Italy enjoyed a front-page position at the international comic strip festival in Mostar (Mostrip), now in its seventh edition. A rich and varied team of Italian artists (Sarah Burrini, Anna Lazzarini, Oscar Scalco, Giovanni Freghieri, Stefano Bidetti, Alessandro Nespolino and Walter Venturi) produced work of the highest quality and was one of the event’s most admired participants. Along with the Embassy of Italy, the Institut Français, the Goethe Institut, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the City of Mostar also took part.
The Festival was officially opened by Ambassador Marco Di Ruzza. In his opening remarks, he underscored the well-established partnership between the Embassy of Italy and Mostrip, which has developed by virtue of the great success enjoyed by Italian comics in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“This Festival”, said the Ambassador, “has become an integral part of our cultural diplomacy, as the art of the comic is a flexible and dynamic instrument to further strengthen the cultural ties between our two countries. The esteem enjoyed by Italian comics here transcends any ethnic or faith-based divisions, especially among younger citizens. And this ability of theirs to come together, in a country that sadly remains highly fragmented, spurs us to continue along this road”.
