The 19th Lavazza Italian Film Festival returns to Australia this year to present the best of contemporary Italian cinema. The festival is to take place in Sydney at the Palace Cinemas from September 11 to October 7. Among the selected movies there will be the Australian premiere of Paolo Sorrentino’s ‘Loro’ (Them), centred on the controversial Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi, Matteo Garrone’s ‘Dogman’, Marco and Antonio Manetti’s (also known as the Manetti Bros, already authors of the acclaimed ‘Song’e Napule’) ‘Ammore e malavita’ (Love and Underworld), ‘Napoli Velata’ (Veiled Naples) by Ferzan Ozpetek, as well as the spectacular 4K version of the classic horror film ‘Suspiria’ (1977), and the restored version of the celebrated Italian style Western Spaghetti ‘Per un pugno di dollari’ (For A Fistful Of Dollars).
LAVAZZA ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL: A HISTORY OF SUCCESS
The Italian Film Festival was founded in 2000 by Antonio Zeccola who, in one of Australia’s many migrant success stories, built Australia’s only national cinema network which now encompasses more than 100 screens. Nineteen years ago, Antonio realised that Australia lacked a festival dedicated to Italian cinema, and an idea was born. In November 2000 in Sydney and Melbourne, the first edition presented 11 features, five retrospective titles and five shorts, including Opening Night selection ‘Pane e Tulipani’ (Bread and Tulips) by Silvio Soldini and ‘I cento passi’ (One Hundred Steps) directed by Marco Tullio Giordana. The event was a resounding success. Since then the festival has grown and grown in popularity, to the point where it is now: the biggest public celebration of Italian cinema outside Italy. The event has partnered with many organisations and cultural partners over the years. However, the most longstanding relationship has been the one with Lavazza, the Festival’s Principal Sponsor for 15 continuous years now. For almost two decades, the Festival has been celebrating Italian language and culture with an ever-growing audience. Last year, it attracted over 80,000 people.
THE PROGRAMME FOR 2018
“For 19 years, at Lavazza Italian Film Festival we have been combining our love for cinema with a passion for Italian culture and language, offering our audience unforgettable experiences through special events, aperitifs, Q&A and round tables, all in the name of Italian hospitality,” says Elysia Zeccola, director of the Festival, for whom “it is not necessary to be Italian to love Italian culture and enjoy the ‘dolce vita’. This year we’re delighted to offer a selection of the best Italian films of the last 12 months, which includes 37 features and documentaries, over 30 Australian premieres, two shorts, special guests, parties and much more“. After Sydney, the Festival will move to Canberra (September 12-October 7), Melbourne (September 13-October 7), Adelaide (September 19-October 19-14), Brisbane (September 19-October 14), Perth (September 27-October 17), and Hobart (October 18-October 24).