Anima Libera: on the power of giving
A son, a mother, and a gesture that keeps on living.
On 8 September 2021, Mattia Grotto died at twenty-nine, after being taken ill while at the sea. In those days his mother, Evelina Cretella, said something that would become the title of a film.
Mattia is a free soul now. And freedom was the thing he had always chased.
Anima libera. It is what she called him, before there was any film to name.
How the film came about
The idea is Evelina's. In the four years after Mattia's death she made a deliberate choice: not to let the grief consume her, but to turn it into a message. She began organising awareness events together with AIDO, and at some point she realised something was missing from that work.
A film was missing. Something to take into schools, in a language young people would actually listen to, that did not talk about death but about love and about being alive.
Anima Libera comes from there.
What kind of film it is
A short film based on a true story. Not a documentary and not a memorial: an account of losing your way and finding it again, of family ties, and of the invisible thread that keeps people connected even beyond loss.
It is about a young man who, through the act of donation, becomes permanently part of other people's lives. And underneath, it is about something that concerns everyone: the worth of what we do, even when we feel invisible.
Who is behind it
Produced by Onymous Studios, under the patronage of:
- AIDO Nazionale, the Italian Association for the Donation of Organs, Tissues and Cells
- AIDO Regione Veneto
- Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto ETS, the Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
- Fondazione Banca dei Tessuti del Veneto ETS, the Veneto Tissue Bank Foundation
The fundraising campaign is promoted by AIDO Sezione Provinciale di Vicenza.
What the project sets out to do
Anima Libera is intended to be a piece of cinema and, at the same time, a civic and educational instrument.
The first aim is to complete a film capable of moving an audience and making it think about organ and tissue donation, using the language of cinema to carry the universal value of the Gift and the message of AIDO.
The second is to let it live beyond the screening. The film will become an awareness tool to bring into schools, where dedicated sessions and activities will give younger people a way into the themes of solidarity, informed choice and social responsibility.
The third holds the other two together: turning a private story into a collective one, that goes on reaching people and goes on mattering to whoever comes next.
Support Anima Libera
The film is being funded from the ground up, through a campaign on Produzioni dal Basso, the first crowdfunding platform founded in Italy. The campaign is promoted by AIDO Sezione Provinciale di Vicenza and closes at the end of September 2026.
It runs in "keep it all" mode: every euro donated goes to the project, whether or not the full target is reached.
→ Support Anima Libera
If you cannot give, share
A project like this one does not stall for lack of conviction. It stalls for lack of people seeing it. The short link to send to a friend is sostieni.link/38212.
FAQ
What is Anima Libera?
A short film produced by Onymous Studios, based on the true story of Mattia Grotto and initiated by his mother Evelina Cretella, dedicated to the value of organ and tissue donation. The film carries the patronage of AIDO Nazionale, AIDO Regione Veneto, the Veneto Eye Bank Foundation and the Veneto Tissue Bank Foundation.
What does the title mean?
Anima libera is Italian for "liberated soul". It is what Mattia's mother called him in the days after his death, saying that freedom was the thing he had always chased.
What is AIDO?
The Associazione Italiana per la Donazione di Organi, Tessuti e Cellule: the Italian association for the donation of organs, tissues and cells. It has run public awareness work on donation in Italy since 1973, and holds the declarations of will of its members.
How can I support the project?
Through the campaign on Produzioni dal Basso, promoted by AIDO's Vicenza provincial branch. Here is the direct link. You can pick a reward tier or give any amount, by card, PayPal or bank transfer.
What happens if the campaign does not reach its target?
The campaign runs in "keep it all" mode. Whatever is raised stays with the project and goes towards production costs.
Where will the film be shown?
The primary route is distribution in schools, together with dedicated sessions and activities, in partnership with AIDO. Festival screenings and public events are also planned.
Can my school or organisation host a screening?
Yes. Write to studios@onymous.it and we will connect you with the project.