Mara, Author at ICFF - Italian Contemporary Film FestivalICFF – Italian Contemporary Film Festival

Mara

ICFF FILMS WINNING AWARDS ACROSS ITALY

We’re so proud and excited to watch so many of the films screened at #ICFF2017 win major prizes in this busy award season in Italy. Films with the most nominations and awards include Edoardo De Angelis’s Indivisibili (Indivisible) and Paolo Virzì’s La Pazza Gioia (Like Crazy), but almost all of the films in our 2017 program were recognized in one way or another.

The Davids, Best Picture, La Pazza Gioia

The Davids, Best Picture, La Pazza Gioia

The David di Donatello Awards are the Italian equivalent of Hollywood’s Oscars, and this year’s big winners were Indivisibili, Veloce Come Il Vento (Italian Race), and La Pazza Gioia.

Matteo Roveres’s Veloce Come Il Vento won 6 Awards: Best Actor (Stefano Accorsi), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Makeup, Best Sound, and Best Digital Effects.

Edoardo De Angelis’s Indivisibili went home with 6 as well; Best Supporting Actress (Antonia Truppo, SO deserved), Best Screenplay, Best Producer, Best Musical Score, Best Original Song, and Best Costume Design.

 

 Antonia Truppo, Indivisibili

Antonia Truppo, Indivisibili

Paolo Virzì’s La Pazza Gioia (Like Crazy) earned five and it got the big ones: Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actress (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), Best Production Design, and Best Hair.

We’re very happy… Continue reading

In Guerra per Amore / At War for Love – Cinema under the stars

 

In Guerra per Amore

At War for Love

Directed by: Pierfrancesco Diliberto

Produced by: Wildside, Rai Cinema, MiBACT

Distributed by: 01 Distribution

Italy | 2016 | Comedy | Italian | English Subtitles | 99 min

Cast: Andrea Di Stefano, Pierfrancesco Diliberto aka Pif, Sergio Vespertino

Presented by:

Showtimes

Date Time City Location RSVP
July 21, 2017 8:30 PM (refreshment)
9:30 PM (screening)
Etobicoke IC SAVINGS
5300 Dundas Street West
RSVP
Screening FREE OF CHARGE

Refreshment $12 (FREE OF CHARGE for L’Altra Italia members)*
*the refreshment include: Pizza, popcorn, bottle of water, beer and Ferrero Rocher

More Information

English

Plot

New York 1943. Arturo, a Sicilian emigrant, is in love with Flora who is already engaged to the son of a well known New York boss. She loves Arturo though and they would like to get married, but to do so he needs her father’s blessing. The man lives in Sicily and the only way for Arturo to get there is to enroll in the US Army in order to start a journey to the Italian island and take part in the event which is going to change the history of Sicily, Italy… Continue reading

La Pazza Gioia / Like Crazy – Cinema under the stars

La Pazza Gioia

Like Crazy

Directed by: Paolo Virzì

Produced by: Lotus Production, RAI Cinema

Distributed by: Axia Films

Italy | 2016 | Comedy – Drama | Italian | English  Subtitles | 118 min

Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Micaela Ramazzotti, Valentina Carnelutti, Tommaso Ragno, Marco Messeri

Presented by:

Showtimes

Date Time City Location RSVP
August 18, 2017 8:30 PM (refreshment)
9:30 PM (screening)
Etobicoke IC SAVINGS
5300 Dundas Street West
RSVP

Screening
FREE OF CHARGE

Refreshment $12 (FREE OF CHARGE for L’Altra Italia members)*
*the refreshment include: Pizza, popcorn, bottle of water, beer and Ferrero Rocher

More Information

English

Plot

Beatrice is a blabbermouth and a so-called billionaire countess who likes to believe she’s in intimacy with world leaders. Donatella is a young quiet tattooed woman, locked in her own mystery. They are both patients of a mental institution and subject to custodial measures.

Paolo Virzì’s new film tells the story of their unpredictable friendship and their escape from the treatment constraints that will become an hilarious and moving adventure of two technically insane creatures, looking for a bit of fun and love in this open-air nuthouse, the world of healthy people.

Director… Continue reading

The ICFF 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Chris-tian De Sica, IC Savings Award for Outstanding Career presented to Alan Barillaro in closing the sixth edition of the ICFF in Canada.

                                          

Toronto, June 21, 2017

The ICFF 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Chris-tian De Sica, IC Savings Award for Outstanding Career presented to Alan Barillaro in closing the sixth edition of the ICFF in Canada.

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival People’s Choice Award won by At War for Love, The Neighborhood’s Giancarlo Giannini, Franco Nero, Danny Aiello bringing home the Trilogy Award, Paola Cortellesi e Leo Gullotta rounding out the trophy winners for 2017.

Toronto – The King of Italian comedy Christian De Sica, was awarded the ICFF 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award, which in the past Festival editions went to highly ac-claimed cinema stars such as Claudia Cardinale and Al Pacino at The Ritz-Carlton during the closing gala attended by 400 hundred guests.

When given his prestigious award by the organization, De Sica said, “I was enthralled by the warmth and affection that I felt during the festival from all the Italians I encountered in Canada and their energy.”

The actor proceeded to underline the fact that if this affection and enthusiasm was the same in… Continue reading

Excellence Award – Ruth Borgobello

Excellence Award

Winner: Ruth Borgobello

ICFF EXCELLENCE AWARD winner Ruth Borgobello for The Space Between was touched and overwhelmed with emotion for her award and the welcome she received for both herself and the film, as it was a North American Premiere.

Ruth Borgobello is an Italian-Austrilian director, originally from the Friulian region in Northern Italy. This is where she directed and filmed her first feature film, The Space Between, on billboard for the 2017 ICFF. Borgobello’s film tells the tail of love and loss, taking place admits the breathtaking views of the Friulian region. The Space Between represents the first ever co-production between Italy and Australia.

Ms. Borgobello is married to film producer Davide Giusto, who is also from the Friulian region.

Borgobello received the Excellence Award at the sold out Famee Furlane screening, presented by Managing Director, Maurizio Magnifico at Cineplex Cinemas in Vaughan.

Excellence Award – Leo Gullotta

Excellence Award

 

Winner: Leo Gullotta

The comedic and dramatic actor Leo Gullotta is the winner of the ICFF EXCELLENCE AWARD for his role in It’s the Law by Salvatore Ficarra and Valentino Picone, as well as his entire career which he’s played a multitude of roles, earning him a well known name in Italian cinema.

Gullotta has dedicated himself to his craft, and continues to follow his passion for cinema, he is loved by fans and critics alike, who has won the prestigious David di Donatello for the film Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, which won an Oscar for the best foreign film.

He was honoured to accept this award in Toronto during the screening of It’s the Law at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Special Achievement Award – Tony Nardi

Special Achievement Awards for Best Actor

 

Winner: Tony Nardi

In honour of Canada’s 150th Birthday, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival presented the program from Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema. This exciting seven day new slate of programming and events paid tribute to a selection of key figures in the history of Canadian Cinema, showcasing Italian immigrants that have had an immeasurable impact in Canada.

In this context, Tony Nardi won the SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Best Actor for La Sarrasine (1992), by Paul Tana based upon conflicting social cultures.

Nardi was awarded for the film and also for his reputable longstanding career in the film industry.

Best Short Film Award – Office Kingdom

Best Short Film Award

Winner: Office Kingdom

Office Kingdom by Salvatore Centoducati, Eleonora Bertolucci, Ruben Pirito, Giulio De Toma wins the 2017 ICFF Short Film Award.

The Prize was announced by Daniel Garber, representing the Short film Jury, during the Closing Gala of the Festival.

“What do all short films have in common? They’re short!
But the really good ones, like the ones selected this year, are as memorable as and have all the things you expect to see in a feature film.
This year’s winner goes beyond even that, with humour, politics, adventure and surprise… and even a bit of classic Italian literature.The protagonist is an ordinary bureaucrat when she sits at her desk, but behind the scenes she’s like a Wonder Woman, forced to brave the nine circles of hell (from Dante’s Inferno), to perform a simple task.
This animated film was created at the National School of Cinema in Turin, and this year’s winner is: OFFICE KINGDOM”

Short Film Jury

THOM ERNST
DANIEL GARBER
LIAM LACEY
PAUL TANA
PAOLO TRIPODI

ICFF Junior Award – Come diventare grandi nonostante i genitori

ICFF Junior Award

Winner: How to Grow Up Despite Your Parents

ICFF JUNIOR AWARD was presented at the closing of ICFF Junior to the film How to Grow Up Despite your Parents by Luca Lucini.

The movie produced by 3zero2tv and The Walt Disney Company Italia was presented at ICFF as an International Premiere. Directed by Luca Lucini, this movie was also a collaboration with director Gennaro Nunziante – who’s extremely popular in Italy for his box office hit Quo Vado? – as a screenwriter.

ICFF Junior Director Joseph Cafiso was quite satisfied by the results of the youth festival, that continually expands and focuses on providing an educational enriching experience by teaching through film.

This incredible gem of the festival was enthusiastically attended by 4,000 students, from ages 8 to 18, and involved 30 schools from all over Ontario.

The students were an engaging audience throughout the entire festival and were also part of the jury who – at the end of each screening – voted for the success of the movie.

Film Critics Award (In memory of Angela Baldassarre) – Fiore

Film Critics Award – In Memory of Angela Baldassarre

The Toronto Film Critics Association Jury voted Claudio Giovannesi’s Fiore as Best Film at the Italian Contemporary Film Festival in Canada. The Prize was announced by Jim Slotek, representing the Jury, during the Closing Gala of the Festival.

“Other people have spoken earlier about the universality of the films at this festival. And it’s true that you do not have to speak Italian or be Italian to be touched by the themes in the films we’ve seen – and particularly in the film we’ve chosen as the winner.
Fiore is the story of a teenage girl who is arrested for theft and ends up in reform school. It suggests that we share with Italian society the belief that a person who commits a crime should be sent to the most dehumanizing place we can create. And somehow they will become a better person there.
Ironically, the central character in Fiore does become a better person – in spite of her surroundings. We hate her at the beginning of the movie and we cheer for her at the end.
Only the best filmmakers can pull off this kind of character arc.… Continue reading

People’s Choice Award – In Guerra per Amore

People’s Choice Award

Winner: Pierfrancesco Diliberto

Pierfrancesco Diliberto’s (a.k.a. Pif, Italy’s renowned TV host and political comedian) film At War for Love has won the PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD at the 2017 ICFF.

The film stars Pif and Miriam Leone in a tender love story intertwines with the allied conquer of Sicily during WWII, where the US Army had to find partners in the local society.

The ICFF People’s Choice Award is given to the film that wins the most votes from the Festival-going public. People participated by depositing the voted physical ticket in one of the ICFF boxes stationed outside of the cinemas.

This award was presented by ICFF Board of Director President, Paolo Golini at the closing gala.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Christian De Sica

Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Winner: Christian de Sica

The LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is a prestigious award dedicated to individuals that have earned and dedicated their careers to quality cinema, overcoming and establishing themselves as true artists in the film industry.

The winner of the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award is Christian de Sica, the Italian comedy king and showman, adored by his longstanding fans of all generations. Starring in 107 films, De Sica is an actor of many talents with an effervescent presence on set, stage and in person.

De Sica was presented this ICFF award at the closing gala by ICFF board members Maurizio Bevilacqua (Mayor of the City of Vaughan), and Paul Nonis (Vice President of Cineplex Cinemas), graciously accepting it and showing his appreciation by thanking the festival and patrons that attended for all of their support. De Sica at the festival brought two of his latest films, Poor but Rich directed by Fausto Brizzi and Fraulein- a Winter Fairy directed by Caterina Carone. He also presented Italian Wedding, one of the masterpieces of his father, Vittorio de Sica

Special Achievement Award (Best actress) – Paola Cortellesi

Special Achievement Award for Best Actress

 

Winner: Paola Cortellesi

The Special Achievement Award for Best Actress was presented to Paola Cortellesi, for her films Something New a vibrant comedy directed by Cristina Comencini and Mum or Dad? an ironic family-themed comedy directed by Riccardo Milani, both screened during the 2017 ICFF program.

Paola Cortellesi is an eclectic Italian actress, singer, voice actress and presenter, who starred in over 20 movies as well as a number of theatrical shows, television and radio shows.

As wonderful as on screen, Cortellesi graciously and emotionally accepted this award, quite moved by her Canadian support at TIFF Bell Lightbox during the opening screening of Something New.

Trilogy Award – Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Giannini, Franco Nero

Trilogy Awards

 

Winners: Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Giannini, and Franco Nero

This year the ICFF unveiled a new award, the TRILOGY AWARD that every year will go to three special cineastes that uniquely connect Italy, Hollywood and Canadian cinema through a specific film.

ICFF 2017 Trilogy Award winners are Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Giannini, and Franco Nero for the film The Neighborhood by Frank DAngelo. The drama, action, and moral dilemmas the characters faced in this movie directed by Frank D’Angelo always keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, wanting more.

ICFF Managing Director Maurizio Magnifico, alongside Luciana Spagna (Delta Airlines) and Giovanni Celsi (RAI ITALY TV) presented this epic award to Aiello, Giannini and Nero during the closing ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

IC Savings Award For Outstanding Career – Alan Barillaro

IC Savings Award for Outstanding Career

 

Winner: Alan Barillaro

The prestigious IC SAVINGS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CAREER was awarded to Alan Barillaro for his short Piper produced by Pixar. The prestigious award was presented in Toronto by IC Savings CEO Fausto Gaudio, ICFF Artistic Director Cristiano de Florentiis and ICFF Board of Director member, Madeline Zito during the closing gala at The Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Alan Barillaro, Academy Award winner, has worked on almost every Pixar film as an animator, including “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,”“Monsters, Inc.,” and the Academy Award®-winning features “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,” “WALL-E” and “Brave.” Growing up outside of Toronto, Canada, Barillaro’s interest in animation began at a young age. He worked his way up through the ranks at various commercial houses during high school and continued his studies at Sheridan College for Animation.

 

On Popular Demand, We Have Added An Additional Screening Of :-The Neighborhood

On Popular Demand, We Have Added An Additional Screening Of :- The Neighborhood

 

WORLD PREMIERE

Directed by: Frank D’Angelo

Produced by: In your Ear Productions

Canada | 2017 | Action – Drama | English | World Premiere

Cast: Frank D’Angelo, Giancarlo Giannini, Danny Aiello, Franco Nero, Armand Assante

In Attendance: Frank D’Angelo (Director & Actor), Giancarlo Giannini (Actor), Danny Aiello (Actor)

Sponsored by

 Showtimes

Date Time City Location Buy
15 June 2017 6:45 PM Toronto TIFF Bell Lightbox Sold Out*
16 June 2017 4:00 PM Toronto TIFF Bell Lightbox Buy | Redeem Package

 

More Information

 

From Bello to Beautiful

 

 In honour of Canada’s 150th Birthday, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival presented by IC Savings, is proud to present From Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema. This exciting 7-day free-admission screening series of a multitude of inspirational films crafted by Italian-Canadians will run from June 8th – June 16th, 2017.

The new slate of programming and events will pay tribute to a selection of key figures in the history of Canadian Cinema, showcasing Italian immigrants that have had an immeasurable impact in Ontario, and for the City of Toronto in various sectors including cuisine, construction, and neighbourhoods.

Screenings will take place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox at 350 King St West, Toronto, and Cineplex Cinema Vaughan. Tickets will be available on the ICFF website, or in person at the ICFF and TIFF Box Office.

*Tickets available May 9th*

Film & Screenings

Screening time and location of every film

ITL-CAN Cineastes

Italian-Canadian artists involved in the movie industry

The History

The contribution of Italian-Canadians

Bello to Beautiful Committee

Avatar

Carlo Coen is the Program Coordinator of the ICFF and teaches a course on Italian Cinema at York University

Carlo… Continue reading

Paola Cortellesi : Coming to the Italian Contemporary Film Festival 2017

 

We are SO excited to have Paola Cortellesi join us for this year’s Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF)! Paola’s films Mamma o Papà? and Qualcosa di Nuovo – both appearing at ICFF – have her credited as both an actor and writer. Paola will be joining us for the screening of Qualcosa di Nuovo (our Opening Film) and for our Opening Night Party on June 8th, as well as the screening of Qualcosa di Nuovo and Mamma o Papà? in Vaughan on June 9th.She is gorgeous, talented, and beloved by fans, but it’s hard to imagine a more gracious, unassuming, unpretentious superstar than Italian actress Paola Cortellesi. She’s #13 on Ciak Magazine’s 2016 Power List, the star of dozens of crowd-pleasing and award-winning films and described as “one of the best Italian voices”!

 

Paola Cortellesi

Paola Cortellesi

 

Paola began as a singer at age 13 and went on to become a popular comic actress on television, where she showcased her particular talent for impersonations.

 

Paola as Italian politician Daniela Santanchè.

Paola as Italian politician Daniela Santanchè.

 

Since 2000 she’s starred in some of Italy’s funniest and most successful movies, early on in the title role of Aldo Giovanni and Giacomo’s Tu… Continue reading

Christian De Sica: Coming to ICFF 2017!

He’s Vittorio De Sica’s son,Carlo Verdone’s brother-in-law, and he’s the reigning King of Cinepanettone.

We are so excited to have Christian De Sica as a guest star this year at ICFF! Christian is an amazing Italian singer, actor and director who has taken on many different roles since his television debut in 1971. His father was celebrated Italian film director Vittorio De Sica, and Christian is helping us celebrate our Bello to Beautiful program which is bridging the gap between Italian classics, like the ones his father directed, and modern films.

 

Vittorio De Sica with his son, actor Christian De Sica

Vittorio De Sica with his son, actor Christian De Sica

If you’ve ever seen one of the movies that are affectionately dubbed Cinepanettone, the slightly bawdy Christmas films that don’t have A LOT to do with Christmas, you know Christian De Sica. He’s starred in all of the big ones like Natale in Sudafrica (Christmas in South Africa), Natale a Beverly Hills, and Natale in Crociera (Christmas on a Cruise), delighting holiday audiences with the tantalizing stuff we used to think of as “bedroom farce”.

ICFF is proud to have Christian De Sica will be joining us in… Continue reading

Leo Gullotta now in Toronto

Comedic and dramatic actor, loved by fans and critics alike, Gullotta won the prestigious David di Donatello in 1987 for the best supporting actor in the film Il Camorrista, and subsequently in 1989 he won the David di Donatello, likewise as best supporting actor for the film Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, which won an Oscar for the best foreign film that year. Gullotta has also won two Nastro d’Argento awards for best supporting actor for the film Mi manda Picone and for the film Vajont.

Meet Leo Gullotta

Event Date Time City Location Buy
L’ora legale More info…* 10 June 2017 09:00 PM Vaughan Cineplex Cinemas Buy
L’ora legale More info…* 11 June 2017 09:30 PM Toronto
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Buy
Qualcosa di Nuovo”* More info… 08 June 2017 07:00 PM Toronto
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Buy
Opening Party*More info… 08 June 2017 09:00 PM Toronto QRC West Buy

*Guest star in attendance. Subject to change at the guest discretion.

La Pazza Gioia (Like Crazy) – ICFF17 Closing Film

La Pazza Gioia (Like Crazy)

La Pazza Gioia (Like Crazy)

ICFF Festival-goers are going to GO CRAZY for this award-winning Italian comedy of the year.

Nominated for 16 David Di Donatello Awards, and winning 5, we cannot wait to screen La Pazza Gioia at this year’s ICFF! Paolo Virzì, indisputably one of Italy’s top directors, created a “Thelma and Louise” all’Italiana with two of Italy’s finest actresses; Virzì’s wife Micaela Ramazzotti. Ramazzotti and co-star Valeria Bruni Tedeschi show off what they know how to do best, each in her own special way.

In La Pazza Gioia (Like Crazy), Bruni Tedeschi (who has perfected the role of the over-wound and unstable woman) plays the institutionalized Beatrice; Ramazzotti plays her roommate Donatella.
Valeria sticks with the personification we expect from her but has never done it with this amount of explosive authority. The character of “Beatrice” is the product of everyone working on the movie doing his or her job really well. Virzì and fellow scriptwriter (director) Francesca Archibugi nail the dialogue in a way that tops what either of these accomplished screenwriters have achieved to date.

 

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi

 

In The Forefront, Micaela Ramazzotti

In The Forefront, Micaela Ramazzotti

Ramazzotti, on the other hand, is… Continue reading

David Rocco : Coming to the Italian Contemporary Film Festival 2017

 

Toronto-born chef David Rocco has achieved world recognition in his career. Hailed as aa skilled Italian chef, his four television programs and four bestselling novels have made him known in over 120 countries across the globe. His programs dive into a love for Italy’s culture and way of life as well as the simplicity of its elegant food.

Rocco also has his own wine label, David Rocco’s Dolce Vita, which features three varieties: Prosecco, Chianti and Pinot Grigio. He has appeared in hit shows such as Top Chef Canada and Iron Chef.

“David Rocco’s Dolce Napoli” Canadian Premiere coming soon on TLN Telelatino

Meet David Rocco

Event Date Time City Location Buy
David Rocco’s
Dolce Napoli
More info…
*
13 June 2017 09:00 PM Toronto TIFF Bell Lightbox Buy

*Guest star in attendance. Subject to change at the guest discretion.

Alan Barillaro : Coming to the Italian Contemporary Film Festival 2017

Director

Pixar Animation Studios

 
Alan Barillaro joined Pixar Animation Studios in January 1997.  Barillaro has worked on almost every Pixar film as an animator, including “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,”“Monsters, Inc.,” and the Academy Award®-winning features “Finding Nemo,” “TheIncredibles,” “WALL-E” and “Brave.” On those last three features, Barillaro was given the role of supervising animator and was, therefore, responsible for overseeing the team of animators who worked to bring the characters in the films to life.
 
Following his work on “Brave,” Barillaro went to work with Pixar’s software development team to help craft an animation tool that would help provide additional creative flexibility to the studio’s filmmaking process. As a proof of concept, Barillaro created a short animation test about a small bird – a sandpiper – on a beach. This animation test soon grew into a full-fledged short film, named “Piper,” directed by Barillaro, released theatrically with “Finding Dory” in 2016.
 
Growing up outside of Toronto, Canada, Barillaro’s interest in animation began at a young age. He worked his way up through the ranks at various commercial houses during high school and continued his studies… Continue reading

Alessandro Aronadio’s dark comedy is a Must-See at this year’s ICFF! Here are the TOP 10 reasons you won’t want to miss it!

Orecchie

Orecchie

We are excited to screen Alessandro Aronadio’s Orecchie at this year’s #ICFF17! Here are the top 10 reasons to add it to your MUST-SEE list!

1) Orecchie (Ears) was written and directed by Aronadio.

2) Aronadio is a Fulbright scholar (for life, he tells us), studied in Los Angeles, and is fluent in English.

3) The end of the movie is a kind of Rorschach test that Aronadio has created to evaluate our psychological evaluation of it. Did you feel hopeful or depressed? Aronadio wants to know.

4) Rocco Papaleo plays an unusual priest that believes that a lot of the Bible is nonsense.

 

Rocco Papaleo, Orecchie

Rocco Papaleo, Orecchie

5) Orecchie is a sort of philosophy lesson, referencing Nietzsche, for example: “You’re not more intelligent. You’re just unhappier.”

6) The movie’s star, Daniele Parisi, bears a striking resemblance to Aronadio, one that he insists is a coincidence, but we’re not so sure…

Daniele Parisi

Daniele Parisi

 

Alessandro Aronadio

Alessandro Aronadio

7) Parisi’s character has no name.

8) He wakes up to find a note on his refrigerator that says, “Your friend Luigi has died. PS I took the car.” But he doesn’t know anyone named Luigi.

 


9) Orecchie premiered at the 2016… Continue reading

Paola Cortellesi:- special guest at ICFF 2017

Actress

Paola Cortellesi has experience as a singer, writer, and an actor for both screen and stage. She has appeared in over 20 films and is a nationally recognized comic actress in Italy. Her films Mamma o Papà? and Qualcosa di Nuovo – both appearing at ICFF – have her credited as both an actor and writer.
She has been described as “one of the best Italian voices” and has worked with notable Italian musicians such as Tese and Claudio Baglioni. Her theatrical performance in Gli ultimi saranno gli ultimi was staged over 189 times in 50 different theatres.

Meet Paola Cortellesi

Event Date Time City Location Buy
Qualcosa di Nuovo*
More info
08 June 2017 7:00 PM Toronto TIFF Bell Lightbox Buy
Opening Party*
More info…
08 June 2017 9:00 PM Toronto QRC West Buy
Qualcosa di Nuovo*
More info…
09 June 2017 6:15 PM Vaughan Cineplex Cinemas Buy
Mamma o Papà?*
More info…
09 June 2017 8:00PM Vaughan Cineplex Cinemas Buy
Press Conference* 08 June 2017 2:00PM Toronto Istituto Italiano di Cultura Free (RSVP at gmitolo@icff.ca)

*The Istituto Italiano di Cultura will host a press conference with ICFF guest of honour Paola Cortellesi.… Continue reading

Roberto Morrione Award

Roberto Morrione Award
Director: Leonardo Filippi, Maurizio Franco, Maria Panariello

Screening times and locations:
June 14 2017 @ 6:45 PM Toronto - TIFF Bell Lightbox

Continue reading

Frenemies – Annual Program – May 2017

Movie

Director: Luca Lucini

onda-su-onda

Country: Italy
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 92 min.
Year: 2016
Production: Bianca Film | Rai Cinema
Distributor: Bianca Film

Language: Italian
Subtitles: English

————————–

VAUGHAN
May 4th, 2017
8:00 pm Screening
Colossus Vaughan
(3555 Highway 7 West)

TORONTO
May 12 th, 2017
9:00 pm Screening
Tiff Bell Lightbox
(350 King St W)


$ 13+hst Movie Ticket

*Once you have purchased the ticket, please print your receipt and bring it with you to the event. It will serve as your admission ticket.
Plot

PlotCanada British English Canadian Flag icon

Fabiola and Lucia have hated each other since their first meeting. Though they are completely different from each other, they share a man in their life, Paolo, Lucia’s ex husband, now married to Fabiola. frenemies

When Paolo dies unexpectedly, he leaves behind little Paolino, a half Chinese boy, whose existence had been kept secret from the women.

Lucia and Fabiola, though still overwhelmed by resentment, are forced to come closer.They must find a way to put aside their enmity and personal disagreements to raise the child together. They will find themselves inadequate in their new role as mothers, but will embark in a journey of self-discovery, growing fonder and fonder of little Paolino.

Eventually they… Continue reading

2017 ICFF Festival Announcements and Film Selection

 

This week at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF), presented by IC Savings, announced our lineup consisting of 180 screenings, including features, shorts and documentaries, of which several are premieres.

This is our sixth edition of a Festival that celebrates the best in contemporary Italian cinema from around the world, taking place June 8th-16th, 2017 in Toronto, Vaughan, Hamilton, Montreal, Québec City and new this year, Vancouver!

ICFF will bring together film enthusiasts with some of the most influential and prolific directors, actors and industry leaders, including Academy Award®-winning director Alan Barillaro and producer Andrea Iervolino, who will participate in a special tribute to celebrate the contribution of Italian-Canadians to the film industry.

From Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema is a dynamic 7-day free-admission screening series of a multitude of inspirational films in honour of Canada and Ontario’s 150th Birthday, opening this celebration with Noelle’s Journey, a documentary by Peter Gentile about two immigrants who left southern Italy for a new life in Canada.

The Future Ways of Living – a documentary by Marcello Ferrara and George Brown University, as well as Il Fiume ha sempre ragione/The River Always Knows,… Continue reading

DANNY AIELLO

English

 

 

DANNY AIELLO

Danny Aiello is part of a large group of American actors with Italian origins that created the stereotypical Italian mob boss or typical pizza chef in modern film, by having the ability to bring these various traditional Italian characters to the big screen.

He made his big screen debut in the ’70s, participating in The Godfather – Part II. At the peak of her music career Madonna had Aiello play the role of her father in her music video – Papa Don’t Preach. The ‘80s are where Aiello gave his best, playing multiple feature roles.

His most famous role is most likely that of an Italian-American pizza chef named Sal in Spike Lee’s film, Do the Right Thing, for which he was nominated for an Oscar in 1990 for best supporting actor..Aiello also made himself a well-known film figure in his role of police captain Vincent Aiello in Sergio Leone’s best work, Once Upon a Time in America and for his role of Monk in The Purple Rose of Cairo oby Woody Allen.

Italiano

 

 

DANNY AIELLO

Danny Aiello fa parte della grande schiera di attori statunitensi, di origine italiana, che hanno fatto la… Continue reading

The Neighborhood

The Neighborhood
Director: Frank D'Angelo

Screening times and locations:
June 15 2017 @ 6:45 PM Toronto - TIFF Bell Lightbox
June 16 2017 @ 4:00 PM Toronto - TIFF Bell Lightbox

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Press Conference 6th edition


The Italian Contemporary Film Festival [ICFF] cordially invites you to our press conference at The Ritz‐Carlton on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. We will unveil this year’s line‐up of film premieres for the 6th edition of the ICFF, the guest stars that will be present, the 150 Ontario Bello to Beautiful program and other key aspects.

This will be the only press conference for the entire festival, taking place in Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Quebec City, Vaughan, and Hamilton.

What: Press conference announcing the film line‐up for the 6th annual Italian Contemporary Film Festival, June 8-16, 2017
 
Who: Maurizio Magnifico (Managing Director), Cristiano de Florentiis (Artistic Director), Paul Golini (President of the Board) and Guest Stars
 
When: Monday, May 8, at 12:00 p.m. sharp. A light refreshment will be offered.
 
Where: The Ritz‐Carlton, 181 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3G7.
 

CLICK TO ATTEND CONFERENCE

 

 

An Interview with Marta Savina

Actress Claudia Gusmano

Actress Claudia Gusmano

At just 31-years-old director Marta Savina embodies Italian cinema’s bright future.

Her short film, Viola, Franca is based on the true story of a young Sicilian woman in 1965 who was being forced to marry her rapist because of a custom known as “reparation marriage”; the rapist marries his victim and “saves” the woman’s reputation. Seventeen-year-old Franca’s simple act of refusing to marry her attacker and insisting that he be arrested was monumental in establishing rights for women in Italy. In fact, hers was the first rape trial in the country.

And yet, Savina says that it was important to her that the rapist, Filippo (Carlo Calderone) wasn’t portrayed as “just some evil guy”.

“This is probably controversial, but in a way he’s almost like the victim”, she says. “He was just how some men were, and that’s just how you treated women.”

“Franca’s definitely not a victim. She fell victim to violence but she bounces back. He, on the other hand, was a product of that society”, says Savina.

 

Claudia Gusmano

Claudia Gusmano

 
Claudia Gusmano, who plays Franca, says that the first time she watched the film she turned to Savina and said,… Continue reading

Indivisibili: Screening at ICFF17!

Indivisibili was one of the big winners at this year’s David Di Donatello Awards in Italy. Nominated for 17 awards this film took home 5 Davids and had it’s North America premier last year at TIFF. We are looking forward to having this film in Toronto, Vaughan, Hamilton, Montreal and Quebec City as part of #ICFF17! For tickets please click here.

 

Indivisibili (Indivisible)

Indivisibili (Indivisible)

In Indivisibili (Indivisible) eighteen-year-old conjoined twins Daisy and Viola (twins Angela and Marianna Fontana) have been supporting their family earning as much as €80,000 a year performing at weddings and first holy communion festivities, but are they succeeding because they are pop stars, or because they are side show geeks?

 

Indivisibili

Angela Fontana And Marianna Fontana

Whatever the reason, their parents couldn’t waste the girls’ hard-earned money any more efficiently if they tried.

Their home in the seaside town of Castel Volturno (north of Naples) is furnished with top of the line everything and their dad, Peppe (Massimiliano Rossi) and his wife Titti (played by David di Donatello winner Antonia Truppo) won’t win any parents-of-the-year awards any time soon. When the girls were little, life was pretty good for them, too. They loved singing and… Continue reading

Le Confessioni To Screen In Montreal & Quebec City: An Interview with Director Roberto Ando

 Le Confessioni was so popular during our Annual Program, we HAD to bring it to our ICFF audiences in Quebec City and Montreal. Le Confessioni was a highly anticipated movie in 2016, and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, Best Writer, Best Actor (Toni Servillo), Best Supporting Actor, and Best Photography at the David Di Donatello Awards.

ICFF 2017 Screenings:

June 10th at 7pm at Cinéma Cartier in Quebec City

June 13th at 7pm at Cinémathèque in Montreal

 

 

That director Roberto Andò’s movies are as satisfying as a good book is no mistake because Andò is also an author; his latest movie, Le Confessioni (The Confessions) is like a mystery novel that is impossible to put down.Billed as a “thriller”, Le Confessioni is likewise a good old-fashioned whodunit with a big “Clue Game” cast of characters in forced seclusion at a picturesque luxury hotel by the sea plus a murder (or was it a suicide?). Everybody seems a little sinister, including the monk (Toni Servillo) who was invited by the rich and powerful director (Daniel Auteui) for reasons that no one’s quite sure of.

G8 organizers have taken over the resort for a summit and leaders from… Continue reading

Wave over Wave – Annual Program – April 2017

Movie

Director: Rocco Papaleo

onda-su-onda

Country: Italy
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Duration: 102 min.
Year: 2016
Production: Indiana
Distributor: Warner Bross

Language: Italian
Subtitles: English

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VAUGHAN
April 6th, 2017
8:00 pm Screening
Colossus Vaughan
(3555 Highway 7 West)

TORONTO
April 21th, 2017
9:00 pm Screening
Tiff Bell Lightbox(350 King St W)

$ 13+hst Movie Ticket

*Once you have purchased the ticket, please print your receipt and bring it with you to the event. It will serve as your admission ticket.
Plot

PlotCanada British English Canadian Flag icon

Gegè, a fading pop singer, is invited to a tour in Uruguay, where thirty years before he had performed obtaining an astounding success.tale_of_tales

Not having enough money for the flight, he boards a ship and meets Ruggero, a loner cook who hasn’t touched ground for the last four years.

The two feel an immediate dislike for each other and, as an act of spite, Ruggero locks Gegè in the refrigerator.

Due to this occurrence, Gegè’s voice suddenly fades and he is diagnosed with a block of his vocal chords. Feeling responsible, Ruggero pretends to be the singer himself.

From then on, the destinies and the lives of these strangers, united by the same desire for redemption, will intertwine… Continue reading

Piuma / Feather

Piuma
Director: Roan Johnson

Screening times and locations:
June 11 2017 @ 6:00 PM Vaughan - Cineplex Cinemas
June 12 2017 @ 5:00 PM Quebec City - Cinéma Cartier
June 12 2017 @ 9:30 PM Toronto - TIFF Bell Lightbox
June 14 2017 @ 7:00 PM Montreal - Cinémathèque Quebecoise

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ICFF Monthly Program

2016/17

 

Reception: Colossus Theatre 6:30 PM
Screening: Colossus Theatre 8:00 PM
3555 Highway 7 West, Vaughan, ON

 

Maison Mercer 7:00 PM
15 Mercer Street, Toronto
Screening: TILL Bell Lightbox 9:00 PM
335 King Street West, Toronto, ON

Confusi e Felici

Forever Young
Forever Young [2014]

Genre: COMEDY
Duration: 93 MIN
Presented by: IIC TORONTO


OCTOBER

20

28

Il Capitale Umano

Le confessioni
The Confessions [2016]

Genre: DRAMA | THRILLER
Duration: 100 MIN
Presented by: MASERATI
GRILLO BARRISTERS


NOVEMBER

17

25

Un natale stupefacente

Natale con il boss
Christmas with the Mob [2015]

Genre: COMEDY
Duration: 96 MIN
Presented by: NUMAGE
PISTINE PRINITNG
IC SAVINGS


DECEMBER

8
9

La Scuola più bella del mondo

Il racconto dei Racconti
Tale of Tales [2015]

Genre: FANTASY
Duration: 125 MIN
Presented by: MONTEMURRO
ROSEHAVEN HOME| CULINARY


JANUARY

12

20

Venetian Carnival Party

A Woman as a Friend [2014]

Genre: ROMANTIC COMEDY
Duration: 96 MIN
Presented by: ITA
SAVERIO VELTRI


FEBRUARY

3

16

Labyrinth of Lies

Veloce come il vento
Italian Race [2016]

Genre: ACTION | DRAMA
Duration: 110 MIN
Presented by: TD – POLICARO
GALBANI
PIZZANOVA


MARCH

9

24

Marina

Wave Over Wave [2016]

Genre: COMEDY DRAMA
Duration: 102 MIN
Presented by: FERRERO
IN QUATTRO


APRIL

6

21

Nemiche per la pelle

Nemiche per… Continue reading

Roberto Benigni and the Girl of his Dreams, Nicoletta Braschi

 

Married for 25 years, they first met in 1983. Roberto Benigni was making the movie Tu Mi Turbi and chose this unknown actress from Cesena to play Maria.

“There is a ‘before and after’ with her”, said Benigni. “Before her everything (in my life) was a joke: but comedy without a feminine is like a life half-lived, one you can’t imagine.”

Roberto Benigni was talking about his wife, Nicoletta Braschi.

“From then on, since she entered my life, we have done everything together like a theater company, it was her idea to give ourselves freedom by producing our own films”, he added. “She gave me truth. When I was flying, she brought me back to earth. I can’t imagine another face, another presence, another breath that isn’t hers.”

He says that she is always on the set with him, “Or rather, most of the time. The only time she wasn’t there with me is when she had the flu.”

In March of this year, Roberto Benigni was award a special David for his life’s work, and he said that he wasn’t going to thank his wife, Nicoletta, but share the David with her: I did it with her, for… Continue reading

Bello to Beautiful – Ontario 150

In honour of Canada’s 150th Birthday, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival presented by IC Savings, is proud to present From Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema. This exciting 7-day free-admission screening series of a multitude of inspirational films crafted by Italian-Canadians will run from June 8th – June 16th, 2017.

The new slate of programming and events will pay tribute to a selection of key figures in the history of Canadian Cinema, showcasing Italian immigrants that have had immeasurable impact in Ontario, and for the City of Toronto in various sectors including cuisine, construction, and neighbourhoods.

Screenings will take place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox at 350 King St West, Toronto, and Cineplex Cinema Vaughan. Tickets will be available on the ICFF website, or in person at the ICFF and TIFF Box Office.

TICKETS ARE FREE OF CHARGE

*Tickets available May 9th*

 

Presenting Sponsor

Leading Sponsors

Premiere Sponsors

Official Airline Sponsor

Film Sponsor

Film + Sponsors

Funder

Director Sponsor

Spotlight Sponsor

Program Sponsor