The 2022 Italian Film Festival returns this spring, promising to transport viewers on a 'favoloso' escape to Italy.
The festival will screen in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Byron Bay.
Things will kick off with the Australian premiere of Italian box office hit 'Belli Ciao' from comedy duo Pio and Amedeo, following two formerly inseparable friends who reunite in their hometown in Puglia after years apart. The result is an entertaining north vs south culture clash.
This year's festival masterpiece is Mario Martone's new drama 'Nostalgia', featuring Pierfrancesco Favino, about a man returning to his hometown of Naples after 40 years and rediscovering the city's codes and rules. . . Facing a haunting past.
'Nostalgia'
Special presentation films coming direct from their world premieres are 'Lord Of The Ants' starring Luigi Lo Cascio and 'The Hummingbird', Francesca Archibugi's star-studded ensemble drama led by Pierfrancesco Favino.
Three documentaries will screen this year, including the not-to-be-missed 'Ennio – The Maestro'. From Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore, it celebrates the life and legacy of legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone, with interviews from Olivia Stone, Quentin Tarantino, Bernardo Bertolucci and Hans Zimmer, plus the man himself, prior to his passing.
Festival fave Toni Servillo features in three films – 'The King Of Laughter', 'The Inner Cage', and 'Casanova's Return'.
'Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow'
Other highlights this year include '3/19', 'A Girl Returned', 'Breaking Up In Rome', 'Superheroes', 'The Great Silence', 'The Legend of The Christmas Witch 2: The Origins', 'The Shadow Of The Day', and 'With Or Without You'.
Then, to close the proceedings will be Oscar-winning trilogy of romantic comedies – 'Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow', starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. It's a fitting way to bit arrivederci to the festival, and forms part of the spotlight on Naples, the heartbeat of Italian cinema, the sidebar presented by the Italian Cultural Institute Melbourne.
“It’s that time of year when we emerge from our wintery cocoons to embrace spring and take a cinematic trip to Italy!” Festival Director Elysia Zeccola says. “Join us at the cinema for a ST. ALi Coffee, vino or aperitivo, as we share the enjoyment of seeing films on the big screen together.”
Italian Film Festival 2022 Tour Dates
13 September-12 October – Palace Central, Palace Norton St, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema (Sydney)14 September-12 October – Palace Electric (Canberra)
15 September-12 October – Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, The Astor, Cinema Nova (Melbourne)
21 September-16 October – Palace Barracks, Palace James Street (Brisbane)
21 September-16 October – Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas (Adelaide)
22 September-16 October – Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema (Perth)
23 September-9 October – Palace Byron Bay
