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When actor/director Samuele Sbrighi founded La Valigia dell’Attore in 2016, he envisioned more than just a school for cinema and theater—he created a space where young people could take their first professional steps in the arts. The Santarcangelo-based training center is a place where aspiring artists are taught not only their craft, but also independence, resilience, and the belief that they can author their own path.
That philosophy is what makes Sbrighi’s sponsorship of Nòt Film Fest, and particularly the “Nòt a Chance” program, so meaningful. “Their way of doing things is the closest to our philosophy,” he says. “One of the main points we try to get across to our students is independence. You have to produce yourself. So you don’t just become a piece of meat in a system. You have to make your own system.”
The “Nòt a Chance” challenge embodies this mindset. Launched in partnership with Nòt Film Fest, the initiative invites young filmmakers to prove that great ideas don’t need big budgets. Participants are given a theme on the opening night of the festival, and then challenged to write, shoot, edit, and premiere a short film based on that theme in just four days. By Sunday night, their projects screen in competition alongside other official festival selections.
Sbrighi and Nòt Film Fest Co-Founder, Alizè Latini announced the theme in the form of a short dialogue exchange:
"We can’t do this."
"What do you mean we can’t do this?"
"Yeah, you can’t do this."
"And they’re telling us today?"
The playful prompt offers endless creative directions the filmmakers can explore. Upon receiving the theme and eager to begin their productions, the competing filmmakers sprint from the theater to thunderous applause from the audience.
For Sbrighi, the beauty lies in how this process strips away excuses and reveals raw creativity. Sometimes you’re held back by funding or time. But according to Sbrighi, you don’t need much. You can shoot a short film in two days if you have an idea. He asserts that when young filmmakers are faced with the fact that they have to film something, the end result is always extraordinary.
For many students, this opportunity would otherwise require them to travel abroad. But in the case of Nòt a Chance, it’s brought directly to their hometown. The competition also reflects the broader mission of both La Valigia dell’Attore and Nòt: to nurture artists who understand they are part of something larger than themselves.
And Sbrighi's final piece of advice to those coming to Nòt- both practical and playful: “Bring an umbrella.”
