops on crafts and artistic expression, aiming to encourage creativity, cooperation, and a sense of aesthetics among participants.
Convinced that art is a powerful tool for inclusion, awareness, and social transformation, I am committed to using my artistic skills to serve the community and to promote human development.
Iolanda Chiummariello
Iolanda Chiummariello, born in Italy in 2002, is a voice actress currently attending Voice Art Dubbing, one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of dubbing.
She has completed her first-year diploma at the same academy, where she continues to refine her artistic and interpretative skills.
In 2017, she received a Special Award from the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) in the national contest “Liberi da… Liberi di…” for a short story aimed at raising awareness about drug prevention.
She is also enrolled in the Modern Literature degree program at the University of Naples “Federico II”.
Alongside her academic studies, she works as a voice actress for an adaptation of an online animated series, combining her passion for language and performance.
Ibrahima Sow
Originally from Thiès, Senegal, Ibrahima Sow works in Morocco in the cultural and social fields, particularly focusing on migration issues. He has collaborated on various film productions and in the organization of cinema-related events.
He studied Electrical Engineering at the Lycée Seydina Laye in Guédawaye.
He directed the documentary “L’Afrique dans la migration” and collaborated as an actor with Jebelhabibi Films in the production of “Mon Ami 3”, directed by Jebelhabibi Mohamed.
The Best Social Message Award will be presented by a group of young students from Vila Real de Santo António (Portugal), as part of the Film Criticism Workshop organized by SBIFest in collaboration with the Department of Culture of the Municipality and the Vicente Campinas Municipal Library.
