It is with deep sorrow that we announce the untimely passing of Ninni Panzera, Artistic Director of the Messina Opera Film Festival.

A visionary, an intellectual, and a tireless promoter of culture, Ninni Panzera dedicated his life to cinema, theater, and the promotion of our region’s artistic heritage, leaving an indelible mark on every project he led.

For the MOFF, he was far more than an artistic director: he was the soul of a festival born from his conviction that the dialogue between opera and cinema could become a universal language, capable of uniting artists, audiences, and new generations.

With passion, expertise, and extraordinary sensitivity, he helped the Festival grow, establishing it as a landmark event on the national and international cultural landscape.

We have lost a guide, a mentor, and a friend; what remains is his example, his vision, and his cultural legacy.

Farewell, Ninni. Thank you for believing in the power of culture and for teaching us how to turn dreams into reality.