America is still the land of pioneering spirit. At least, that is the impression of the Mogast crew, a cycling event that for the past ten years has been climbing the slopes of the Mortirolo, Gavia and Stelvio passes.
The event celebrated its tenth anniversary with a short documentary directed by Marco Artusi, a Milan-based filmmaker, nature lover and avid pizzoccheri enthusiast. A twelve-minute cinematic celebration featuring a decade of breathtaking footage, photography, cycling, social life, extraordinary landscapes and a seemingly endless supply of smiles.
The film, Mogast: A Ten Years Long Journey, was selected for the 26th edition of the Bicycle Film Festival, held in New York last weekend. Founded in 2001 by Brendt Barbour, the festival specialises in telling stories about bicycles and about the ways in which bicycles tell the story of the world.
Davide Menegola, President of the Province of Sondrio, also expressed his satisfaction: “We are proud of these young people, who over the past ten years have managed to take Valtellina, its landscapes and its people well beyond the borders of our territory. Mogast tells the story of an authentic Valtellina, made of mountains, bicycles, passion and human connections, and does so with a perspective that can speak to an international audience as well. Bringing this story all the way to New York is an achievement that brings value to the entire area.”
In addition to its main venue in New York, the festival has been held over the years in more than one hundred cities across five continents and, rumour has it, there may be a chance to see it in Milan soon. The sheer quantity and quality of the pioneering work featured in the festival’s selection is striking, highlighting a strong sensitivity towards projects with social relevance.
It is beautiful to see how the bicycle can help bridge gender disparities and racial discrimination, raise awareness of disability and quality of life, or act as a driving force for urban development. Or how it can function as a social catalyst and a source of joy: two dimensions in which Mogast has specialised over the years.
The affinities between the two events quickly led to a mutual understanding and to interesting conversations between the two organising teams. Could a friendship be taking shape along the Valtellina–New York axis?
