FTW: Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2015
LIVE the sweet life as the Lavazza Italian Film Festival celebrates its sweet 16th this year! Jennifer Zhao has details on how you can win one of five double passes to the festival!
One of the largest and oldest European film festivals running in Australia, the Lavazza Italian Film Festival, celebrates its sweet 16th this year.
For the festival’s 16th edition, this year’s program presents a lineup of 32 exciting films that will screen nationally across select Palace Cinemas. The Melbourne leg of the festival begins on September 16 and will end on October 11.
Kicking off with the award-wining God Willing (Se Dio Vole), this box office hit in Italy tells the story of an atheist surgeon with a God-complex, a charismatic priest, a dysfunctional family and features a surprise at the end. With its gorgeous cast consisting of Alessandro Gassman (Caos Calmo), Marco Giallini (All Cops are Bastards) and Laura Morante (Moliere), this is one film that no doubt offers viewers a great opportunity to experience the elegance, beauty and boldness that Italian films have to offer.
Latin Lover | Image supplied
If you’re into more lighthearted fare or just want a good laugh, delve into a couple of Italian comedies this year including highlight titles Latin Lover, a charming and amusing new offering from director Cristina Comencini (The Beast in the Heart) which tells the story of the great Italian star Saverio Crispo — a “Latin Lover” played seductively by Francesco Scianna (Baaria).
Film: The Legendary Giulia Image: Supplied
Another comedy to look out for is The Legendary Giulia, which won Best Comedy at the Italian Golden Globes in 2015. Hilarious and witty, Roman director Edoardo Leo (18 Years Later) brings a fantastic cast together to unveil the story of three down-on-their-luck men who meet by chance and risk everything to start a bed and breakfast business together.
Film: So Far So Good Image: Supplied
Another must-see is So Far So Good, a touching comedic gem that brings together five budding young actors who play recent university graduates facing the challenges and choices of post-college life.
Elsewhere in the festival, you can catch the elegantly and expertly-directed, Black Souls by Francesco Munzi — a twisting thriller of timeless pride and power, between father and son and brother against brother. Set in the quiet Calabrian hills, this moral tale exposes the challenges of breaking cycles of crime and violence. Starring Fabrizio Ferracane (The Last Leaf), Marco Leonardi (Cinema Paradiso) and Peppino Pazzotta (Radio Argo).
Then there’s multi award winning The Dinner,which shows an intense moral struggle facing two wealthy brothers and their wives in this gripping adaptation of the Dutch best-seller by Herman Koch.
Directed by Ivano de Matteo (Balancing Act) and with an all-star cast including Luigi lo Cascio (The Best of Youth), Giovanna Mezzogiorno (Vincere), Barbora Bobulova (Coco Chanel) this film observes the differences in truth and reality when a violent surveillance-footage video arises of their children.
To celebrate, we’re giving away five double passes to the Lavazza Italian Film Festival. To enter, simply enter the Rafflecopter competition below and you can be in the running to win one of five double passes to the festival!
To learn more about the festival and its highlights, head on over to the official website for the Lavazza Italian Film Festival for screening information and which cinemas will be participating in the festival.