Italian Cinema Today

Another great edition of the Festa del Cinema di Roma just wrapped up and what a diverse celebration of cinema it was. From documentaries to book presentations to Hollywood stars to Italian cinema maestros and newcomers, there was definitely something for everyone. Among my favorite selections this year was a sleeper hit for me.. a film I knew nothing about beforehand. Karen Di Porto's thought-provoking comedy, Maria per Roma follows a 30-something Italian actress struggling to make ends meet with small roles and her job as an Airbnb host along with her dog, Bea, who never leaves her side. Her chaotic days consist of running to auditions, taking calls from tourists, meeting them at their vacation apartments and occasionally receiving a pep talk from her father's ghost. I loved this film and I believe that you have to relate to the struggles of Maria and her friends to truly feel the same way. With that said, you will be especially moved by this film if you have on

The Bella Basilicata Film Festival will take place 24 October through 2 November in its quaint namesake town, Bella. Located in the provence of Potenza, the town will host some of the most talked about films made by Lucani in the past year. The festival's mission is "to provide quality and excellence in all cinematographic expressions in independent cinema, in gender production, the work of established authors, in that emerging filmmakers, in research and experimentation." Among the films in the lineup featured here on Italian Cinema Today are.. The Prince of Venusa by Silvio Giordano La Slitta by Emanuela Ponzano Lo Scambio by Salvo Cuccia La ricerca della forma. Il genio. by Vania Cauzillo For more information, visit the festival online at  http://www.bellabasilicatafilmfestival.com .

IL GIORNO DELLA CIVETTA  IL SET, IL FUORI SET E I RITRATTI DI ENRICO APPETITO There is a beautiful photo exhibit on display in the main hall of the Festa del Cinema di Roma. It is inspired by  Il giorno della civetta  ( Mafia ), a film directed in 1968 by Damiano Damiani, adapted from the novel by Leonardo Sciascia, starring Franco Nero, Claudia Cardinale and an international cast.  The exhibition presents a journey into the film with 160 images never shown before, as seen through the eyes of the set photographer Enrico Appetito; but it is also a tribute to Leonardo Sciascia's far-sightedness and civil commitment against the Mafia. The exhibition includes the Ritratti section (Portraits) in the Foyer Sinopoli, and the Set and Behind the Scenes sections in the EXPO space of the Auditorium Parco della Musica.  The images are accompanied by 50 years of news reports about the Mafia in Italy. As part of the exhibition, on Friday October 21 st , at 7 p.m., in the Audi

Valerio Zurlini's "La ragazza con la valigia" It's not everyday you get the chance to see short films made by an Italian master before he became a master and then with English subtitles.. and then among ancient Roman ruins. Well that's how I spent my Sunday evening and it's just one of the reasons why the Festa del Cinema in Rome is still my favorite annual cinema event. The Sala Trevi is hosting the festival's impressive retrospective dedicated to director Valerio Zurlini. Perhaps best known for "La ragazza con la valigia" (Girl With a Suitcase) starring a young, gorgeous Claudia Cardinale, this retrospective includes some lesser known works, such as a series of short films he made in the early 1950s.  Curated by  Domenico Monetti and Mario Sesti in collaboration with Rome's famous film school- Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia - Cineteca, opening night of the retrospective featured these rare short films, each of which give profou

Production is underway for the first project of Lu.Ca. , the new film initiative in which the film commissions of Calabria and Basilicata have joined forces. Shooting for The Millionairs is taking place in the Pollino National Park, the largest protected area in Europe. Directed by the award-winning actor Claudio Santamaria, who is of Basilicata origin, the short film is being produced by his longtime friend and colleague,  Gabriele Mainetti , director of the award-winning, They call me Jeeg Robot . Check back here and on our Twitter page for updates on this new, exciting project.