Stories from the Chestnut Woods (Zgodbe iz kostanjevih gozdov) is a borderless film set in the time after World War II. about the people from a small community near the Slovenian-Italian border “who are still defiantly inhabiting the remote borderlands, as well as ubiquitous traces and memories of all those who have already left in pursuit of their wish for a better tomorrow”.

Gregor Božič’s debut persuaded the Union of the Associations of Slovenian Filmmakers as it captures a timeless, almost archetypal spirit of Benečija, an area in eastern Italy populated by ethnic Slovenians. Besides brilliant cinematography, scenography and sound effects it brings to life a poetic nature of this borderless region and creats a dream-like rhythm to depict a specific area, said the experts. It speaks to the universal need in individuals to leave places frozen in time, they added.

“We tried to convey the spirit of Benečija on film, this special space shaped by political tensions and poverty over the centuries, as well as the emigration of the population. We wanted this area to come to life as the protagonist of the film – through the atmosphere of mostly abandoned villages, through architecture and objects, through mirages and sounds left behind by their former inhabitants, and, most importantly, through nature – in a form inextricably linked with this space: like a fairy tale you read before nightfall, ”said Gregor Božič about the film.

Stories from the Chestnut Woods, a Slovenian-Italian co-production, written by Božič and Marina Gumzi, the film’s producer. The cast is also borderless and features Massimo De Francovich, Ivana Roščić, Giusi Merli, Tomi Janežič, Anita Kravos, Nataša Keser and Janez Škof.

Team GO! 2025 is proud to have Gregor as author of various artistic projects for our GO! Borderless candidacy.