A special event dedicated to the seaside hamlet of Bagheria, the village of Aspra, and the valorisation of the territory will be held on Saturday, 28 December. It is the premiere screening of Andrea Lorenzini’s new short documentary film, ‘Aspra Mundi’. The screening will be held in a place that symbolises the history and maritime traditions of the hamlet at the evocative Museo dell’Acciuga di Aspra owned by the brothers Michelangelo and Girolamo Balistreri.
This film project has also been made possible thanks to the patronage of the municipality of Bagheria, through the ‘Democrazia partecipata’ call for proposals that allocates 2 per cent of the regional IRPEF revenue to the financing of socio-economic development activities in the territory. ‘Aspra Mundi’, a work that celebrates the beauty of Aspra, narrating its history, culture, and millenary traditions that characterise this fascinating seaside village, is part of this project.
With ‘Aspra Mundi’, Andrea Lorenzini, a talented young director from Bagheria, class of ‘91, returns to directing after ten years since his first short film “Ignorance”, a work that was a great success, winning six film festivals and reaching the finals in nineteen others. The new film, shot in September 2024, takes the viewer through the eyes of a tourist couple visiting Aspra. Guiding them on this journey of discovery through the territory will be the voices of experts of the calibre of Antonello Gargano, an esteemed expert on history, art and local traditions; Michelangelo Balistreri, a profound lover of the hamlet who, together with his brother, is passionately dedicated to the care and management of the Museo dell’Acciuga; and Vladimiro Mauro, an expert speleologist who will offer a further perspective on the natural heritage of the place and of Monte Catalfano.
The evening will be presented by councillor Antonello Gargano. The event will be attended by the mayor of Bagheria, Filippo Maria Tripoli, and the president of the municipal council, Andrea Sciortino.
The event is public and open to all while places last.
With regard to the making of the film, the cinematography by Jhonny Carrano, the performances by Leandro Bellanca and Virginia Bruscato, the work of Jacopo Tozzo on sound and the filming by Paolo Terraneo, Jhonny Carrano and Giovan Battista Balistreri are worthy of note.

<<This film is a tribute to the beauty of Aspra and to its identity>> – declares the mayor Filippo Maria Tripoli – <<We are proud to have supported this project that enhances our territory and its cultural and natural wealth>>.

<<An important initiative for the promotion of the hamlet’s culture and territory>> – adds the president of the municipal council Andrea Sciortino – <<A praise to the director Lorenzini and to all those who contributed to the realisation of this beautiful documentary>>.