The 16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul is delighted to welcome Francesco Bruni to the Twin Cities to celebrate his career both as versatile screenwriter and acclaimed director. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with one of Italy’s leading filmmakers through three films. As a screenwriter, “Un Altro Ferragosto” (the latest example of Bruni’s life long collaboration with director Paolo Virzi’) demonstrates his mastery in crafting a story that follows many characters and plot lines and his talent for sharp and biting dialogue. “Tutto quello che vuoi”, which he both wrote and directed in 2017, is emblematic of his unique way of blending humor with deep emotions. Lastly, Antonio Pietrangeli’s “Io la conoscevo bene”, IFF’s 2025 classic to rediscover, which Bruni will introduce and moderate a Q&A for, will give Francesco a chance to talk about one of the films he most cherishes and that have had a lasting influence on his work. We look forward to having you join us on this journey through Bruni’s artistic evolution!

The 16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul celebrates the extraordinary talent of actor, director, and writer Massimo Troisi (1953-1994) with two iconic films, “Ricomincio da tre” (1981) and “Il Postino” (1994), respectively his first and final feature. Known for his unique ability to blend comedy with poetic, emotional depth, Troisi remains an enduring icon in Italian cinema. With “Il Postino”, he achieved global stardom, delivering an unforgettable performance which he shot, day in and day out, while battling the illness that would ultimately take his life shortly after the end of shooting. These two films mark the beginning and the end of a journey that was as remarkable, successful, prolific and influential as it was brief (It took Troisi only 13 years to become one of Italy’s greatest artists ever!). IFF could think of no better person to join us in this celebration of Troisi and his work than his longtime collaborator Anna Pavignano, the person who knows him and his art like no other and who wrote all but one of the films Troisi directed.