The Festival will open with a spectacular live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale PINOCCHIO. From the Director of Gomorrah and Dogman, Matteo Garrone’s seven-time Nastro d’Argento award-winner is an enthralling gothic fantasy starring Roberto Benigni as the woodcutter Geppetto.

With heartfelt dramas and hilarious comedies, the Festival will transport cinemagoers to some amazing locations in Italy and afar including Rome, Naples, Palermo, Cernobbio and Morocco. Never has there been a better time to escape to the cinema.

“Although the Festival will look a little different this year, we will continue to share our love for Italian cinema, language and culture and give our loyal audience something to look forward to with a chance to escape to Italy” said Elysia Zeccola, Festival Director. “Nothing compares to the big screen experience and that special feeling of a shared emotional connection.”

Other highlights from the 2020 Festival programme include:
Marco Bellocchio’s multi award-winning crime drama THE TRAITOR (Il traditore), which was the big winner at Italy’s 65th David di Donatello Awards – the country’s equivalent of the Oscars.

The Centrepiece selection for the 2020 programme, the absorbing film sees Pierfrancesco Favino deliver a powerhouse performance as Tommaso Buscetta, a Sicilian Mafia boss-turned-police informer.

There will also be Special Presentations of Ferzan Ozpetek’s award-winning new film THE GODDESS OF FORTUNE (La dea fortuna), which explores long-term relationships that change over time and features an all-star cast including Stefano Accorsi, Edoardo Leo and Jasmine Trinca; and Venice Film Festival Best Actor winner MARTIN EDEN from acclaimed writer/director Pietro Marcello. The award-winning drama provocatively transports Jack London’s 1909 novel about a self-taught and outspoken writer (Luca Marinelli) to a pivotal moment in Italy’s pre-war history.

Plus, audiences can escape to an Italian summer in comic trio Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo’s hilarious tale of friendship I HATE SUMMER (Odio l’estate), in which three families accidentally book the same holiday rental.

The Italian Film Festival presented by Palace screens in the following locations:
Sydney: 29 Sept – 18 Oct, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinemas, Palace Central
Melbourne: *TBA Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Kino Cinemas, The Astor Theatre
Canberra: 1 Oct – 18 Oct, Palace Electric Cinemas
Brisbane: 1 Oct – 18 Oct, Palace Barracks and Palace James Street
Adelaide: 29 Sept – 13 Oct, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas
Perth: 1 Oct – 14 Oct, Palace Raine Square, Luna on SX and Leederville
Byron Bay: 2 Oct – 14 Oct, Palace Byron Bay

The full programme will be announced in August.

* Although we cannot confidently confirm it will be possible to present the 2020 Italian Film Festival in Melbourne from late September, as soon as cinemas can safely reopen the Festival dates for the city will be confirmed.

For more information visit: www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

In a dilapidated Neapolitan suburb, the pint-sized, mild-mannered Marcello (Marcello Fonte) runs the dog-grooming business of the film’s title, caring for the neighbourhood pooches, and raising his young daughter, Alida, for whom he’d do anything to spoil. But he’s domineered by one of his customers, Simone (Edoardo Pesce), a petty criminal and former boxer who throws his substantial bulk around this tight-knit community at every opportunity. Marcello soon becomes swept up in a criminal plan he wants nothing to do with…

Meticulously directed and photographed, and entirely sympathetic to its four-legged cast-members (none of who are harmed), Garrone’s bravura urban noir is also impeccably acted, with Marcello Fonte’s extraordinary performance highly deserving of the Best Actor prizes at both Cannes and the European Film Awards. Inspired by a true story that drew national headlines, and gripping from start to finish, it’s another electrifying big-screen experience from one of Italy’s finest contemporary filmmakers.

Dogman will be released in Australian cinemas August 29!
www.palacefilms.com.au