Discovering Ticino through Cinema

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Discovering Ticino through Cinema

December 16th, 2025

As part of the Bachelor of Arts SUPSI in Visual Communication, the students of the course “Video and social strategies” conceived and produced promotional videos dedicated to several film locations. A project born from the collaboration with the Ticino Film Commission (TFC).

Foto: frame from Arianna Copa’s video “Within the walls of time” in collaboration with the Ticino Film Commission

The Sasso Corbaro Castle in Bellinzona, the old town of Locarno, Grotto Baldoria in Ascona, LAC-Lugano Arte Cultura, Monte San Salvatore, the Gargantini Palaces and Parco Ciani in Lugano are the protagonists of the videos produced in collaboration with the TFC-Ticino Film Commission, with the aim of promoting the Ticino region through some of its most iconic sites, perfect cinematic locations.

The course Video and social strategies, led by Vito Robbiani, lecturer in the Bachelor of Arts SUPSI in Visual Communication (Department of Environment Constructions and Design), took place in spring 2025 and enabled seven second-year students – Matteo Assamoi, Kadir Avci, Giorgia Bianchetti, Arianna Copa, Andrea Pejrani, Nathalie Polledri and Cristian Sommaiuolo – to interact with the Ticino Film Commission, refining their video projects, which were published on the Bachelor’s and the TFC’s Instagram and YouTube channels during autumn 2025 until Christmas.

Each project, conceived and produced by the students, combines original footage with excerpts from films shot in the region itself (Alter Ego by Erik Bernasconi, Bon Schuur Ticino by Peter Luisi, Citadel: Diana by Arnaldo Catinari and Il sesso degli angeli by Leonardo Pieraccioni) to highlight the visual and narrative potential of the Canton of Ticino.

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The presence of externally commissioned projects within the Bachelor of Arts SUPSI in Visual Communication offers a valuable opportunity to bring students closer to the professional world, thanks to direct interaction with real partners and real projects that include a disciplinary educational challenge.

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The video project focuses on the Sasso Corbaro Castle, chosen for its strong visual identity and its ability to adapt to different interpretations. The castle is not shown as a simple backdrop, but as a living presence that tells its story through material, light and architectural details. The aim is to highlight it as an authentic and powerful film location, suitable for productions seeking atmosphere, depth and suggestion.

Excerpts from the film “Alter Ego”.

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The video centres on Grotto Baldoria, chosen for its authentic connection to Ticino’s rural culture and the convivial atmosphere of the region. It is a place that carries the scent of history, immersed in community, traditions and landscape, representing that dimension of Ticino which fascinates visitors. The goal is to portray the Grotto as a film location capable of hosting intimate stories linked to the territory and its roots.

Excerpts from the film “Bon Schuur Ticino”.

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The LAC in Lugano was chosen for its cinematic potential and its ability to transform depending on the viewer’s gaze. The versatility of the space emerges through the use of light, shadow, sound and rhythm, which allow different atmospheres to be created from the same architecture. The LAC thus appears not only as a cultural institution, but also as a place capable of inspiring filmmakers searching for open and narratively adaptable settings.

Excerpts from the series “Citadel: Diana”.

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Locarno becomes a visual journey to highlight the city by observing several locations featured in the film through a personal perspective that brings out historical architecture, alleyways, arcades and intimate atmospheres. It is also an invitation for filmmakers and creatives to discover a location rich in character, easily accessible and capable of telling its story through its presence and its own time.

Excerpts from the film “Bon Schuur Ticino”.

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The Gargantini Palaces in Lugano represent a place where history and the present coexist in a striking way. Their historic architecture, natural light and urban context make the Palaces an elegant and versatile backdrop capable of evoking different atmospheres without the need for invasive scenographic interventions. The video does not merely show the building, but presents it as a living narrative space where light, material and proportion become cinematic elements ready to inspire stories.

Excerpts from the film “Il sesso degli angeli”.

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Parco Ciani in Lugano is undoubtedly a place where nature and landscape merge harmoniously. The video invites viewers to observe the park with a sensitive and contemplative gaze, emphasising how it can become a setting for intimate, emotional or experimental narratives without the use of special effects.

Excerpts from the film “Il sesso degli angeli”.

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Monte San Salvatore is the protagonist of the video: an authentic place that offers evocative scenery. Its viewpoints and paths provide contrasts of light and visual breadth that make it possible to capture striking images even with simple means. The video shows how Monte San Salvatore can adapt to productions of various genres, from documentaries to romantic stories, thanks to its welcoming atmosphere and natural versatility. A space that invites the imagination without requiring major interventions or high budgets.

Excerpts from the film “Il sesso degli angeli”.

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Cristian Sommaiuolo: “Grotto Baldoria, a place out of time”

Giorgia Bianchetti: “Every frame a possibility”

Kadir Avci: “Locarno city, an adventure into the streets”

Matteo Assamoi: “Modern eyes, ancient walls”

Andrea Pejrani: “I riflessi tra le fronde”

Nathalie Polledri: “The Light Within”

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