“Upside Down” — Italian Film Screening at MSLU Highlights Inclusion and Accessibility

On March 21, 2025, Moscow State Linguistic University hosted a special screening of the Italian film “Upside Down”, a heartfelt story about inclusion and the everyday lives of people with disabilities. The screening, held in Italian with Russian subtitles, marked World Down Syndrome Day—an observance established by the United Nations in 2011 and celebrated annually on March 21.

The film tells the story of Paolo, a young man with Down syndrome who works in a restaurant and finds purpose and friendship through boxing. The movie, which won the Audience Award at the 2024 Cinema Without Barriers International Disability Film Festival, explores themes of empathy, dignity, and empowerment.

The event was organized in partnership with the UN Information Centre in Moscow, the regional disability rights organization Perspektiva, and with support from the Embassy of Italy in Russia.
The film’s director, Luca Tornatore, and lead actor Gabriele Di Bello—who, like his character Paolo, has Down syndrome—were in attendance and participated in a lively post-screening discussion, made fully accessible by MSLU’s interpreting team.

For the second year, MSLU has been recognized as a federal innovation hub for inclusive translation training. The university offers specialized programs such as:
Theory and Practice of Sign Language Interpreting for Intercultural Communication
Russian Sign Language: Consecutive and Simultaneous Translation
Audio Description and Intercultural Communication
Theory and Practice of Audiovisual Translation
These programs are supported by MSLU’s Center for Inclusive Education, which played a key role in organizing the event and assisting guests with special needs.