Creating Variety in Contemporary Rome: The Story of the Conventicola degli Ultramoderni on Sky Arte

On Sunday, May 3, Sky Arte will premiere the documentary "Ultramoderni," which chronicles the rise of the Conventicola degli Ultramoderni, a unique artistic collective in Rome. Founded by Sior Mirkaccio and Madame de Freitas, who met in 2011, the group operates from a small hidden venue in the San Lorenzo district, blending music, cabaret, burlesque, and contemporary variety shows with a retro-futuristic aesthetic. The documentary, filmed in their Roman space, features interviews with the duo and excerpts from their performances, tracing how they built a diverse community of enthusiasts around their reinvention of past traditions.

This documentary matters because it highlights a grassroots, independent art movement that has become a cultural landmark in Rome's nightlife, offering an alternative to mainstream entertainment. By showcasing the Conventicola's success in creating a parallel world through collaborative, interdisciplinary performance, the film underscores the enduring power of live, community-driven art in an era dominated by digital and commercial experiences. It also demonstrates how small, artist-led spaces can thrive as hubs of cultural resistance and innovation.