(June 2024) | Esmeralda Calabria, an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and winner of numerous accolades including three David di Donatello, two Ciak d’oro, and three Nastri d’Argento awards, arrived in Sassuolo in 2022 for a project focusing on the Italian ceramic tile industry. Despite having no previous knowledge of the sector, a cornerstone of Italian industry renowned for its beautiful and high-quality products, she was commissioned by Edi.Cer. SpA on behalf of Confindustria Ceramica to create a documentary that would shed light on the industry’s complex production processes.

Determined to go beyond superficial coverage, Calabria immersed herself in the world of ceramics. She spent months gathering historical data, reading biographies, books and articles, and visited numerous production sites. She engaged with industry professionals, many of whom she would later interview for the documentary.

The film is part of a broader project exploring the sustainability of the Italian ceramic industry, focusing on four main segments: tiles, heavy clay, sanitaryware and tableware. Through interviews primarily with women, Calabria offers a unique insight into these four individual sectors and the geographical areas in which they operate.

“For over a century, the history of ceramics has interwoven places, biographies, skills, business, art, innovation and the environment, establishing Italy as a pinnacle of global excellence,” comments Esmeralda Calabria. “The film captures this narrative through a visual and auditory journey through some of the main hubs of this industry, all from the perspective of women. Entrepreneurs, workers, artists and designers guide us through industrial sites and Italy’s breathtaking landscapes, revealing that amongst the ever more sophisticated machinery, high-resolution scanners and robotic equipment, there is still space for traditional techniques and an important role for human expertise.”

Filming itself took about ten days and produced vast quantities of footage covering the four key sectors and their geographical areas. The subsequent process of selecting the interviews and footage and weaving them into a cohesive narrative took several months, but the end result is an utterly compelling documentary that explores the unique characteristics of Italian ceramics and the skilled and passionate people, particularly women, who work in the industry.

“I wanted to tell the human stories behind the unique and somewhat unorthodox business of ceramics,” continues Calabria. “It’s impossible to ignore the human, emotional power of our predominantly female protagonists, their ability to interact with technology and production processes, and the way they integrate their passion into a work ethic where human relationships are not considered an obstacle but valued as essential resources just like clay and water.”

The filmmaker developed a similar fascination for ceramics to that of the people who work within the industry, ultimately condensing her knowledge and enthusiasm in a 30-minute documentary.

The success of the project was demonstrated by the accolades it received at the prestigious Film Impresa Awards organised by Confindustria in Rome, the heart of the Italian film industry. Although only in their second edition, the awards have already proved to be a highly prestigious festival for three main reasons: the outstanding calibre of the jury chaired by Oscar-winner Gabriele Salvatores (who was present at the award ceremony) together with film industry experts such as actress Cristiana Capotondi, film critic Piera Detassis, film producer Elisabetta Olmi and director and screenwriter Maria Sole Tognazzi; the three-day event held at the Casa del Cinema in Rome, packed with debates, meetings and conferences with prominent figures from Italian cinema and business, during which the selected and nominated films were screened; and the participation of major Italian companies that have invested in film productions, including Bulgari, Stellantis and Legacoop.

The Ceramics of Italy documentary won two awards, the Premio Miglior Film d’Impresa Area Documentaria and the Premio Ente dello Spettacolo – Rivista del Cinematografo, potentially opening up new opportunities to promote awareness and appreciation of Italian ceramics.