Ischia Global Fest 2026: FIGLIO DI GIANO

Cinema Excelsior Hall 2

Free admission while seats are available.

8:30 PM – Figlio di Giano by Luigi Grispello (62 min) – Introduction by director Luigi Grispello.

SYNOPSIS
Figlio di Giano, directed by Luigi Grispello, is a documentary that tells a story beginning in 1946. As the New Year begins, Rome celebrates a one-of-a-kind ritual: Mister Ok’s dive into the Tiber River, immediately after the cannon shot from the Janiculum Hill.
A spectacular and daring gesture meant to wish the entire city a happy New Year. It all began with Rick De Sonay, an eccentric Italian-Belgian photographer who, already elderly at the time, decided to challenge the icy waters of the river on New Year’s Eve, creating a legendary tradition.
Since then, only a few brave souls have carried on the legacy, including the celebrated Maurizio Palmulli, an Ostia lifeguard who for years has embodied the true spirit of Mister Ok with his sculpted physique and unwavering dedication.
But time stops for no one—not even heroes—and today Maurizio is searching for a worthy successor. Among the candidates is Marco Fois, a night-time sandwich maker in Porta Maggiore, who dreams of taking the leap—or rather, the dive—and becoming the new face of this uniquely Roman tradition.
A ritual that reveals the secrets and authentic spirit of Rome, a city suspended between past and present, where anyone can still become a hero, even if only for one day.