Press release from Ned & Co
The oh so seductive charms of Italy are set to beguile us once again, when Palace presents the 12th annual LAVAZZA ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL around Australia from mid-September until late October.
An event proudly sponsored by Lavazza, who have been delighting coffee aficionados for over a century, Palace Cinemas will be screening over 1000 sessions across five cities, creating the biggest Italian Film Festival in the world, outside Italy!
An event of lingering passion and vibrant emotion, the 2011 edition features a compelling line-up comprising over 30 outstanding movies lovingly selected from a host of globally renowned film festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, Rome and Venice.
“Choosing films for our program is always a very personal experience,” said Festival Director, Elysia Zeccola Hill, “as there are so many movies that we long to share with our patrons, particularly as Italian cuisine, fashion and art have become such a vital part of Australian culture.”
Highlights of the 2011 Festival include: BASILICATA COAST TO COAST winner of Best New Director at the 2011 Italian Academy Awards; Marco Bellocchio’s SORELLE MAI; the hilarious box office hit WELCOME TO THE SOUTH, an Italian take on Dany Boon’s French comedy Welcome to The Sticks; the brilliantly witty WE HAVE A POPE, fresh from Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival, directed by and starring Nanni Moretti; whilst renowned dramatic actor, Toni Servillo, stars in four films – the slow-burn thriller A QUIET LIFE, GORBACIOF, THE JEWEL and the award-winning, star-studded epic WE BELIEVED, screening in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification (known as Il Risorgimento).
Audiences will also be captivated by the on-screen pairing of screen legend Robert de Niro (showcasing his fluent Italian) and the luscious Monica Bellucci who dazzle in THE AGES OF LOVE, the third installment in the wildly popular MANUAL OF LOVE series (also starring beloved comedic actor, Carlo Verdone), whilst 20 CIGARETTES, an ironic drama which has garnered a slew of awards, offers an unconventional take on the Iraqi war.
John Turturro’s PASSIONE, an exuberant tribute to the music of Naples is also a must-see film that has been selected for the Festival’s Closing Night Special Event.
The 2011 LAVAZZA ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL will screen at over a dozen Palace locations on the following dates: Melbourne (14 Sept – 5 Oct), Sydney (15 Sept – 5 Oct), Brisbane (5 – 23 Oct), Adelaide (12 – 26 Oct) and Perth (13 – 26 Oct).
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