ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
Benvenuti!
The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis / St. Paul, in partnership with MSP Film Society, is thrilled to present the 16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul (IFF)! Each year, we embrace the challenge of selecting a small number of films to represent the richness and diversity of contemporary and classic Italian cinema and to offer our audience a glimpse into the beauty, complexity, and depth of Italian culture.
This year, we are especially proud to feature three classic films, offering you a deeper connection to the heritage of Italian cinema. Among them, we shine a spotlight on Massimo Troisi, affectionately nicknamed il comico dei sentimenti (the comedian of feelings). A beloved actor, screenwriter, and director whose life was cut way too short, Troisi, with his heartfelt humor and deeply human storytelling, has left an indelible mark on Italian cinema and is considered one of Italy’s greatest artists ever. Troisi’s screenwriter and lifelong friend, Anna Pavignano, will join IFF’s Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano for a live conversation on Zoom on her work and her life with Massimo.
Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome screenwriter and director Francesco Bruni to the Twin Cities to celebrate his career. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with one of Italy’s leading contemporary filmmakers through three films. The sharp, biting dialogue in “Un Altro Ferragosto” (one IFF’s 2025 U.S. Premieres), the moving blend of humor and emotion of his 2017 “Tutto quello che vuoi”, and Bruni’s admiration for Antonio Pietrangeli’s widely unkown 1965 masterpiece “Io la conoscevo bene” (which he will introduce and moderate a Q&A for), will allow us to understand this filmmaker’s work at its core while enjoying a great time at the movies.
We are also delighted to welcome director Fabio Mollo in person to present his documentary “Semidei”. The film explores the story of the Bronzi di Riace, two ancient Greek statues discovered off Calabria’s Ionian coast in 1972, and among the 20th century’s most significant archaeological finds. It premiered at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival and we are proud to host its U.S. Premiere. Mollo’s “Nata per te”, screened at last year’s IFF, was met with astounding success and became a festival favorite among our audience.
E non finisce qui! And it’s not over yet!
One of Italy’s most talented, and sought-after actors of his generation, Vinicio Marchioni, will be with us during the festival too! Vinicio stars in both “Un Altro Ferragosto” and “C’è ancora domani” and he will help present, discuss and satisfy any curiosity you may have on these two films after seeing them.
At the heart of this year’s festival is our centerpiece film, “C’è ancora domani”, the directorial debut of Paola Cortellesi and the film that, to everyone’s surprise, took Italy by storm. In just a few months, this funny yet tragic drama became Italy’s biggest box-office of 2023 (surpassing Barbenheimer big time!) and is now the highest-grossing film ever directed by an Italian woman and the 5th most seen Italian film ever (on top of Roberto Benigni’s Oscar winning “Life is Beautiful”). A poignant exploration of gender inequality and the resilience and courage of women to fight for their rights, it is truly a must-see.
This year’s lineup is made up also of what many critics consider the most important directorial debut of 2024 (IFF’s cheerful, irresistible, uplifting, closing night film “Gloria!”, directed by Margherita Vicario), the new films by two of Italy’s most impressive and unique young talents (“Familia” by Francesco Costabile and “El Paraiso” by Enrico Maria Artale), a wonderfully written, highly entertaining family portrait (“Sei Fratelli”), and our extraordinary opening night film, “Il tempo che ci vuole”, director Francesca Comencini’s most successful film to date , which tells the true story of the relationship with her father, famous Italian director Luigi Comencini, and is a beautiful, touching, magical, heartbreaking, and heartwarming film all at once.
As those who have been following our festival so passionately and faithfully throughout the years know already, IFF, beyond the films, is about community. It is our mission to continue to bring the people of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in front of the big screen, to nurture and preserve the unique pleasure of watching films together, of laughing, crying and screaming sitting next to a stranger, of engaging in spontaneous and insightful conversations between films, of being inspired by one another, by our films and by our guests, and why not, of making new friends along the way who share the same passion for Italy and film.
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who makes this event possible. The festival is proudly supported by the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago, along with Cinecittà, whose recognition of our festival as one of the leading events for Italian cinema in the U.S. is a true honor. We also wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to our dedicated staff, sponsors, and volunteers, whose passion and hard work bring this festival to life.
Grazie for joining us in this celebration of Italy for the 16th time and for allowing us to get this far.
Vi aspettiamo,
Tiziana Cervesato, Executive Director, and Tommaso Cammarano, Artistic Director