by InTrieste
This morning, in the elegant halls of the Savoia Excelsior Palace, Trieste hosted a captivating roundtable celebrating Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity. Organized by Alpe Adria Cinema in collaboration with the Department of Culture of the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region, the event took place as part of the 36th Trieste Film Festival, underscoring the city’s vital role in fostering cross-border connections.
Titled “Multilingual European Capitals of Culture: Tracing Linguistic Diversity Across ECoCs,” the discussion brought together representatives from Timișoara (Romania), GO! 2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia (Italy and Slovenia), Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), and Plovdiv (Bulgaria). The panelists explored how the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) designation has strengthened linguistic communities, fostered unity, and inspired innovative approaches to multilingualism.
“Friuli Venezia Giulia is the perfect starting point to investigate cultural margins—spaces that are no longer just divisions, but territories of multiple identities, examples of Europe at its best,” said cultural expert Giustina Selvelli during the event.
Held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the bilingual Italian-English session spotlighted the successes and challenges of fostering multilingual communication in cultural programming. From strengthening ethnic and cultural identities to making events more inclusive for minority communities, the panel offered a wealth of insights for cultural organizers and institutional representatives across FVG, Slovenia, and beyond.
The discussion also served as a platform for sharing best practices, with GO! 2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia—a historic cross-border collaboration—as a central case study. Speakers emphasized the value of multilingual events in creating cultural dialogue and deeper connections between diverse communities.
As Europe continues to celebrate its rich tapestry of languages and cultures, events like this morning’s roundtable in Trieste illuminate the power of multilingualism to unify and inspire across borders.
Interviews: Nicoletta Romeo, director of the Trieste Film Festival; cultural expert Giustina Selvelli
