Italy’s Neglected Suburbs: Why Grassroots Works Better Than Crackdowns
In 2023, the Italian government launched the so-called “Caivano Model” — a top-down emergency plan aimed at tackling crime in one of Italy’s most troubled suburbs. But two years on, locals say all that arrived was repression. On the ground, grassroots organizations have quietly been trying to improve the situation for many years, creating opportunities […]
Jesus of Naples. Can art be created using AI?
What if Jesus appeared in today’s world—right in the streets of Naples? This video explores the viral, AI-generated reels created by filmmaker and content creator Ugo Di Fenza, in which Jesus is reimagined in a contemporary urban setting. These videos place a timeless figure face-to-face with the challenges of a complex city like Naples, from […]
How safe spaces for everyone can change nightlife
Can an inclusive and safe space be guaranteed for everyone, even in nightclubs? According to Unisono, a Milan-based association that organises accessible events, it is. They don’t see it as a charitable mission, but simply as a way to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a fun evening in good company. @vdnews_ita met […]
A Card worth 15.000€: inside the world of Pokemon cards
Spending 200.000€ on cards from a game? Easy. This video dives into the bizarre logic behind the online market for trading cards and collectible. Through a mix of humour and critique, it unpacks how fandom becomes a speculative economy, why certain pieces soar in price without reason, and how the internet turns passion into profit. […]
In Milan, this initiative created a community around plants and flowers
In Italy, Clinica Botanica was created as a way to reconnect people with place, nature, and slower rhythms. One of its founders decided to create it in Milan: a huge metropolis, where between fast pace, tourists and capitalism, it’s becoming harder and harder to find peace, quiet and mindfulness. Through his personal journey, he invites […]
In Naples, local government chooses tourists over students
In Naples, the phenomenon of “touristification” does not only affect B&Bs and holiday rentals, but also the student housing market. With the government’s intervention through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), 95% of the new beds have been allocated to private operators, and only 2% to public ones. @vdnews_ita interviewed students across the city […]
The power of language and music: Occitan Resistance in the Italian Alps
Between the Italian and French Alps, a remarkable cultural movement has been taking shape over the past decades — born from Occitan traditional music and language, and now a vibrant, cross-generational community. What began as a revival of ancient sounds has evolved into a popular, intergenerational and festive movement with a strong political spirit and […]
In Italy, readers unite in a buying flashmob to support independent bookshops
In 2024, a movement called “Svuota la vetrina” (“Empty the Shop Window”) emerged in Italy, where readers buy out the entire shop display window of local bookstores as a symbolic and literal act of support for reading culture. The initiative began with a €10,000 purchase in Milan. Similar actions soon followed in over 38 bookstores […]
In Milan, this Harry Potter sport gathers champions of inclusion
Quadball is a new sport, born out of passion and inspired by the world of Harry Potter: it’s played on the ground, with brooms between the legs, balls, and rules that mix elements of rugby, dodgeball, and handball. In 2022, the sport officially changed its name worldwide, taking a clear distance from J.K. Rowling’s views […]
Small gestures to make a big difference: the story of Velia, a volunteer helping refugees in Rome
In Rome, amid moonlit walks and community picnics, local activists are on a mission to strengthen the country’s solidarity with refugees. This short documentary follows Velia, a volunteer working with Refugees Welcome in the Italian capital, who’s convinced that small gestures can make a big difference. This is the first video in @elsaltotv ‘s series […]
