Tradition Meets Innovation – A Digital Certificate for Authentic Italian Products

Fake “Italian” products are a rising concern, with the market estimated to be worth over EUR 100 billion worldwide. Despite protected status and regulations, even iconic Italian products like Parmigiano Reggiano are not immune to counterfeiting, with the fake market worth $2 billion, close to the sales of authentic Parmigiano at $2.7 billion.

100% Made in Italy Certificate

Representing over 7,000 registered companies and diverse businesses across all sectors, FederItaly is a dynamic non-profit federation dedicated to safeguarding “Made in Italy” and fighting the damaging effects of Italian-sounding products to Italy’s economy and reputation.

FederItaly has partnered with the ORIGYN Foundation, a Swiss non-profit that uses cutting-edge blockchain technology to prove authenticity, identity, and ownership of valuable assets through digital certificates. These certificates will include multimedia elements like images, documents and even entire applications. By leveraging the foundation’s powerful digital certification technology, FederItaly aims to protect Italian brands and consumers alike.

ORIGYN’s innovative technology is built on the Internet Computer, the most cost effective and greenest blockchain in existence, developed by the DFINITY Foundation, which ensures the utmost transparency and security in the fight against counterfeit Italian products.

“FederItaly’s partnership with ORIGYN marks a milestone in certifying Italian products, promoting economic and social empowerment. With the Senate event, initiative of Senator Gianpietro Maffoni, we are launching the certification process, starting from the Consortium of Extra Virgin Oil from Monti Tifatini, located in a region facing economic and social challenges,” said Carlo Verdone, President of FederItaly.

The “FederItaly 100% Made In Italy” mark offers a trusted symbol of authenticity and quality. Companies must undergo a rigorous validation to ensure that all materials and processes originate from Italy. The resulting digital certificate, securely stored on the Internet Computer blockchain, provides all the essential details, from the product’s origin to its maker, accessible with a simple scan of the product’s QR code.

“ORIGYN Foundation is delighted to collaborate with FederItaly and DFINITY to help protect the integrity of Italy’s finest products and creations, whose authenticity is passionately sought by so many the world over,” said Mike Schwartz, ORIGYN Co-Founder and Councilmember.

FederItaly and ORIGYN are also developing a secure and decentralized e-commerce platform for small and medium-sized Italian businesses, with the ultimate goal to promote and preserve Italian excellence globally.

Starting from March 21, 2023, FederItaly will accept application requests for the “FederItaly 100% Made in Italy” digital certificate using the ORIGYN certification platform.

About ORIGYN

ORIGYN creates powerful biometric digital certificates that prove authenticity, identity and ownership of valuable assets, securely and permanently storing their data on the blockchain. ORIGYN’s digital certification technology establishes an irrefutable connection between a physical asset-such as luxury watches, jewelry, gemstones, manufactured goods and fine artworks-and a forgery-proof, customizable digital certificate, while also offering a host of value-added services to businesses and consumers. ORIGYN serves as a universal, global certification standard for increasing trust, securing data and generating new revenue streams for businesses through digital certificates, which have now officially launched worldwide. Headquartered in Neuchatel, Switzerland, ORIGYN operates as a foundation dedicated to its mission to build trust in what is most valuable. For more information, visit origyn.com.

About FederItaly

FederItaly is the premier Italian federation dedicated to protecting, promoting and disseminating the excellence of “Made in Italy” products and services worldwide. Established in 2021, the organization quickly established itself as a leading voice among companies and media outlets. With over 7,000 registered companies, 12 trade associations, 5 consortia, and over 500 professionals, FederItaly has a proven track record of success in promoting the best of Italian production and professional excellence.

Contact Information
Cassidy Esper
cassidy@origyn.ch

Canada – NFB works by Indigenous creators Ossie Michelin, Jennie Williams, Asinnajaq and Jerry Evans amplify culture and tradition at the Spirit Song Film Showcase. FREE screening includes two in-person premieres by Newfoundland and Labrador directors.

Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Four National Film Board of Canada (NFB) works by Indigenous filmmakers will screen on November 22 in St. John’s at the Spirit Song Film Showcase, in a special evening of Indigenous short cinema. The free event starts at 7:30 p.m., with tickets available through the Arts and Culture Centre.

The Spirit Song Festival is a celebration of Indigenous Arts and Culture that has been running annually in St. John’s since 2013.

From the Labrador Doc Project

The Film Showcase features the Newfoundland and Labrador in-person premieres of two films from the NFB’s Labrador Doc Project, which works with Labrador Inuit filmmakers to create and share stories from Inuit perspectives.

Evan’s Drum(14 min)

Directed by Inuk journalist Ossie Michelin, born and raised in North West River, Labrador, and now based in Montreal

Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/evans-drum

An adventurous seven-year-old boy and his determined mother share a passion for Inuit drum dancing in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. After generations of silence, the rhythm of the traditional Inuit drum has returned to Labrador, and young Evan is part of the new generation that will keep its heartbeat strong. The first-ever film on Labrador Inuit drum dancing, Evan’s Drum is a joyful visit to a family’s loving home and an uplifting story of cultural pride.

Fun fact: Also appearing in the film is Jennie Williams, director of Nalujuk Night, who is also a drum maker.

Nalujuk Night (13 min)

Directed by Jennie Williams, an Inuk visual artist and a throat singer from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, now based in St. John’s

Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/nalujuk-night

Nalujuk Night is an up-close look at an exhilarating, and sometimes terrifying, Labrador Inuit tradition. Every January 6, from the dark of the Nunatsiavut night, the Nalujuit appear on the sea ice. They walk on two legs, yet their faces are animalistic, skeletal and otherworldly. Snow crunches underfoot as they approach their destination: the Inuit community of Nain. Rarely witnessed outside of Nunatsiavut, the event is an exciting chance for Inuit, young and old, to prove their courage and come together as a community to celebrate culture and tradition.

Fun fact: Nalujuk Night was named Best Atlantic Short Documentary at the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival and is making its US premiere at DOC NYC from November 10 to 18.

Three Thousand (14 min)

Directed by Asinnajaq, also known as Isabella Weetaluktuk, an Inuk visual artist, writer, filmmaker and curator from Inukjuak, Nunavik

Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/three-thousand

Named Best Experimental Work at imagineNATIVE 2017, this acclaimed film plunges us into a sublime imaginary universe of luminescent, archive-inspired cinema that recasts the past, present and future of Inuit in a radiant new light. Diving into the NFB’s vast archive, Asinnajaq parses the complicated cinematic representation of Inuit, harvesting fleeting truths and fortuitous accidents from a range of sources, conjuring up a vision of hope and beautiful possibility.

Red Ochre (3 min)

Directed by Jerry Evans, a Mi’kmaq artist based in St. John’s

Co-produced by Animiki See Digital Productions and the NFB

Now on NFB.ca: nfb.ca/film/vistas_red_ochre

Combining archival photos with new and found footage, Red Ochre presents a personal, impressionistic rendering of what it’s like growing up Mi’kmaq in Newfoundland while living in a culture of denial. The film was produced in 2009 as part of Vistas, a collaborative project between the NFB and APTN featuring 13 short films on Nationhood by Indigenous filmmakers from St. John’s to Vancouver.

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Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

About the NFB

Lily Robert

Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB

C.: 514-296-8261 | l.robert@nfb.ca