Bringing a dash of Mediterranean romance to 15 superb Palace locations from mid-September to late October, the Festival’s 15th edition will premiere 34 show-stopping new features and documentaries plus one glamorous classic, showcasing the charisma of Italy’s most engaging actors including Kim Rossi Stuart, Micaela Ramazzotti, Raoul Bova, Monica Bellucci, Sergio Rubini, Giovanna Mezzorgiorno, Valeria Golino, Margherita Buy and Claudio Santamaria.
The selection features four categories: Direct from Cannes with three features direct from the world’s most prestigious film festival; Drammatico Italiano including the best contemporary films produced in Italy in the last 12 months; Laughing Italian Style for the funniest, craziest and silliest Italian comedies including a popular cinepanettone title; plus Per Bambini with a family film for younger audiences.
Several stunning feature debut’s highlight Italy’s hot new talent including Sebastiano Riso’s moving drama Darker Than Midnight (Più buio di mezzanotte); Bruno Oliviero’s stylish thriller The Human Factor (La variabile umana); Fabio Mollo’s restrained and powerful drama South Is Nothing (Il Sud è niente) starring Miriam Karlkvist, recipient of this year’s Berlinale Shooting Star award; Alberto Fasulo’s docudrama Tir; Sydney Sibilia’s hilarious I Can Quit Whenever I want (Smetto Quando Voglio), Matteo Oleotto’s Italian Golden Globe-winning comedy Zoran, My Nephew the Idiot (Zoran, il mio nipote scemo) and The Mafia Kills Only In Summer (La mafia uccide solo d’estate) by PIF – Pierfrancesco Diliberto – who was recently crowned Best New Director at the David Di Donatello 2014 Awards.
New films from much loved, multi award-winning directors are also featured including these festival highlights: Daniele Lucheti’s Those Happy Years (Anni felici), Asia Argento’s Incompresa, Edoardo Winspeare’s Quiet Bliss (In grazia di Dio), Giovanni Veronesi’s The Fifth Wheel (L’ultima ruota del carro), Andrea Segre’s The First Snowfall (La prima neve) and Gianni Amelio’s A Lonely Hero (L’intrepido). Along with Stijn Coninx director of the hugely entertaining Opening Night Selection Marina, and Vittorio de Sica whose timeless comedy Marriage Italian Style will close the event nationally.
Italian Film Festival 2014
MELBOURNE17 Sept – 12 Oct
SYDNEY18 Sept – 12 Oct
CANBERRA23 Sept – 15 Oct
PERTH24 Sept – 15 Oct
BRISBANE1 Oct – 22 Oct
ADELAIDE2 Oct – 22 Oct
BYRON BAY9 Oct – 15 Oct
HOBART16 Oct – 22 Oct
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au
