Times change and so does CINEMA ITALIAN STYLE, the showcase of the best Italian films of the year, presenting its first virtual edition, after 15 years of ongoing success.

To overcome the current limitations, our Festival will be on-line DECEMBER 10-17, thanks to the collaboration with the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and its platform, in an unprecedented special edition that will be available for the entire USA territory (few exceptions will be noted in the program).

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NOTTURNO, by award-winning director Gianfranco Rosi, is Italy’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd ceremony of the Academy Awards®.  This exclusive screening will be available online, along with nine titles selected by Artistic Curator Laura Delli Colli (President of the Italian association of Film Journalists and of the Rome international Film Fest) with SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett.

The 2020 edition of Cinema Italian Style is dedicated to Federico Fellini, on the occasion of the director’s centennial.

NOTTURNO, shot over three years, along the borders between Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan and Lebanon, gives voice to a human drama, transcending geographical divisions and time, portraying characters through their daily life, while confronted with the tragedy of civil wars, brutal dictatorships, foreign invasions, and finally the murderous apocalypse of ISIS.

Showcasing different genres, themes and narrative energies from Italy’s contemporary cinematic landscape, Cinema Italian Style presents international award-winning feature films such as HIDDEN AWAY (Volevo nascondermi) by Giorgio Diritti, biopic about the Italian painter Antonio Ligabue, starring Elio Germano, winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, and PADRENOSTRO by Claudio Noce, featuring Pierfrancesco Favino’s outstanding performance, awarded with the Coppa Volpi for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival , a coming-of-age story set in Italy’s “Years of Lead.” In the tradition of Italian comedy, Giuseppe Bonito’s KIDZ (Figli), written by brilliant director-screenwriter Mattia Torre, with histrionic duo Paola Cortellesi-Valerio Mastandrea, sketching a hilarious portrait of the contemporary Italian family, and EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT (Cosa Sarà) by Francesco Bruni, closing film at the Rome Film Festival, with Kim Rossi Stuart, the bittersweet story of Bruno, a film director dealing with leukemia. Combining noir with comedy, GOLDEN MEN (Gli uomini d’oro) by Vincenzo Alfieri, tells the incredible true story of a regular man, who becomes a criminal mind, while Leonardo D’Agostini’s directorial debut THE CHAMPION (Il campione), follows the talented yet rebel soccer player, Christian, facing the challenges of a stern instructor. The unique vision of Italian auteurs completes our selection: Ferzan Ozpetek’s THE GODDESS OF FORTUNE (La dea fortuna), David di Donatello Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role to Jasmine Trinca and Best Original Score, depicting two men’s love relationship on the edge of crisis, challenged by the unexpected arrival of two kids. Based on Domenico Starnone’s novel, THE TIES (Lacci) by award-winning director Daniele Luchetti, Venice Film Festival opening film, documents the emotional journey of a Neapolitan family, from the early 1980’s through the present days. Out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, ASSANDIRA by Salvatore Mereu, takes us to rural Sardinia, facing destruction for the consequences of the mass tourism. 

All screenings will be introduced by filmmakers and actors, to share insights and trivia about the movies.

This year’s program also includes 4 short movies: GIORGIO by Arianna Mattioli, a young transgender woman’s tale premiered at Venice Film Fest Orizzonti’s section, THE WHITE WALL by Andrea Brusa and Marco Scotuzzi, selected at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, the animation movie SOLITAIRE by Edoardo Natoli, from Venice Film Fest Giornate degli Autori, and the winner of the David di Donatello Award for Best Short Film and submitted to the Oscars® (Best Live Action Short Film) TIMO’S WINTER (Inverno) by Giulio Mastromauro.

Cinema Italian Style is co-presented by Luce Cinecittà and the Seattle International Film Festival, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture – Cinema Department and the Italian Cultural Institutes of Los Angeles and San Francisco, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency of Los Angeles and the American Cinematheque.