2017 Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) Lineup

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Italian Contemporary Film Festival launches its 2017 program with a special focus on Italian-Canadians. Box office superstar Christian De Sica, son of iconic director and actor Vittorio De Sica, as well as internationally awarded screen actors Paola Cortellesi, Alan Barillaro, Giancarlo Giannini and Franco Nero to be special guests of the ICFF 2017, which expands across six Canadian cities, with the new addition of Vancouver.

TORONTO – The Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF), presented by IC Savings, announced its lineup today at The Ritz-Carlton, in Toronto: 180 screenings, including features, shorts and documentaries, of which several are premieres.

This is the sixth edition of a Festival that celebrates the best in contemporary Italian cinema from around the world, and that will take place June 8th-16th, 2017 in Toronto, Vaughan, Hamilton, Montreal, Québec City and Vancouver.

Academy Award Winner Alan Barillaro

ICFF will bring together film enthusiasts with some of the most influential and prolific directors, actors and industry leaders, including Academy Award®-winning director Alan Barillaro and producer Andrea Iervolino, who will participate in a special tribute to celebrate the contribution of Italian-Canadians to the film industry. From Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema will be an exciting 7-day free-admission screening series of a multitude of inspirational films in honour of Canada and Ontario’s 150th Birthday.

Italian box office celebrity Christian De Sica, son of iconic director Vittorio De Sica, will be receiving the ICFF’s Lifetime Achievement Award, whose previous recipients include screen legends such as Al Pacino, Academy Award® Winner Roberto Benigni and film star Claudia Cardinale. De Sica will also be presenting his latest films, Poveri ma Ricchi/Poor but Rich and Fraulein/Una Fiaba d’inverno.

From Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema, opens its celebration with Noelle’s Journey, a documentary by Peter Gentile about two immigrants who left southern Italy for a new life in Canada. The Future Ways of Living – a documentary by Marcello Ferrara and George Brown University, as well as Il Fiume ha Sempre Ragione/The River Always Knows, directed by Silvio Soldini, will also premiere at the festival. The screening will feature the publisher Alberto Casiraghi and will include a poetry reading by Rob Marra e Lucio Iacobelli.

Filmmaker Christian de Sica

“This year’s Festival lineup focuses on three aspects of Italian cinema: creating a bridge between the classics, due to the phenomenal presence of film royalty Christian De Sica, welcoming Paola Cortellesi, who will show the importance of women in film as they headline both the opening and closing screenings, as well as celebrating Canada’s 150th by showcasing the incredible contribution of Italian-Canadians to cinema,” said Cristiano de Florentiis, ICFF Artistic Director.

”We believe that ICFF – through the years – has strongly built its reputation within the Canadian audience and this edition is going to represent another great opportunity for the film industry to showcase its best,” said Paul Golini, President of ICFF’s Board of Directors. “ICFF 2017 will definitely shine thanks to its wide range of features, documentaries and shorts selection along with the presence of several protagonists of the film industry here in Canada.”

“The Festival has a very positive impact on Canada’s diverse economy” said Maurizio Magnifico, ICFF Managing Director. “With thousands of ticket sales, as well as the fundamental support of our sponsors, our festival not only aids the economy while supporting local businesses, but also draws international media coverage, visitors and attracts major attention from the film industry.”

ICFF will also pay tribute to De Sica’s father, Vittorio De Sica, a four-time Academy Award® winning director with the screening of one of his most brilliant comedies, Matrimonio all’Italiana/Marriage Italian Style. In conversation with Christian De Sica will play a pivotal role in the sixth edition of the ICFF, when the star will openly discuss his work with the audience as well as the prolific productions of his father Vittorio.

Actress Paola Cortellesi

ICFF’s opening film is Qualcosa di Nuovo/Something New, a vibrant comedy directed by Cristina Comencini, starring Paola Cortellesi and Micaela Ramazzotti. Special guest Paola Cortellesi is an eclectic Italian actress, singer, voice actress and presenter, who has starred in over 20 movies as well as a number of theatrical shows, television and radio shows.

Special guests of the ICFF 2017 will also include Giancarlo Giannini, an Oscar® nominated Italian actor, director and multilingual voice actor who made an international reputation for his leading roles in Italian films as well as for his mastery of a variety of languages and dialects.

Another notable guest of ICFF 2017 will be actor Franco Nero, who was discovered by director John Huston and become famous for his unforgettable role as the lonely gunfighter in Django by Sergio Corbucci and his acting performance alongside Bruce Willis, in Die Hard 2. Giannini and Nero star in The Neighborhood, the latest feature by prolific Italian-Canadian artist and filmmaker Frank D’Angelo and a World Premiere at ICFF 2017. The Neighborhood features Hollywood stars such as Danny Aiello, who will attend the screening with the entire cast of D’Angelo’s movie.

Filmmaker Ruth Borgobello

Director Ruth Borgobello will come directly from Australia to present to Canadian audiences her movie The Space Between, the first ever Italian-Australian film co-production. There will also be a world premiere of Jackie and the Ladies: 65 Years of The Ladies’Auxiliary of the CIBPA by Diana Di Mauro.

The nine-day festival will conclude with the feature film La Pazza Gioia/Crazy Love, directed by Paolo Virzì, starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti. The movie has recently won the David di Donatello for Best Picture, the most prestigious Italian cinematic award – the equivalent of an Italian Oscar Parties.

ICFF is excited to be submersed into planning our extravagant Opening Party and Closing Gala with what has become a festival staple. These glamorous and star-studded events enable ICFF to build on and expand this cherished reputation. This year, the Opening Party will be held at QRC West and the Closing Party will be held at The Ritz Carlton Hotel, a soirée dedicated to walking the Red Carpet and brushing shoulders with celebrity guests.

Please view link to watch clips from the 2017 ICFF Press Conference or visit ICFF Website for more info on the festival.

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