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La Gazzetta: Auguri Salento

A New Year message from Tokyo: Luca and Gabriele on their Salento roots, creative hopes and the first plans for The Devil on Wheels.

“We are making a film about Spielberg, but Neviano stays in our hearts”

Luca and Gabriele Stifani — directors and producers living in London

English translation of the original Italian Stifani section and photograph caption.

The Stifani twins set out to conquer the world under the mantle of the legendary Spielberg. “Even though we travel the world seeking our artistic expression, our thoughts always return to Italy, particularly to our home town of Neviano, where we were born and grew up with strong, simple and genuine ideals.”

Twins Luca and Gabriele Stifani, professionally known as “Stifani Bross”, directors and producers for “Pinta production”, have lived in London for several years. This Christmas they have flown to Tokyo for work.

“We are physically distant, but not in spirit,” they add, “and we cannot forget the love we learnt in our family. To everyone from Salento, and everyone searching for a voice of their own, we wish an intense year full of emotion.” Although Italy still faces a climate of crisis and sadness, the twins hope Italians can look ahead with optimism: “Passions and desires must not be trampled on; they must be realised through commitment and dedication.”

As they send greetings to their young nieces and nephews, they recall the importance of seeing reality through children’s eyes. “Dreaming and playing are part of life and help us understand its true meaning.” They also tell their fellow Salentini that they will return in May to perform This Is That at the Koreja theatres in Lecce. There is more: 2014 will be a special year for Luca and Gabriele. “We will be involved in producing an international film in which we will feature next summer.” The film is The Devil on Wheels, a documentary celebrating Duel, Steven Spielberg’s first film. Spielberg, they add, is already aware of the project.

DIRECTORS — Luca and Gabriele Stifani, originally from Neviano.

[p.d.p.] · La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno · 31 December 2013

La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Lecce Primo Piano, page V, 31 December 2013. Only the bottom-right Luca and Gabriele Stifani section is transcribed and displayed. The printed byline initials [p.d.p.] and the photograph caption are preserved. The wishes and plans for 2014 remain in their original historical context.

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