RUKELI, the animated short film directed by Alessandro Rak and produced by AntropicA, Sideways Studios and Film i Väst, has been selected for the ninth edition of the Pop Corn Festival del Corto, taking place from 24 to 26 July 2026 in Porto Santo Stefano, in the municipality of Monte Argentario.

The film will be screened on Saturday, 25 July 2026, at 9:30 p.m. in the evocative setting of Piazzale dei Rioni, during the evening dedicated to the short films in competition.

Admission to the screening is free, subject to seat availability.

RUKELI screening in Porto Santo Stefano

The participation of RUKELI at the Pop Corn Festival del Corto marks another important stage in the film’s festival journey, as it continues to be presented at film events in Italy and abroad.

The screening will take place outdoors, overlooking the sea in Porto Santo Stefano, offering audiences the opportunity to discover the short film during an evening dedicated to contemporary short-form cinema.

The Pop Corn Festival del Corto is an international competition that promotes directors, authors and productions from different countries, supporting short films as an independent artistic form and as a space for narrative and visual experimentation.

The story of Johann “Rukeli” Trollmann

The short film tells the story of Johann “Rukeli” Trollmann, a Sinti boxer who was persecuted by the Nazi regime.

Through the language of animation, Alessandro Rak’s film reconstructs a story of talent, dignity and resistance, bringing back to public attention a figure who was long excluded from collective memory.

Rukeli explores themes that remain highly relevant today, including discrimination, political violence, individual freedom and the right to affirm one’s identity. The boxer’s story therefore becomes a universal reflection on the ability to resist oppression and injustice.

A new stage in Rukeli’s festival journey

The selection at the Pop Corn Festival del Corto confirms Rukeli’s growing presence at festivals dedicated to auteur cinema and animation.

The screening in Porto Santo Stefano will offer another opportunity to share Johann Trollmann’s story with audiences and to bring wider attention, through cinema, to a historical experience that continues to resonate in the present.

We are delighted to accompany Rukeli on this new stage of its journey and to present the film during an open-air cinema evening overlooking the sea.