The International Folklore Festival & Groups is born in Formia: president and board of directors elected.

The International Folklore Festival & Groups is born in Formia: president and board of directors elected.

Formia, November 15, 2025 – The International Folklore Festivals & Groups Association (IFFGA) was officially established today in Formia, the first association of its kind in Italy, with the aim of bringing together festivals, folk groups, and artistic groups from around the world. The members of the Board of Directors were elected during the inaugural meeting.

The new organization will be led by Francesco Mallozzi of Minturno, former president of the Italian section of CIOFF. Riccardo Cacicia of Agrigento has been appointed vice president alongside him. The board of directors is completed by Luigi Di Vito of Fondi (treasurer), Francesca Taibi of Campofranco (CL), Michele Castrilli of Carpinone (IS), Attilio Graziano of Taurano (AV), and Nicola Cosimo Capobianco of Fragneto Monforte (BN).

The association enters a vibrant international context, where similar organizations are already active in countries such as France, Austria, South Korea, Armenia, and Turkey. Italy, until now without a similar organization, thus takes an important step forward in the global folklore scene.

Unire, collaborare, condividere

The IFFGA's mission is clear: to create a forum for cooperation between organizations that organize national and international festivals, folklore groups, choirs, bands, flag throwers, and related associations. The goal is to work in a spirit of harmony, loyalty, friendship, and mutual collaboration, promoting joint initiatives with an international perspective.

Among the first projects announced are the creation of a global database, a web portal, a presence on major international networks, and a communications strategy that will allow the organization to reach associations worldwide.

President Mallozzi emphasized that the IFFGA was not created to compete with other organizations already operating, but rather as a proactive entity capable of fostering synergies:

"Our association was created to unite, collaborate, and work not only for ourselves, but for everyone," he stated.

International participation already in the constituent phase.

Over 20 representatives attended the assembly, including delegations from Taiwan and Senegal, who joined online. Also present were 12 Italian associations and numerous foreign groups from Venezuela, Ecuador, the Philippines, New Zealand, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, and Timor-Leste.

The establishment of the new organization has already generated attention—and in some cases excitement—in the Italian and international folklore world, a sign of the interest this initiative is destined to generate.