DISCOVER THE BEST OF ITALIAN CINEMA AT THE ITALIAN SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL IN THE CAPITAL

As part of the larger ‘Fare Cinema’ initiative, dedicated to promoting Italian cinema and its film industry, the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre in New Delhi is presenting the ‘Fare Cinema: Italian Summer Film Festival’ will go on till July 2. The festival began with the screening of four short films, and Leonilde Callocchia, Deputy Director of the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, delivered the welcome note.

The Italian Summer Film Festival, introduced by Murtaza Ali Khan for the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, is showcasing a selection of ten short films curated by the National Short Film Centre of Turin. These films represent the most creative and noteworthy works produced in Italy during 2022-2023. The titles include ‘Impure,’ ‘Il Panda Minore,’ ‘Barolo is Dead,’ ‘Birdwatching,’ ‘Le Sirene,’ and ‘Zum See.’

In addition to the short films, the festival features two full-length feature films from the 2023 Rome Film Festival: ‘Palazzina LAF,’ directed by Michele Riondino, and ‘Cento Domeniche,’ directed by Antonio Albanese. Screenings are being held at the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre in New Delhi. Entry is free on a first-come, first-served basis, with a valid photo ID required. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed.

Murtaza Ali Khan has previously presented retrospectives on filmmakers such as Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, João Moreira Salles, Carlos Saura, and Luis Buñuel. He has also curated festivals spotlighting Japanese Samurai classics, Ibero-American cinema, Spanish thrillers, and the city of Berlin.

Andrea Anastasio, Director of the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, expressed his excitement about the festival, stating that short films, like short novels, have the capacity to tell powerful stories. He noted that the festival offers a diverse range of themes, from coming-of-age stories to existential questions, visionary storytelling to everyday realism, engaging viewers in a process of self-discovery.

The Italian Summer Film Festival marks the beginning of an exciting season for Italian cinema at the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre. In the autumn, the Centre will host a retrospective dedicated to the legendary Marcello Mastroianni, celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth, with special events in November 2024 and February 2025.