PEARTREE LIFE: Experiencing Languages

The Italian Film Festival Returns to Cardiff

Our friends at the Italian Film Festival Cardiff will present you with a wonderful programme of Italian cinema this weekend. In the first of two blogs, we bring you the official Press Release from the Festival. Look out later this week when we will blog our interview with Luisa Pèrcopo, one of the festival’s Artistic Directors.


Worried you might miss some vital news? REGISTER YOUR EMAIL TO NEVER MISS A PLife POST! 

The Italian Film Festival Returns to Cardiff with British Premieres and an Oscar Contender, the Italian Film Festival Cardiff (IFFC) is back for a third year at Cardiff’s renowned Chapter Arts Centre, where all screenings will take place between 22 and 26 November. This year’s IFFC programme offers “a thought-provoking and entertaining glimpse of life in contemporary Italy” says Festival co-director Luisa Pèrcopo. The selection of thirteen independent films explores the universal themes of belonging and identity in a rapidly changing world, from the perspective of established directors and the new generation alike.

From comedy and drama to animation, this year’s festival features films created by Italy’s brightest stars and includes 7 UK premieres. The Festival will also present the Welsh premiere of the Italian submission for the 2018 Oscars film, Jonas Carpignano’s A Ciambra (November 24). The powerful tale of a boy’s journey to manhood set in a Roma community in Calabria, is described by executive producer Martin Scorsese as “a compelling and accomplished film”. The IFFC 2017 is delighted to once again welcome many of the films’ directors, giving Cardiff audiences the opportunity to take part in Q&A sessions post-film. Guests include legendary Italian actor Flavio Bucci, star of The Gospel According to Mattei (November 25), alongside the film’s two director-stars, and Silvio Soldini, whose film Emma (November 24) features world-famous actress Valeria Golino in an exploration of life and love for the film’s blind protagonist.

Also joining audiences for post-screening Q&A will be Gianfranco Cabiddu, director of the Globo d’Oro winner, The Stuff of Dreams, a comedic tale of revenge and redemption inspired by Shakespeare; Karen Di Porto, director of Maria Per Roma (November 26, followed by screening of animated short Nausicaa by Bepi Vigna) casts its humorous gaze over the Italian capital’s relationship with tourism, and Pif, director of the IFFC 2017’s final film on November 26th, the critically-acclaimed satirical comedy set during the Allied landings in Sicily, At War for Love. The IFFC opens on November 22 with a retrospective look at Italian film and its connection to contemporary cinema.


Together, the 1956 experimental film by Lorenza Mazzetti, explores life for two Deaf dockers in London’s East End and stars Scottish-Italian sculptor Edoardo Paolozzi. In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Michelangelo Antonioni’s death, on November 23 the IFFC will be hosting an event on his masterpiece Red Desert, supported by Cardiff University, featuring speakers and lunch before a screening of the film.

Committed to staying at the sharp end of Italian cinema, many of the films at this year’s festival have only just been released in Italy but have already met with both critical and box office success. This is certainly the case with the irresistible comedy-road movie Easy by Andrea Magnani (November 26), which among other accolades won the Grand Prix du Jury at the Annecy Cinema Italién Film Festival. There is also plenty for families with the delightful double bill of A Bear’s Tale, the story of a bear put on trial for cattle raiding, and the animated short film Strollica on Saturday 25 November.

For full details on the Festival programme, visit www.iffc.wales. Tickets for the IFFC will be on sale from Chapter Box Office (02920 304400 or www.chapter.org), with 10 Early Bird festival passes available on a first come, first served basis.

Date issued: 16/10/2017
Italian Film Festival Cardiff - Programme
(all screenings at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, CF5 1QE)

Wednesday 22nd November
18:00 Together (1955) by Lorenza Mazzetti

Thursday 23rd November
14:00 La Cupola (2016) by Volker Satell + Red Desert (1964) by Michelangelo Antonioni (in partnership with Cardiff University) + lunch, talks and screening

Friday 24th November:
17.45: A Ciambra (2017) by Jonas Carpignano + live introduction via video with director
20.15: Emma* (2017) By Silvio Soldini + Post-screening Q&A with director after film

Saturday 25th November:
15.30: The Bear’s Tale* (2017) by Enrico Lando + short film Strollica* (2017) by Peter Marcias 17.30: The Gospel According to Mattei* (2017) by Antonio Andrisani and Pascal Zullino + Post-screening Q&A with directors and star, Flavio Bucci.
20.00: The Stuff of Dreams (2016) by Gianfranco Cabiddu + Post-screening Q&A with director

Sunday 26th November:
14.00: Maria per Roma* (2016) by Karen di Porto + short film Nausicaa* (2017) by Bepi Vigna 17.15: Easy* (2017) by Andrea Magnani
20.00: At War For Love (2016) by Pif + Post-screening Q&A with director

*denotes UK premiere

Share on Google Plus

About Peartree Languages

Peartree Languages is a language school located in Cardiff.

0 comments:

Post a Comment