Valcucine wins the Leonardo da Vinci special Mention at “Visioni Made in Italy” with the documentary film “L'Intelligenza del fare”
The documentary explores the intersection of craftsmanship, innovation and design culture through the people and expertise that help shape the company's identity.
Pordenone, 22 October 2026 – Valcucine has been awarded the Leonardo da Vinci Special Mention in the Companies category at “Visioni Made in Italy”, an initiative promoted by SIMEST in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to showcase the stories and values of Made in Italy through the language of cinema.
The recognition was awarded to the documentary film L'Intelligenza del fare | Quando il sapere diventa futuro (The Intelligence of Making | When Knowledge Becomes the Future), which received the award on 21 October during a ceremony held at Teatro Sistina in Rome, as part of “Alice nella città”, in the “Onde Corte” section, within the framework of the Rome Film Fest.
*The full documentary arrives on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. Stay tuned.
The jury's motivation
The jury, chaired by actor and director Alessandro Preziosi and also comprising institutional representatives, awarded Valcucine the Leonardo da Vinci Special Mention with the following motivation:
“A powerful narrative built around simple, universal messages, such as the emotional connection we develop with objects, portraying Italian design as a continuous exploration in which aesthetics, technological innovation and design vision come together harmoniously. A testament to how creativity, quality and sustainability can become authentic ambassadors of Italian excellence around the world.”
L'Intelligenza del fare: the value of people and expertise
Directed by filmmaker Laura Sans Gassò and narrated by Gabriele Centazzo, the company's founder and designer, L'Intelligenza del fare features several artisans and partners who collaborate with Valcucine: Del Savio 1910, R.P.G. Intagli, Carraro Chabarik, Società Vetraria Biancadese and DMM.
Through their gestures, skills and craftsmanship, the film explores the relationship between design intelligence and hands-on expertise, revealing how collaboration between the company and its artisans, combined with research and innovation, can give rise to unique, customised solutions while expressing the value of Italian craftsmanship and know-how.
The documentary is part of a broader journey that, in 2026, also found expression in Crafting Forward, the theme through which Valcucine explored the dialogue between industrial innovation and contemporary craftsmanship during Milan Design Week, through installations, collaborations and dedicated content.
With L'Intelligenza del fare, Valcucine sought to give a voice not only to its values, but also to the people and expertise that bring them to life every day. The film thus becomes a way of sharing the company's design culture and the wealth of knowledge developed through collaboration with its partners, revealing the work and passion behind every creation.
Visioni Made in Italy: telling the stories of italian companies through cinema
In its first year, “Visioni Made in Italy” attracted more than 100 expressions of interest, with approximately 60 companies selected to proceed to the next stage of the initiative.
Promoted by SIMEST, a company belonging to the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the initiative celebrates Italian entrepreneurial stories, highlighting companies' capacity for innovation, their internationalisation journeys and their contribution to the economic, social and environmental development of supply chains and local communities.
The awards ceremony was attended, among others, by Giovanni Gorno Tempini, Chairman of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, and Vittorio de Pedys, Chairman of SIMEST.
Among the other awards presented in the Companies category, the Visioni Made in Italy Award went to Arsenale for Dream of the Desert, the Visioni al Femminile Special Mention to Irritec for Il futuro dell'acqua, and the Filiere d'Impatto recognition to Inalpi for Radici senza confini. In the SME category, the Visioni Made in Italy Award was presented to Caffè Pascucci for Niente di speciale.
The awards ceremony marks a milestone in a broader initiative aimed at promoting Made in Italy internationally. The documentary films may be showcased through a permanent digital platform, the network of Italian Embassies and Italian Cultural Institutes, international events and opportunities to engage with stakeholders and partners in overseas markets.
Ph credits by SIMEST
