Presented by Palace, the Lavazza Italian Film Festival will open with box-office hit God Willing (Se Dio Vuole).
Director Edoardo Falcone’s comedy starring Alessandro Gassman addresses the vast and varied interaction of atheists and believers with fresh, modern eyes, and celebrates open-mindedness and the courage it takes to change for the better.
Other festival highlights include Venice multi award winning The Dinner (I Nostri Ragazzi), which shows an intense moral struggle facing two wealthy brothers and their wives in this gripping adaptation on the Dutch best-seller by Herman Koch. Directed by Ivano de Matteo and with an all-star cast including Luigi lo Cascio, Alessandro Gassman, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Barbora Bobulova – who tackle truth versus reality when a violent surveillance-footage video arises of their children.
From Official Selection at Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals comes the elegant, seething and expertly-directed Black Souls (Anime Nere) by Francesco Munzi. The twisting thriller is a timeless fable of 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, Marco Leonardi, Peppino Pazzotta, Barbora Bobulova, and Giuseppe Fumo.
Directed by Riccardo Milani, Do You See Me? is a warm-hearted, comedic gem that celebrates the importance of being true to oneself. Paola Cortellesi plays a talented female architect who concocts an outlandish scheme in order to get her project taken under consideration.
From official competition at the 2015 Festival de Cannes and with a swathe of awards including the David di Donatello 2015 for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Margherita Buy) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Giulia Lazzarini) comes Mia Madre, directed by Nanni Moretti. The brilliant and absurd comic clash between the excellent Margherita Buy and lead actor John Turturro makes this film a lively festival highlight bursting with celebrated and award-winning performances.
The full program of 32 films will be announced in August.
The 2015 Lavazza Italian Film Festival will take place nationally at Palace Cinemas:
NSW Tue 15 September – Sun 11 October Palace Verona, Palace Norton Street & Chauvel Cinema
VIC Wed 16 September – Sun 11 October Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, The Kino Cinemas
SA Thu 17 September – Wed 07 October Palace Nova Eastend
ACT Tue 22 September – Sun 11 October Palace Electric
WA Thu 24 September – Wed 14 October Cinema Paradiso & Luna on SX
QLD Thur 1 October – Sun 18 October Palace Barracks & Palace Centro
BYRON Fri 18 September – Sun 26 September Palace Byron Bay
HOBART Thu 15 September – Thu 21 October State Cinema
For updates and more information, visit www.italianfilmfestival.com.au