Aqua Film Festival, the First International Film Festival entirely focused on the theme of Water, is organized by the non-profit association Universi Aqua.
Art. 1 – Designation
1.1 A cultural Association called “UNIVERSI AQUA ETS” is constituted, pursuant to Title I, Chapter III, art. 36, and subsequent articles of the Italian Civil Code. Once completed the registration procedure at the Regional Registry for Third Sector Organizations – RUNTS, it will qualify as Third Sector Organization (ETS).
1.2The Association is non-profit. Direct or indirect distribution of profits or surplus, funds, reserves, capitals or assets is forbidden, during the life of the Association, unless the distribution or allocation is imposed by law.
Art. 5 – Aims
5.1. The Association pursues the following aims of general interest:
- to promote and support the safeguard of the sea, and of water in general;
- to make international cooperation, relations among cultures, and the world scientific heritage, effective and concrete, especially through the promotion and support of research, education, development, rehabilitation and care, on the use and protection of water;
- to promote and support innovative planning for an equitable and fair distribution of water all over the world, through the work of research institutes, aimed at developing methods for the optimization of the world water resources;
- to integrate research activities with top-level training, aimed at enhancing the national and international scientific and technological community, as well as stimulating new entrepreneurial innovative activities aimed at environmental sustainability;
- to collaborate to the safeguard, protection and valorisation of protected marine areas;
- to promote students’ education on the respect, safeguard and protection of water resources and of the environment, through specific projects, set up in collaboration with Italian and international schools and universities, and aimed at social issues;
- to participate to research projects funded by the European Union, and to Tenders and/or Grant procedures for Cultural Heritage activities, issued by Public or private bodies.
- to carry out educational activity for children, adults, elderly and disabled people, to develop their familiarity with water, by promoting activities closely linked to water, including sports;
- to allocate the 15% (fifteen percent) of the available funds from the annual financial statements to programmes aimed at environmental research and conservation, and to communications programmes aimed at raising awareness on the sound use of water.
Art. 6 – Pursuit of social aims
6.1. To achieve its goals, the Association will, directly or indirectly, take initiatives and carry out activities, by itself or in collaboration with others.
Among the mentioned activities, by way of example but not limited to, the following are included:
- organization of competitions, including film competitions;
- organization of awareness campaigns focused on the theme of Water;
- organization of conferences, round tables, open forums, seminars and events on issues defined by the statutory activities, pursuant to Art. 5;
- promotion of public and/or private fund-raising, through TV channels, networks or any other appropriate means for the purpose. Funds will be used to carry out projects and social initiatives regarding institutional activities, or will be assigned to national or international authorities or organizations, working in the fields of interest of the Association;
- promotion of events on social issues, in collaboration with local authorities, national institutions, schools, universities, and private organizations;
- entering into any appropriate act or contract, such as the financing of deliberated activities, including – but without excluding other operations – the following: taking out of loans, calls for contributions, or other requests, entailing any form of security – including collateral security – to be allocated for the implementation of the Association’s aims; subscribing obligation or submission acts granting the use of public goods; stipulating special conventions, with public or private entities, considered to be appropriate for the purpose;
- twinning with national and/or international organizations, working in the same social fields;
- furthermore, the Association is entitled to undertake other activities, considered complementary and effective for the development of institutional activities, as well as marginal commercial and productive activities, pursuant to the Ministerial Decree of May 25, 1995, and subsequent modifications and amendments. These include activities in the publishing, multi-media, audio-visual and merchandising fields, to be eventually carried out by setting up specific bodies, under the Italian or foreign laws;
- proposing facilities, measures and policies, able to facilitate and stimulate the creation of new spaces and locations, for the promotion of awareness campaigns on water;
- the Association will promote its services in Italy and abroad, also by opening new premises and venues, to promote and spread awareness on water issues;
- the Association will carry out any financial operation deemed as useful, necessary or applicable, in particular by opening post and/or bank accounts, taking on loans and mortgages, or any other subsidised financing.
Art. 7 – Members
7.1. There is no limit on the number of members.
7.2. People who are interested to achieve the institutional goals, share the spirit and ideals of the Association, collaborate to pursue its aims, according to their possibilities, and commit to pay, for the entire period of membership, the annual fee established by the Board of Directors, are entitled to join the Association.
Art. 8 – Application.
8.1. The application form has to be addressed, in written form, to the Board of Directors, and will include the following information:
- first name, family name, place of residence, date and place of birth, fiscal code, phone number, and email address;
- declaration to know and fully accept the present Statute and eventual regulations, and to comply with the resolutions adopted by the associative bodies.
The Association conforms to the principles of democratic nature of the structure, elective and free offices, voluntary and unpaid work by the members, and compulsory drafting of financial statements.
