On 11 March, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris hosted a special screening of “A Year of School,” the latest film by Italian director Laura Samani, which is scheduled for release in French cinemas in June 2026. More than 600 young members of the Prix Palatine jury filled the Organization’s main conference hall to attend the screening of the film, which is competing in the 2025-2026 edition of the award. Following the screening, the director met with the students for a discussion covering a wide range of topics, from the representation of the world of education on screen to broader reflections on the role of cinema.
The Prix Palatine is a binational initiative bringing together high school students from Italy and France. The project has received UNESCO’s patronage in recognition of its commitment to promoting cultural diversity and to fostering cinema as a platform for dialogue and exchange among young people from different countries. Each year, the award engages French and Italian students in the discovery and discussion of a selection of contemporary films. By encouraging exchanges between young people, artists and institutions, the initiative transforms cinema into a genuine platform for dialogue, learning and European cooperation.
The event also represented a concrete expression of the shared commitment of France and Italy to supporting cinematic creation and strengthening intercultural dialogue, in line with the values promoted by UNESCO.
The screening took place in the presence of Ambassador Liborio Stellino, Permanent Representative of Italy to UNESCO, and Ambassador Ahlem Gharbi, his French counterpart. The two diplomatic delegations worked closely together to secure UNESCO’s patronage and to host the event in the main hall of the Organization’s headquarters.
Addressing the young participants, Ambassador Stellino underlined:
“This exemplary project touches upon the very essence of human coexistence: getting to know one another better in order to understand one another better, and recognizing that there is only one humanity, sharing the same planet, called upon to address and resolve global crises.”
