JULY 2020 STARTS JANUARY 2021 FINISHES ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL EIGHTEEN FILMS 20 20 No. 5 Festival NAMING SPONSOR 29 13 No.5 Our sponsors / Our sponsors Naming S ponsor Proudly S upported b y Amici 5 Generations of Tunnelers 06 Il Vizio Della Speranza / The Vice Of Hope 03 04 33 59 Contenuto / Contents Benvenuti / Welcome Luoghi / Locations Cinema / Films Programma / Schedule Classificazione / Classification WWW.EDIT-STORE.COM 3 / Benvenuti / Welcome Benvenuti / Welcome Ambasciatore Fabrizio Marcelli, Ambassador of Italy – I am glad to support once more one of the most successful Italian cultural events in New Zealand. With its 17 locations throughout the country, the Cinema Italiano Festival is the only Film Festival in New Zealand, which didn’t go online this year. Renée & Paolo Rotondo have worked hard against the current difficult circumstances to make this possible. Thanks to their efforts we can recreate the magic to watch a movie regarding our culture sitting in a cinema and connecting with people sharing our interests. The Embassy of Italy to New Zealand welcomes the Cinema Italiano Festival 2020 and wishes everyone buona visione! Ambassador Fabrizio Marcelli A letter for the new time – Dear Amici, The rising of a new time has already begun and I see it brimming with fabulous opportunities as well as being a bearer of new lifeblood and creator of ideas. I am convinced that this new time will be a fascinating opportunity for us to shape a more virtuous relationship between humanism and technology, between spirit and harmony, between profit and giving back. And when the sun returns to colour our lives again, we will naturally return to our usual life but hopefully equipped with some extra values and a fascination by everything that is worthy of being called ‘human’. So it is with a great sense of privilege that we bring Italian films back into our cinemas this year, with the support of our strong community of both dedicated film-goers and sponsors who have continued to empower us with their trust. We are here. Naturally there have been some challenges in us being able to do this, and some of the hospitality we have become known for will not be taking place this year and possibly next year. We hope our audiences will understand. What we can offer New Zealand audiences is enthusiasm; Enthusiasm that will make your hearts soar! Renee Mark - Italian Film Festival NZ A message from the Artistic Director 2020 – No one can ignore the tragic events that 2020 has brought to the world. Our hearts are with you. It is not just the pandemic that has shaken the world, but also the rise of Fascism, racism, inequality and corruption. In my opinion, Italy has often seemed to experience social, cultural and political movements early. Consequently, Italian Cinema has already been wrestling with many contemporary issues. It is no coincidence that we have programmed Paolo Sorrentino’s enormously lavish ‘Loro’ about Silvio Berlusconi, alongside the hilarious, biting satire ‘Sono Tornato /I’m Back’ about Mussolini. Both films emerge as razor-sharp satire in these volatile times. However, the Cinema Italiano Festival also offers New Zealand audiences culture, art and humour as a small humble antidote to hegemony and ignorance. This year we mark 500 years since Leonardo Da Vinci’s death and 500 years since Raffaello’s birth with spectacular big- screen documentaries. This year’s comedies will leave you laughing in the aisles but lingering in your thoughts days later. We will also introduce New Zealand family audiences to the tradition of ‘La Befana’ the good Christmas witch. Again, Cinema will ignite your imagination, transport you to Italy and leave you smiling and richer for the experience. Buona Visione Paolo Rotondo – Artistic Director facebook – cinemaitalianofestivalnz instagram / @italianfilmfestivalnz #italianfilmsnz #cinemaitalianonz #studioitaliacinemaitaliano 4 / Luoghi / Locations Luoghi / Locations Globe Theatrette / Napier July 29 - August 7 15 Hardinge Rd Ahuriri, Napier 4110 06 833 6011 globenapier.co.nz Dorothy Browns / Arrowtown August 5 - 9 18 Buckingham St Arrowtown 9302 03 442 1964 dorothybrowns.com Suter Theatre / Nelson August 12 - September 2 Queens Gardens 208 Bridge St Nelson 7010 03 548 3885 suter.statecinemas.co.nz The Screening Room / Masterton August 12 - 19 435 Queen Street Masterton 5810 06 378 6191 thescreeningroom.co.nz Event Cinemas / Palmerston North August 13 - 20 70 Broadway Avenue Palmerston North 4410 06 355 5335 eventcinemas.co.nz/cinema/ palmerston-north Starlight Cinema / Taupo September 1 - 8 Starlight Arcade 26 Horomatangi Street Taupo 07 377 1085 starlightcinema.co.nz Matakana Cinemas / Matakana September 4 - 13 2 Matakana Valley Rd Matakana 0985 09 423 0218 matakanacinemas.co.nz Bridgeway Cinema / Auckland September 17 - October 1 122 Queen St Northcote Point Auckland 0627 09 481 0040 bridgeway.co.nz Monterey Cinemas / Takapuna October 30 - November 8 32-34 Anzac Street Takapuna Auckland 0622 09 488 6000 montereytakapuna.co.nz Lumiere Cinema / Christchurch November 4 - 18 The Christchurch Arts Centre 26 Rolleston Avenue Christchurch 8013 03 365 0066 lumierecinemas.co.nz Empire Cinema / Wellington November 5 - 18 214 The Parade Island Bay Wellington 6023 04 939 7557 empirecinema.nz Govett Brewster / New Plymouth November 6 - 17 The Len Lye Centre Cinema 42 Queen Street New Plymouth 4310 06 759 6060 govett-brewster.com/cinema Rialto / Tauranga November 20 - December 6 21 Devonport Rd Tauranga 3110 07 577 0445 rialtotauranga.co.nz Event Cinema / Havelock North November 25 - December 9 11 Joll Rd Havelock North 4130 06 877 9016 eventcinemas.co.nz/cinema/ havelock-north Whakamax / Whakatane December 2 - 6 99 The Strand Whakatane 3120 07 308 7625 whakamax.co.nz 2021 Waiheke Cinema / Waiheke January 7 - 13 127-129 Oceanview Rd Oneroa Auckland 1081 09 372 4240 waihekecinema.co.nz V I T A C O N S T I L E 6 / Croce e Delizia / An Almost Ordinary Summer Croce e Delizia / An Almost Ordinary Summer Two very different families spend their holidays in the same house by the spectacularly situated cliffside villa in coastal Gaeta: the aristocratic Castelvecchios are open-minded and eccentric, whereas the working-class Petagnas are tight-knit southerners united around their firm family values. Only the two middle-aged heads of the families know what has brought such distant worlds together on this summer holiday. When an unexpected engagement is announced, the lives of all are turned upside down. With the wedding already set for three weeks, chaos and catastrophe reign on this seemingly ordinary summer. By playfully poking fun at Italian stereotypes, director Simone Godano presents the rivalry between loud southerners and their uppity northern counterparts with raw wit and sensitivity. Gorgeous Mediterranean scenery and a stunning cast including Alessandro Gassmann and Jasmine Trinca make this comedy a pure delight. DP Daniele Cipri’s warm widescreen lensing and Tonino Zera’s handsome production design make this movie the kind of travelogue eye-candy that will set some viewers to investigating vacation options in the locations depicted. Director / Simone Godano Cast / Alessandro Gassmann, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Jasmine Trinca, Filippo Scicchitano Country / Italy, 2019 Genre / Comedy, Romance Duration / 100mins Language / Italian with English subtitles Presented by / Studio Italia M 7 / Non Ci Resta Che Il Crimine / All You Need Is Crime Non Ci Resta Che Il Crimine / All You Need Is Crime M Take a step back in time with Massimiliano Bruno’s hilarious crime comedy Non ci Resta che il Crimine ; the story of three carefree old friends who decide to put their talents to the test in organising a “Criminal Tour” of Rome, where the once- famous organised crime group, The Magliana, controlled all illegal betting in the mid-1970’s. But an unexpected twist of fate catapults the trio back into 1982... and all the way to the World Cup in Spain, where they come face to face with the original mob bosses (a dangerous encounter), and the unimaginable chance to get rich “guessing” the correct outcomes of all the games! It turns out this strange journey into the past might just be the perfect opportunity for redemption... or is it? Bruno and his star-studded cast take the audience on a wild and nostalgic adventure into the past, and all the way back to the future in this witty and entertaining comedy. Acting, writing, directing, films, plays, television... Massimiliano Bruno semmingly does it all. Bruno is best known for his pop- culture comedies Nessuno mi Puo’ Giudicare (2011), Viva l’Italia (2012) and Notte Prima Degli Esami (2006), which earned him a nomination for the prestigious David di Donatello Award for New Director. Bruno also stars in this film. Director / Massimiliano Bruno Cast / Ilenia Pastorelli, Marco Giallini, Edoardo Leo, Alessandro Gassmann Country / Italy 2019 Genre / Fantasy, Crime Duration / 102mins Language / Italian with English subtitles 8 / Ma Cosa Ci Dice Il Cervello / Don’t Stop Me Now Ma Cosa Ci Dice Il Cervello / Don’t Stop Me Now After the enormous success of Like a Cat on a Highway , actor Paola Cortellesi and her director husband Riccardo Milani team up for the fifth time to deliver this entertaining spy comedy. Giovanna is a low-profile woman with a regular, boring life, but behind this dull façade she is actually a secret agent engaged in extremely dangerous and thrilling international missions. During a reunion with her high school classmates, she realises that all of them are forced to suffer daily vexations and decides that her next mission will be to help the people she loves and, with extravagant disguises and through hilarious situations, find justice for her friends! Awards / Premi Winner / Best Actor in a Comedy, Nastri d’Argento Awards 2019 Winner / Best Italian Performance, Golden Ciak Awards 2019 Director / Riccardo Milani Cast / Paola Cortellesi, Stefano Fresi, Vinicio Marchioni Country / Italy 2019 Genre / Comedy Duration / 100mins Language / Italian with English subtitles M 9 / La Famiglia è il Centro di Noi / Family is at the Heart of Us Your Business Name in Lights. Effective publicity and content development can help it happen. CONTENTMENT AGENCY www.contentment.co.nz Proudly supporting Cinema Italiano - The Italian Film Festival 10 / Sono Tornato / I’m Back Sono Tornato / I’m Back An Italian satirical comedy film about Benito Mussolini based on the German film Look Who’s Back in turn based on the satirical novel of the same name. The film includes unscripted vignettes of ordinary Italians interacting with Massimo Popolizio (pretending to be Mussolini) interspersed among scripted scenes. Rome. Today. 72 years since his death, Benito Mussolini inexplicably reappears in Piazza Vittorio. The war is over and everything seems changed. Yet ‘il Duce’ is not one to shirk a challenge, and given what he sees around him, the time seems ripe for the plucking. With an opportunistic documentarian in tow – his own Boswell, or Sancho Panza, Mussollini sets out to retake Italy... Luca Miniero’s comedy is an astute and troubling satire on the reemergence of fascism powered by a ferociously charismatic performance from Massimo Popolizio ( The Great Beauty; Il Divo ). Miniero depicts the crass commercial realities of today’s popular culture (a reality framed by Berlusconi’s television stations of course) as the perfect conduit for Duce- esque rants about migrants and unemployment, and imagines a populace ready to tune out its moral qualms in favour of a quick and dirty political fix. “Italians have never come to terms with their dictator. It is as if they write off how dangerous and murderous he was, as if they forgot history’s lessons.” Luca Miniero Director / Luca Miniero Cast / Massimo Popolizio, Frank Matano, Stefania Rocca, Gioele Dix Country / Italy 2018 Genre / Comedy Duration / 100mins Language / Italian with English subtitles M 25 Nugent Street, Grafton Auckland 1023 +64 9 523 2105 www.studioitalia.co.nz 12 / La Famiglia è il Centro di Noi / Family is at the Heart of Us Proudly supporting the Cinema Italiano Festival 23 Napier Rd, Havelock North, 0800HAWTHORNE Order online at www.hawthornecoffee.co.nz 13 / Moschettieri Del Re / The King’s Musketeers Moschettieri Del Re / The King’s Musketeers After nearly twenty years of being out of the picture, the King’s Musketeers are called back to action by Queen Anne, desperately seeking their help. Cynical and disillusioned, but still incredibly talented with their swords, the band of musketeers: D’Artagnan, Porthos Aramis and Athos, portrayed in a purely self-ironic and disenchanted key will jump again into the fire for their final mission. Award-winning Tuscan director and writer, Giovanni Veronesi began working in cinema as a screenwriter in 1985. His first job as a director arrived with the film Maramao in 1987, followed in 1993 by Per amore solo per amore , for which he also wrote the script which won the David di Donatello in 1994. Veronesi’s very successful recent films as a director are mostly dedicated to the sentimental problems of young Italians: Manuale d’amore (2005), Manuale d’amore 2 - Capitoli successivi (2007), Genitori & Figli - Agitare bene prima dell’uso (2010), Non è un paese per giovani (2017). “ Surely, Alexandre Dumas is rolling over in his grave... from laughter!” Cineuropa Director / Giovanni Veronesi Cast / Margherita Buy, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valerio Mastandrea, Rocco Papaleo Country / Italy, 2019 Genre / Comedy, Adventure Duration / 110mins Language / Italian with English subtitles M 14 / Il Campione / The Champion Il Campione / The Champion Set in the glossy world of professional, millionaire footballers in Italy, The Champion wonderfully pairs the talents of versatile veteran Stefano Accorsi ( The Italian Race ) with an extraordinary Andrea Carpenzano in this story of friendship, betrayal, and learning who to trust. Carpenzano is Christian Ferro, a young superstar striker for Roma. Growing up in a rough area is a far cry from the millionaire lifestyle he is now living, which has attracted party-animal friends from home as well as the return of his long-lost father. When Christian’s determination to prove to his friends that he remains rebellious lands him in trouble again, his coach gives him an ultimatum: get back in line and pass the high- school exam, or get out. Enter Valerio Fioretti (Accorsi), who is enlisted to tutor the troubled player. But Christian’s world of fame and Ferraris clashes with Valerio’s humble circumstances. Produced by Matteo Rovere and Sydney Sibilia, D’Agostini’s debut is a beautifully balanced blend of the spectacular and the intimate, delivering a moral lesson that is both identifiable and strikingly moving. Awards / Premi Winner / Best Producer, Nastro d’Argento Awards Winner / Best New Director, Nastro d’Argento Awards Nominated / Best Actor, Andrea Carpenzano, Italian National Syndicate Nominated / Best Supporting Actor, Stefano Accorsi, Italian National Syndicate Director / Leonardo D’Agostini Cast / Stefano Accorsi, Andrea Caprenzano, Mario Sgueglia, Anita Caprioli Country / Italy, 2019 Genre / Drama Duration / 105mins Language / Italian with English subtitles Presented by / Go Media M 15 / Il Testimone Invisible / The Invisible Witness Il Testimone Invisible / The Invisible Witness When slick and successful businessman Adriano (Riccardo Scamarcio, Loro ) wakes up next to his dead mistress in a resort hotel room, he becomes the obvious suspect. He selects Virginia Ferrara (Maria Paiato, An Almost Perfect Town IFFNZ18), a veteran criminal attorney who has never lost a case to defend him. The two only have three hours to prepare the case, discredit a key witness, and find the evidence confirming Adriano’s innocence. The Invisible Witness builds intrigue and exhilarating tension up to its astonishing finale. Awards / Premi Nominated / Best Adapted Screenplay, David di Donatello Awards 2019 Nominated / Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Nastri d’Argento Awards 2019 Official Selection / Seattle International Film Festival 2019 “A thoroughly satisfying suspense film” CINEUROPA Director / Stefano Mordini Cast / Riccardo Scamarcio, Miriam Leone, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Maria Paiato Country / Italy, 2018 Genre / Mystery, Thriller Duration / 102mins Language / Italian with English subtitles M 17 / Io, Leonardo / Amazing Leonardo Io, Leonardo / Amazing Leonardo Amazing Leonardo boldly moves beyond the common stereotypes about the gifted artist, visionary scientist and brilliant inventor, to unveil the intriguing mysteries about Leonardo da Vinci’s life. The audience is taken on a fascinating journey in history and time, spanning locations that include da Vinci’s native Tuscan town of Vinci and the region’s countryside, as well as Florence, Milan, Rome, and several sites in France. Informed by the research of art historian Pietro C. Marano, who is a member of Italy’s national panel of da Vinci experts, this film is an outstanding art movie about the life of the astonishing painter and extraordinary man. Awards / Premi Official Selection / Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2019 Official Selection / Los Angeles – Italia 2019: The Italian Masters Official Selection / MittelCinemaFest 2019 Official Selection / NICE New Italian Cinema Events Festival 2019 Official Selection / Russia-Italia Film Festival 2019 “Takes viewers on a journey through Leonardo da Vinci’s mind.” Hollywood Reporter Director / Jesus Garcés Lambert Cast / Luca Argentero, Angela Fontana, Massimo De Lorenzo Country / Italy, 2019 Genre / Biography, Drama Duration / 90mins Language / Italian with English subtitles Presented by / The Italian Embassy, New Zealand Ex 18 / Ti Presento Sofia / Let Me Introduce You To Sofia Ti Presento Sofia / Let Me Introduce You To Sofia Gabriele (Fabio De Luigi) is a divorced dad who owns a music store and is completely focused on taking care of his 10-year-old daughter Sofia who spends time with both parents. One day he bumps into his old friend Mara (the gorgeous Micaela Ramazzotti, Like Crazy, IFFNZ18) who - for the first time since his separation reignites his desire to be in a relationship. There is only one problem, Mara hates children! Blinded by desire, Gabriele decides to hide the existence of Sofia, but not without hilarious consequences. One awkward charade follows another as Gabriele desperately fumbles to conceal one female from the other and uphold his plan. Suddenly, an unexpected turn of events forces Gabriele to review his entire approach. Comedy veteran De Luigi is an expert in playing the fool, and this is no exception with the laughs coming in thick and fast, as the frazzled father moves ever further into hot water. Awards / Premi Nominated / Best Actor, Nastri d’Argento Awards 2019 Official Selection / Rome Film Festival 2018 Official Selection / Shanghai International Film Festival 2019 Director / Guido Chiesa Cast / Fabio De Luigi, Micaela Ramazzotti, Caterina Sbaraglia, Andrea Pisani Country / Italy, 2018 Genre / Comedy Duration / 98mins Language / Italian with English subtitles M