Leading a lineup featuring the best Italian cinema has to offer, the multi-award winning film and 2017 winner of Italy’s prestigious David di Donatello award, “At War for Love” will open this year’s festival at the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Detroit Film Theatre (DFT). Both opening and closing events will be held at the DFT, including an entire closing weekend (April 27-29). Screenings during the weekends between will be held at locations around the area: Wayne State University (Detroit), April 6-7; Michigan State University (East Lansing), April 6-7; University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), April 13-14; Chippewa Valley High School (Clinton Township), April 20-21; and Bloomfield Township Public Library (Bloomfield Township), April 22.
Entering its second decade, the festival continues to develop as it expands its audience reach. New this year are screenings in East Lansing and a program in Bloomfield Township especially for children. Working to draw in younger generations of Italian film lovers, the new initiative is designed for children ages 6-12. It will feature a selection of short animated and live-action films at the Bloomfield Township Public Library on Sunday, April 22, starting at 2 p.m.
“This year’s program is an exciting one,” said Elena Past, festival organizing committee member. “We are expanding the festival’s reach to include children and the East Lansing community. We also have a slate of special guests, including directors and producers. The festival continues to grow, innovate, and bring new voices to Detroit.”
Four special appearances by film creators will give audiences a behind-the-scenes perspective during post-film discussions with directors and producers of select featured films. These will take place after the following screenings: Friday, April 6 at Wayne State University and Saturday, April 7 at Michigan State University, “Funne, Sea Dreaming Girls” with director Katia Bernardi and co-producer Davide Valentini; Friday, April 20 at Chippewa Valley High School, “Easy” with director Andrea Magnani; Saturday, April 28 at DFT, “The Last Prosecco” with director Antonio Padovan and co-producer Alessia Gatti, and “Cucinì” with director Ciro Fabbricino and producer Giosuè Silvestro.
Returning this year is the short film program which debuted last year. The shorts program features seven recent short films, and the audience will vote for a favorite. Screenings will be in East Lansing on April 7 at 7:30 p.m. and in Ann Arbor on April 13 at 7 p.m.
A complete schedule is below...
Wednesday, April 4
Opening Night, Wednesday, April 4 (Detroit Institute of Arts’ Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit)
7:00 p.m. “At War for Love”
2016 - Director, Pierfrancesco Diliberto, aka Pif, Comedy, 99 min.
New York City, 1943. Arturo falls in love with Flora, but to ask Flora's father for her hand, he must go to Sicily! Penniless, Arturo enlists in the US Army and takes a "free" trip to Sicily at the start of the Allied invasion!
Friday, April 6
Friday, April 6 (Wayne State University, 100 General Lectures Hall, 5045 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit)
7:00 p.m. “Funne, Sea Dreaming Girls”
2016 – Director, Katia Bernardi, Documentary, 78 min.
A joyous documentary about a lively group of women whose mantra is “Dreams do not age”!
*Special appearance by director Katia Bernardi and co-producer Davide Valentini
Friday, April 6 (Michigan State University, Wells Hall B122, 619 Red Cedar Rd., East Lansing)
7:00 p.m. “Easy”
2017 – Director, Andrea Magnani, Comedy, 91 min.
An overweight, former race car driver is offered an “easy” job: drive a coffin to Ukraine. Can he do it?
Saturday, April 7
Saturday, April 7 (Wayne State University, 100 General Lectures Hall, 5045 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit)
5:00 p.m. “The Order of Things”
2017 – Director, Andrea Segre, Drama, 112 min.
An immigration agent is faced with a choice: respect his orders and the law, or help someone who is in difficulty.
7:30 p.m. “Holding Hands”
2017 – Director, Gianni Amelio, Drama, 103 min.
A family moves into an apartment next to retired attorney Lorenzo. The joy of living returns to him, until one day their lives are shaken by tragedy.
Saturday, April 7 (Michigan State University, Wells Hall B122, 619 Red Cedar Rd., East Lansing)
5:00 p.m. “Funne, Sea Dreaming Girls”
2016 – Director, Katia Bernardi, Documentary, 78 min.
A joyous documentary about a lively group of women whose mantra is “Dreams do not age”!
*Special appearance by director Katia Bernardi and co-producer Davide Valentini
7:30 p.m. Short Film Program
2017 – Comedy, Drama, Animation, 120 min.
Seven recent short films are in competition for audience favorite. They are: “The Line,” “At My Home,” “Pipinara,” “Simposio Suino In Re Minore,” “Crosstitch Road,” “The Fisherman,” and “Little Italian Girls.”
Friday, April 13
Friday, April 13 (University of Michigan, Lorch Hall Askwith Auditorium, 611 Tappan St., Ann Arbor)
7:00 p.m. Short Film Program
2017 – Comedy, Drama, Animation 120 min.
Seven recent short films are in competition for audience favorite. They are: “The Line,” “At My Home,” “Pipinara,” “Simposio Suino In Re Minore,” “Crosstitch Road,” “The Fisherman,” and “Little Italian Girls.”
Saturday, April 14
Saturday, April 14 (University of Michigan, Lorch Hall Askwith Auditorium, 611 Tappan St., Ann Arbor)
5:00 p.m. “Worldly Girl”
2016 – Director, Marco Danieli, Drama, 101 min.
When Giulia meets Libero, she discovers there is another destiny awaiting her--one she can choose for herself.
7:30 p.m. “The Sense of Beauty”
2017 – Director, Valerio Jalongo, Documentary, 75 min.
In celebration of the ‘Day of Italian Researchers’, a fascinating documentary about the beauty found in research at CERN.
Friday, April 20
Friday, April 20 (Chippewa Valley High School, Henrichsen Auditorium, 18300 19 Mile Rd., Clinton Township)
7:00 p.m. “Easy”
2017 – Director, Andrea Magnani, Comedy, 91 min.
An overweight, former race car driver is offered an “easy” job: drive a coffin to Ukraine. Can he do it? *Special appearance by director Andrea Magnani
Saturday, April 21
Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 (Chippewa Valley High School, Henrichsen Auditorium, 18300 19 Mile Rd., Clinton Township)
5:00 p.m. “It’s All About Karma”
2017 – Director Edoardo Falcone, Comedy, 90 min.
A rich heir believes a con man is his reincarnated father. A surprising comedy about friendship!
7:30 p.m. “It’s The Law”
2017 - Director, Salvatore Ficarra and Valentino Picone, Comedy, 92 min.
After the election, will the citizens of a small Sicilian town be ready for a new age of legality and respect for the rules?
Sunday, April 22
Sunday, April 22 (Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Township)
2:00 p.m. Children’s Program – NEW this year!
A family-friendly program of 13 short films, geared toward an audience of children aged 6-12.
Friday, April 27
Closing weekend: Friday, April 27 (Detroit Institute of Arts’ Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit)
7:00 p.m. “Ears”
2016 - Director, Alessandro Aronadio, Comedy, 90 min.
A tragicomic day during which a man will suddenly experience the world’s folly: one of those life-changing days!
Saturday, April 28
Closing weekend: Saturday, April 28 (Detroit Institute of Arts’ Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit)
5:00 p.m. “The Last Prosecco”
2017, Director Antonio Padovan, Drama, 102 min.
A mystery unfolds in the hills of the Veneto region where Prosecco grapes are grown. *Special appearance by director Antonio Padovan and co-producer Alessia Gatti
7:30 p.m. “Cucinì”
2017, Director Ciro Fabbricino, Documentary, 54 min.
A journey into the flavors of the Neapolitan gastronomic traditions through the eyes and memory of five cooks. *Special appearance by director Ciro Fabbricino and producer Giosuè Silvestro
Sunday, April 29
Closing weekend: Sunday, April 29 (Detroit Institute of Arts’ Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit)
4:30 p.m. “Friends By Chance”
2017 - Director, Francesco Bruni, Drama, 106 min.
A young caregiver and his friends take an aging poet on a trip in search of a treasure, but find it in their own hearts.
All films will be shown in original language with English subtitles. Film trailers, cast and additional information are available at http://www.italianfilmfests.org/detroit.
The 2018 Italian Film Festival USA of Metro Detroit is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Minigrant program, administered by the Anton Art Center.
For more information about the Italian Film Festival USA of Metro Detroit, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit the festival's website http://www.italianfilmfests.org/detroit or call 248-917-2352.
Follow Italian Film Festival USA on Facebook at Facebook.com/Italian-Film-Festival-USA and on Twitter at @ItalianFilmFest.
Enjoy!
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