2026

Italian Film Festival

Stromboli

Friday, Mar 20th

SPECIAL SCREENING AT THE HEIGHTS THEATER on Friday, March 20, in celebration of the Italian Cultural Center’s 20th Anniversary.“Stromboli” was the first film ever screened by the Center and we wish to dedicate this special event to Massimo & Anna Bonavita, cofounders of the Italian Cultural Center and the Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

La vita da grandi (Siblings)

Sunday, Mar 1st

Midwest Premiere Two siblings embark on one emotional and heartwarming journey… towards each other. This film is recommended for audiences of all ages. ABOUT THE FILM Inspired by a true story. Irene (Matilda De Angelis) lives her life in Rome when her mother asks her to return for a few days to Rimini, the city […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Film d’amore e d’anarchia (Love and Anarchy)

Sunday, Mar 1st

From Lina Wertmüller, the groundbreaking filmmaker who became the first woman ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 and opened doors for generations of women directors, comes a daring tale where, under Fascism, love itself becomes the most subversive act of all. Part of the Honoring The Twin Cities Program + […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Napoli – New York

Sunday, Mar 1st

Midwest Premiere Napoli – New York is the exhilarating, moving, fable-like, adventure of a film you get when a long-lost script by a young Federico Fellini lands in the hands of one of contemporary Italian Cinema’s most versatile and eclectic Academy Award winning storytellers. This film is recommended for audiences of all ages yet some […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Fuori

Sunday, Mar 1st

Midwest Premiere A pulsing exploration of female solidarity and proudly anything but a biopic of rediscovered author Goliarda Sapienza, “Fuori” is a surprising, exhilarating, impossible to fully grasp work of cinematic art. + Intro and post-screening analysis with Richard Peña, Emeritus Professor, Columbia University and Director Emeritus, New York Film Festival. + Q&A with Mario […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

La gioia

Saturday, Feb 28th

U.S. Premiere Based on recent crime news that had the entire nation tuned in, “La Gioia” is a haunting exploration of desire, morality, and the fragile human need for connection which confirms Nicolangelo Gelormini as an exciting, new director with a distinct visual style and a talent for moody atmospheres ABOUT THE FILM Gioia (Valeria […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

La vita va così (Life is Life)

Saturday, Feb 28th

U.S. Premiere The hysterically funny story of a man who had the courage to say “NO”. For 20 years in a row. This film is recommended for audiences of all ages. ABOUT THE FILM Based on a true story. In an untouched, beautiful, stretch of coastline in southern Sardinia, Efisio Mulas (Giuseppe Ignazio Loi) is […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Lamerica

Saturday, Feb 28th

Gianni Amelio’s “Lamerica” is a profoundly moving film that touches on questions of personal and national identity, on the shared desire of immigrants to better themselves somewhere, and on the devastating realization that their new land is painfully different from the earthly paradise they had always imagined. Part of the Honoring The Twin Cities Program […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Gioia mia (Sweetheart)

Saturday, Feb 28th

U.S. Premiere A Sicilian Summer sparks a vital bond across generations in this irresistibly sweet, very low budget , first feature that goes straight to the heart and conquered audiences all across Italy. + Q&A with Director Margherita Spampinato and actress Aurora Quattrocchi connecting live from Italy, moderated by Tommaso Cammarano, IFF’s Artistic Director This […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

L’eclisse

Saturday, Feb 28th

“Antonioni is one of my favorite directors of all time, and L’ECLISSE is one of his greatest films. Antonioni represented a level of ambition in cinema that has rarely been matched” Richard Peña Discover or be mesmerized yet one more time by “L’Eclisse”, Michelangelo Antonioni’s masterpiece that redefined cinema in the 1960s, winning the Special […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Le città di pianura (The Last One for the Road)

Friday, Feb 27th

Midwest Premiere IFF is proud to offer you the chance to discover this “outsider” movie that looks and feels like nothing else in contemporary Italian cinema, that premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, continued on to the New York and the Toronto International Film Festival, became the most critically acclaimed Italian film of the […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Breve storia d’amore (A Brief Affair)

Friday, Feb 27th

Midwest Premiere Mixing romance, suspense, and thriller, Rampoldi’s debut poses a very simple question to all of us: where do love’s limits lie? ABOUT THE FILM Two couples, two generations: on one side the thirty-year-old Lea (Pilar Fogliati) and Andrea (Andrea Carpenzano), on the other the fifty-year-old Rocco (Adriano Giannini) and Cecilia (Valeria Golino). One […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Cinque secondi (Five Seconds)

Friday, Feb 27th

U.S. Premiere A harsh and tender reflection on fatherhood, a melancholic invitation to live. ABOUT THE FILM “Cinque Secondi” begins mysteriously, gradually revealing the story of Adriano (Valerio Mastandrea), a middle-aged man living in solitude in a Tuscan villa, trying to escape his painful past. Minute by minute, with impeccable precision and striking detail, it […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

La donna nella Resistenza (Women of the Resistance)

Friday, Feb 27th

With this landmark documentary Liliana Cavani, one of the most influential directors in European cinema, paid tribute in an incredibly poetic way to the untold voices of Italian women partisans, revealing the pivotal role they played in the fight against fascism, and honoring the courage and sacrifice that made and will continue to make them […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Roma città aperta (Rome Open City)

Friday, Feb 27th

The landmark of Italian Neorealism that forever changed “the way the world thinks Cinema” – Martin Scorsese, Roberto Rossellini’s revolutionary, innovative masterpiece “Roma città aperta”, written, among others, by Federico Fellini, captures the courage and resilience of the people of a city under occupation. Part of the Honoring The Twin Cities Program + Intro and […]

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2026

Italian Film Festival

Il maestro (My Tennis Maestro)

Thursday, Feb 26th

Midwest Premiere A “commedia all’italiana” for anyone who still believes the world has the potential to be better, one tennis lesson at a time. 6:00 PM Opening Night Aperitivo (one drink and light appetizers included) • Aster Cafe, Hall of Kings 7:30 PM Opening Remarks • The Main Cinema 7:45 PM Opening Movie “Il Maestro” […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Gloria!

Sunday, Mar 2nd

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Sunday, March 2 at 7:30pm Order Tickets Here MIDWEST PREMIERE (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM In the year 1800, at the convent of Sant’Ignazio just outside Venice, a young scullery […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

El paraiso

Sunday, Mar 2nd

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Sunday, March 2 at 4:30pm Q&A with Director Enrico Maria Artale, Connecting Live from Italy Order Tickets Here MIDWEST PREMIERE (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM Taking place in the desolated, […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Sei fratelli (Family Matters)

Sunday, Mar 2nd

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Sunday, March 2 at 2:30pm Order Tickets Here MIDWEST PREMIERE (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM In “Sei Fratelli”, six half-siblings – Marco, Guido, Leo, Luisa, Gaelle, and Mattia – come […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Il postino (The Postman)

Sunday, Mar 2nd

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Sunday, March 2 at 11:15am • Q&A with IFF’s Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano Order Tickets Here (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM Based on true events, “Il Postino” tells the story […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Virtual Talk: Anna Pavignano: Writing with Massimo

Sunday, Mar 2nd

MODERATED BY IFF’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TOMMASO CAMMARANO As part of this year’s Italian Film Festival focus on the work of the beloved actor, screenwriter, and director Massimo Troisi, we are thrilled to present this free virtual talk with Anna Pavignano. Order Tickets Here Anna Pavignano was Troisi’s long-time collaborator, co-writing many of his most celebrated […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

C’è ancora domani (There’s Still Tomorrow)

Saturday, Mar 1st

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Saturday, March 1 at 7:30pm • Q&A with visiting Actor Vinicio Marchioni – SOLD OUT • There will not be a Rush Line for this screening. MIDWEST PREMIERE (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Ricomincio da tre (I’m Starting From Three)

Saturday, Mar 1st

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Saturday, March 1 at 5:00pm • Introduction by IFF’s Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano Order Tickets Here (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM Co-written with Anna Pavignano, the film marks Troisi’s remarkable […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Familia

Saturday, Mar 1st

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Saturday, March 1 at 2:00pm • Q&A with Director Francesco Costabile, Connecting Live From Italy Order Tickets Here MIDWEST PREMIERE (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM Based on an autobiographical account, […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Io la conoscevo bene (I Knew Her Well)

Saturday, Mar 1st

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Saturday, March 1 at 11:00am • Q&A with visiting screenwriter/director Francesco Bruni Order Tickets Here (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM One of Italy’s most important, beautiful yet widely unknown films […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Un altro ferragosto (Another Summer Holiday)

Friday, Feb 28th

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Friday, February 28 at 8:30pm • Q&A with visiting screenwriter/director Francesco Bruni and Actor Vinicio Marchioni Order Tickets Here U.S. PREMIERE (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM The sequel to 1996 […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Tutto quello che vuoi (Friends by Chance)

Friday, Feb 28th

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Friday, February 28 at 6:00pm • Q&A with visiting screenwriter/director Francesco Bruni Order Tickets Here (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM An aimless young troublemaker, Alessandro (Andrea Carpenzano), squanders his days […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Semidei (Flesh and Bronze)

Friday, Feb 28th

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Friday, February 28 at 2:00pm • Q&A with visiting director Fabio Mollo Order Tickets Here U.S. PREMIERE (All films are presented in Italian with English subtitles) ABOUT THE FILM Semidei, directed by Fabio Mollo and Alessandra Cataleta, […]

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2025

Italian Film Festival

Il tempo che ci vuole (The Time it Takes)

Thursday, Feb 27th

16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul Presented by The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul Aperitivo Italiano & Opening Night Film – SOLD OUT • There will not be a Rush Line for this screening. TICKET PURCHASE INCLUDES FILM & PARTY! Thursday, February 27 • Opening Night Aperitivo at 6:00pm with Live Music […]

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2025

Black Europe Film Festival

Asmarina: Reception + Film Screening + Virtual Q&A with Director Medhin Paolos

Thursday, Jan 23rd

Special Screening Thursday, January 23 • Social hour at 6:30pm • Screening at 7:15pm Join MSP Film Society, Black Europe Film Festival, Archives on Screen, and the Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis / St. Paul for a special 10th-anniversary screening of Asmarina, a powerful and deeply personal documentary exploring the lives of Eritrean and Ethiopian […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Settembre (September)

Sunday, Mar 3rd

MINNESOTA PREMIERE About the film A thread runs through the lives of the three characters in Settembre — a quest for human connection, happiness, and the allure of new beginnings, transcending age and life paths. Giulia Louise Steigerwalt, both screenwriter and actress, makes a brilliant directorial debut with this finely crafted comedy/drama, where authenticity resonates […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Il Sol Dell’avvenire (A Brighter Tomorrow)

Sunday, Mar 3rd

MINNESOTA PREMIERE Q&A with Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano About the film Giovanni is a renowned Italian director, who dreams to make a film adaptation from John Cheever’s The Swimmer. Life is not working too well for him though, his marriage is in crisis, his co-producer is on the verge of bankruptcy and the film industry […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Mia

Sunday, Mar 3rd

Q&A with Director Ivano De Matteo, connecting live from Italy U.S. PREMIERE The film won the Ciak D’Oro for best picture (drama) of 2023 About the film Mia, a vibrant teenager, enjoys a joyful life surrounded by loving parents and friends. The name Mia, translating to “mine” in Italian, takes on a poignant twist when […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

8 1/2

Sunday, Mar 3rd

Introduction by Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano About the film Marcello Mastroianni plays Guido Anselmi (Fellini’s alter ego), the most stylish and cool director you will ever meet, whose new project is collapsing around him, along with his life, as he struggles against creative block and helplessly juggles the women in his life – including Anouk […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Io Capitano

Saturday, Mar 2nd

Q&A with Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano MINNESOTA PREMIERE About the film From writer-director Matteo Garrone comes an epic odyssey from West Africa to Italy told through the eyes and experiences of two Senegalese teenage cousins living in Dakar who yearn for a brighter future in Europe. But in between Senegal and Italy lies a tense […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Grazie Ragazzi (Thank You Guys)

Saturday, Mar 2nd

MINNESOTA PREMIERE About the film In the face of a lack of job opportunities, Antonio, a passionate but often unemployed actor, accepts a job as a teacher of a theater workshop in a penitentiary institution. Initially hesitant, he discovers talent within the unlikely company of inmates. Day by day, the group yields to Antonio’s determination, […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Amanda

Saturday, Mar 2nd

Q&A with Director Carolina Cavalli, connecting live from Italy MINNESOTA PREMIERE About the film Born into an upper-class family with a doting mother who foots the bill for her indolent lifestyle, 24-year-old combative Amanda (emerging talent Benedetta Porcaroli) longs for connection but has never had a friend of her own. One day she discovers a […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

C’eravamo Tanto Amati (We All Loved Each Other So Much)

Saturday, Mar 2nd

Q&A with Prof. Lorenzo Fabbri, Department of French and Italian, University of Minnesota About the film Gianni, Nicola and Antonio become close friends in 1944 while fighting the Nazis during the Italian Resistance. After the end of the war, full of illusions, they settle down. Over a period of three decades, the movie tells the […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Adagio

Friday, Mar 1st

U.S. PREMIERE About the film Rome is governed by chaos, corruption and cynicism, choked by torrid heat, devastated by fires and the darkness of blackouts. Manuel, a sixteen year old boy, is trying to survive as well as he can, while taking care of his elderly father, an ex con. When Manuel too gets involved […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

Nata Per Te (Born For You)

Friday, Mar 1st

U.S. PREMIERE Q&A with Director Fabio Mollo, connecting live from Italy About the film Nata per te is the true story of Luca Trapanese and Alba, a man and a newborn baby who desperately need each other, even though the world around them is not yet ready to see them together.  The court of Naples […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

La Stranezza (Strangeness)

Friday, Mar 1st

Introduction by Pieranna Garavaso, Professor Emerita of Philosophy, University of Minnesota Morris. MINNESOTA PREMIERE About the film In 1921, Luigi Pirandello brought his most ground-breaking work, Six Characters in Search of an Author, to the stage in Rome’s Teatro Valle, a play which was so ground-breaking that at the end of the performance, a veritable […]

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2024

Italian Film Festival

La Chimera (Aperitivo Italiano & 2024 Italian Film Festival Opening Night Film)

Thursday, Feb 29th

Aperitivo Italiano & Opening Night Film Includes Aperitivo Italiano from 6:00 to 7:00 PM: Drinks, Appetizers and Great Company! MINNESOTA PREMIERE About the film La Chimera is the story of the ups and downs of a gang of tombaroli, or grave-robbers, violators of Etruscan tombs and peddlers of antiques to local fences. It is set […]

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