Italian Cinema Today

Photo by Simone Falso Italian Film Series ,   a monthly event in Rochester, New York showcasing contemporary Italian films is now in its third month. Founder Anthony Mangione, along with numerous local sponsors and supporters, is dedicated to bringing Italian stories told by Italy's young filmmakers to film aficionados west of the Big Apple. The series takes place every month at the  Little Theatre , Rochester's hub for arthouse and foreign films.  The June selection is Andrea Segre's 2011 thought-provoking film, Io sono Li, starring   Zhao Tao, Rade Serbedzija and Giuseppe Battiston.  Io sono Li is   the story of a relationship between a young immigrant Chinese woman Shun Li and a fisherman of Slavic origin Bepi on an island in the Venetian lagoon, which is undergoing a period of economic and social change.  After working in a textile factory in the outskirts of Rome, Shun Li is transferred to the small town of Chioggi...

Lincoln Center in New York City was all a-buzz with Italian cinema this summer as its creators and aficionados gathered together to celebrate the newest contemporary films to come out of Italy.  Opening weekend of the 12th edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema offered a diverse selection of films made by both newcomers and masters. Many of those filmmakers were in attendance and gave insight into the passion and drive behind their work. Among those in attendance was Ferzan Ozpetek , who has been a constant during the last 12 years and has traveled to New York three times to present his work at the festival.  Every time, I look forward to talking with him and participating in his Question & Answer sessions with the audience. I am always intrigued by his humility, unique vision and depth of creativity. He is a true artist in every sense of the word. Many of the films featured in this year's program have an air of independence and stand autonomous in their m...