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About RAI Film
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Ethnographic Film Catalogue
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RAI FILM
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About
About RAI Film
Meet the team
Prices
Film Distribution
Watch on demand
Ethnographic Film Catalogue
Teaching resources
RAI Film Festival
About RAI Film Festival
Film Festival 2025
Film Festival 2025 Group passes
Film Festival prizes and awards
Film Conference 2025
Archive of past editions
Menu
About
About RAI Film
Meet the team
Prices
Film Distribution
Watch on demand
Ethnographic Film Catalogue
Teaching resources
RAI Film Festival
About RAI Film Festival
Film Festival 2025
Film Festival 2025 Group passes
Film Festival prizes and awards
Film Conference 2025
Archive of past editions
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Films
45 Films
shorter than 40 minutes
x
Keywords
“Festivals Carnival”
x
films with a digital version
5
short films
45
x
films available on demand
2
Region
British-Irish Isles
1
Central America
1
Central Asia and Far East
2
Central Europe
7
South-East Europe
27
West Africa
2
Western Europe
5
Western Mediterranean
2
Country
Austria
5
Belgium
1
Bulgaria
1
China
1
Croatia
3
France
1
Greece
1
Italy
18
Japan
1
Mexico
1
Nigeria
2
Poland
1
Republic of Macedonia
1
Romania
1
Slovenia
2
Spain
1
Switzerland
2
United Kingdom
1
not set
1
Keywords
Collective / Community identity
1
Dance / Theatre / Performance
1
Family / Kinship
1
Festivals / Carnival
44
Festivals/ Carnival
1
x
Folklore
38
Gender Role and Identity
1
Intergenerational relations
1
Music / Ethnomusicology
1
Myths/ Fairy tales
1
Religion / Belief / Faith
1
Ritual
3
Social Change
1
Social Conflict
1
Urban
1
Directors
Cao, Umberto
1
Ferrarese, Adriana
1
Harper, Peggy
2
Kezich, Giovanni
1
Mura, Andrea
1
Rousso-Schindler, Steven
1
Savage, Rebecca
1
Seaman, Gary
1
Song, Zhifang
1
Speed, Frank
2
Tamura (aka John Wells), Can
1
Trentini, Michele
38
Series
Carnival King of Europe
38
Granada Center for Visual Anthropology Student Film
1
Shorts Collection 2
1
Song Family Village
1
not set
4
Country of production
China
1
France
1
Greece
1
Italy
39
Japan
1
Nigeria
2
United Kingdom
3
United States
1
Year of production
1970
1
1975
1
2006
1
2008
3
2009
3
2010
5
2011
5
2012
2
2014
4
2015
6
2016
6
2017
7
2019
1
Film list
The Bear Chase
2009
7
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In the Catalan-speaking southern France, a proper “Bear Chase”, of the kind that was once popular throughout Europe, has been revived in a carnival context. This film is part of **Carnival
Western Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Beautiful White Masks of Rèsije
2017
15
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In a small community of Italian Slavic-speakers, the performance by the Beautiful White Masks, impersonated by women, comes to an abrupt end with the burning of the Babaz. This film is part of
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Carnival King of Europe. Release 2.0
2011
38
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
Giovanni Kezich
.
Award-winning ethnographic caleidoscope featuring over 50 different masquerades of some 13 European countries. Thanks to some careful editing, the underlying structure of European winter masked
Western Europe
South-East Europe
Central Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Caroling with the Star among the Bersntoler
2015
26
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In the German-speaking Bersntol (Val dei Mòcheni) in the Italian Alps, the Three Wise Men have left in their stead a robust choir of young men, parading the Star from farm to farm. This film is
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Coraggio coscritti: take heart, all new recruits!
2016
25
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The yearly parade of the new recruits is the perfect occasion in which to vent an extraordinarily wide repertoire of traditional songs. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 6 –
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Day of the Masks on the Karst
2017
14
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
A small village in the Slovenian Karst is entirely taken over by the local masks, the so called “Škoromati”. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 7 – THE PASTORAL LEGACY**. The
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
The Day of the Pustje on Mt. Matajur
2015
11
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Throughout western Slovenia, Pust or Pustje are the names given to the Carnival dummy and the same names are also used in the Italian side of the Julian Alps. This film is part of **Carnival King
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
The Day of the Rams in Gljev
2012
17
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The Didi of Gljev, in the Dalmatian hinterland, are fully-fledged rams and for the duration a day they act and behave as if they were a single magical flock. This film is part of **Carnival King
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Day of the Zanni
2016
17
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The Zanni of central Italy, are the same as the Pulcinella of the South of Italy or the Lachè in the North. They are Carnival heralds, clad in white, with a pointed, ribboned, imposing headpiece.
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
The Double Walk of the Joaldunak
2011
10
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Joaldunak are “those who resound”, the great bell ringers heralding the Carnival parade between the twin villages of Ituren and Zubieta in the Basque-speaking Spanish Naffaroa. This film is
Western Mediterranean
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Fiddling away Carnival in Caffaro
2017
12
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Bagolino and Ponte Caffaro host the largest surviving ensemble of folk violin in the Alps, which makes Carnival a leap back into the Renaissance roots of the violin itself. This film is part of
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
Gelede: A Yoruba Masquerade
1970
30
‘
Directed by
Frank Speed
Peggy Harper
.
Among the Yoruba of Western Nigeria and Dahomey the Gelede cult honours the earth spirits, the ancestors and especially the Great Mother. The festival filmed here emphasises the status of women and
West Africa
Gender Role and Identity
Ritual
Festivals / Carnival
Social Conflict
The Gilles of La Louvière and the Chinels of Fosses-la-Ville
2014
9
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In the Catholic, French-speaking part of Belgium, monumental, all-encompassing masquerades take place in the middle of Lent. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 6 – RITUAL
Western Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
The Gnaga
2017
8
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The Gnaga is an old hag, carrying her drunk husband back home in a pannier. This film is part of Carnival King of Europe DVD 5 PARADING THE VILLAGE. On Carnival days, the village is brought back
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Great Epiphany of Wörth
2017
13
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
On the day of the Epiphany, a grand parade half-way between Christianity and paganism is staged, incorporating all the ancient characters of Alpine fables, the Twelve Days of Christmas, and the Three
Central Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Koza Szymborska. The Day of the Goat in Szymborze
2011
14
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The Koza or Goat is animal that gives the masquerade its name throughout Eastern Europe, from Romania to Moldavia and the Ukraine, and all the way to northern Poland where we filmed it. This film
Central Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Kwagh Hir
1975
30
‘
Directed by
Frank Speed
Peggy Harper
.
Four million Tiv people form the major culture of the Benue state of southern Nigeria. They are popularly known as the greatest democrats in Africa as their society is based on fraternal cooperation
West Africa
Festivals / Carnival
Dance / Theatre / Performance
Ritual
Nodas. Launeddas at the time of crisis.
2015
29
‘
Intangible Culture
Directed by
Umberto Cao
Andrea Mura
.
Dating back 3000 years to the Nuragic civilisation on Sardinia, ‘launeddas’ are wind instruments that testify to contacts from across the Mediterranean. Although they nearly vanished in the 1960s, in
Western Mediterranean
Music / Ethnomusicology
Festivals / Carnival
Intergenerational relations
Okinami
2019
24
‘
Directed by
Can Tamura (aka John Wells)
.
This film features a Japanese seaside ritual performed in honour of a marine deity, who is considered to hold the power to determine a safe and successful year of local fishing. This two-day event
Central Asia and Far East
Festivals/ Carnival
Urban
Folklore
Myths/ Fairy tales
Once upon a time in Val di Fiemme
2009
23
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Every four years, the new recruits in Carano are presented to the community in the midst of a complex carnival ritual called Banderàl. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 6 –
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
One day in Agnita
2011
10
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Every four years, the new recruits in Carano are presented to the community in the midst of a complex carnival ritual called Banderàl. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 6 –
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
One day in Begnishte
2008
7
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The Orthodox New Year’s Eve is marked by the appearance of the Djolomari, the “old ones”, for a long day of ritual, which is both structured and frenetic. This film is part of **Carnival
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
One day in Chelnik
2008
14
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
On the day of the Kukeri, mysterious, impenetrable masks visit every house in Bulgarian Thrace, and end up in the village square for a most persuasive wedding and ploughing ritual. This film is
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
One day in Lancova Vas
2010
9
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In eastern Slovenia, an assorted party of masked ploughmen run around each village on Carnival days. In the Slovenian-speaking Italian Benecija, the Blùmari run across the village fields once a
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
One day in Rukavac
2008
11
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Zvonča in Croatian means “bell” and the Istrian Zvončari are the popular carnival heralds who undertake some challenging walkabouts between neighbouring villages every year – Croatia. This
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Passion and Death of the Carlisèp
2015
19
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In Schignano, in the Lombardy mountains close to the Swiss border, Carlisèp is the local name of the Carnival dummy, who attempts a last minute escape. Carnival trials such as that held in Valda,
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Processes
2016
23
‘
Directed by
Adriana Ferrarese
.
Like every year, Corigliano Calabro, a small village in the south of Italy, celebrates Easter: from the investiture of a man to embody Jesus during a night procession, to the passionate debates for
South-East Europe
Religion / Belief / Faith
Festivals / Carnival
A Rite on the Run: the Blùmari of Benecija
2015
10
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In the Slovenian-speaking Italian Benecija, the Blùmari run across the village fields once a year, just like the Arval Brethren of ancient Rome. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
The Sacred Thresh
2016
18
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
After ploughing and sowing, there follows harvesting and threshing, with a very dignified threshing squad ritually touring the village inns. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 4
Central Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Secret of the Stone
2009
39
‘
Directed by
Zhifang Song
Gary Seaman
Steven Rousso-Schindler
.
Located on the North China Plain about 200 miles south of Beijing, ‘Song Family Village’ is home to about 1,300 people. Some 80% of all villagers are members of a single lineage of the Song surname.
Central Asia and Far East
Family / Kinship
Collective / Community identity
Ritual
Festivals / Carnival
The Short Happy Life of the Poklad
2012
27
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In the Dalmatian island of Lastovo, the Poklad is a monumental, all-encompassing annual celebration. Dressed as XIX C. British marines, the Pokladari escort the captive dummy to its death. This
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Silvesterchläuse of Hundwil
2014
12
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The old Julian New Year’s Eve on January 13th is still observed and celebrated in some Reformed communities in Outer Appenzell in Switzerland. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD
Western Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The Silvesters of Urnäsch
2011
13
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
A celebration of mountain wilderness is all too evident in the costumes of the Silvesters of Urnäsch in Outer Appenzell, particularly in their “Pretty/Ugly” version. This film is part of
Western Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Speeding the Plough in Stilfs
2015
22
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In Upper Vinschgau in South Tyrol a highly charged Carnival parade takes place with the specific purpose of “speeding the plough”. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 4 SPEEDING
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
St. Anthony Bonfires in Mamoiada
2014
17
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
St. Anthony’s Day marks the first annual outing of the celebrated Sardinian Mamuthones with their blackened shepherd’s outfit, carefully directed by their eternal antagonists, the Issohadores.
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
St. Martin’s Bonfires in Predazzo
2010
10
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
On November 11th, great bonfires are lit by the local youth to celebrate the distribution of the annual revenues from the forestry harvest. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 3 –
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
St. Nicholas’ Night in Val di Fassa
2010
15
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
As an early harbinger of celestial light, St. Nicholas and his mixed company of angels and devils visits every home, to tell children off in the most persuasive of manners. This film is part of
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
Sweeping Evil Away in Rauris
2017
9
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The Schnabelperchten of Rauris in the Salzburger Alps are mysterious, spiteful figures who appear out of nowhere with their brooms, and go round every house to perform a simple and effective
Central Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
Tiempo de Vals
2006
22
‘
Directed by
Rebecca Savage
.
The ‘Quinceañera’ celebration is a lived illusion. A daydream shared by the whole community of Tetlanohcan, a rapidly urbanising agricultural town in Tlaxcala, Central Mexico. The dream is
Central America
Festivals / Carnival
Social Change
Visions of Shrove Thursday in Central Tyrol
2014
10
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Due to the strict Jesuit prohibitions in olden days, the central Tyrol Fasnacht tends to ends on Shrove Thursday, a few days earlier than elsewhere. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe
Central Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
We can be heroes just for (two) days. The Jannisaries of Naoussa
2016
20
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The memory of an heroic episode of resistance against the Ottomans is re-enacted in Naoussa every year with the parade of an army of Janissaries. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
The White Primavera of the Agordino
2016
16
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
The beauty of the village, impersonating a gypsy woman, the Zinghenesta, has the main dancing role in the masquerade. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 5 PARADING THE VILLAGE**.
South-East Europe
Folklore
Festivals / Carnival
A Women’s Carnival in Tyrol
2017
9
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Patsch is only place in the whole of Tyrol, where a company of women takes on the lead role of the Carnival parade. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 5 PARADING THE VILLAGE**. On
Central Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
A good day in Sharnford. God Speed the Plough!
2010
14
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
In the heart of Ye Olde England, the first Monday after the Epiphany is still “Plough Monday”, with the ritual parading of a decorated plough and the Morris Dance. This film is part of
British-Irish Isles
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore
The trial, sentence and execution of Johnny Woodstock
2010
15
‘
Directed by
Michele Trentini
.
Carnival trials such as that held in Valda, in the mountains of Trentino, are commonplace throughout Europe. Death sentence is for granted. This film is part of **Carnival King of Europe DVD 8 –
South-East Europe
Festivals / Carnival
Folklore