Nov 20, 2013
SFFILM
New Italian Cinema, presented by the San Francisco Film Society; New Italian Cinema Events of Florence, Italy; the Consulate General of Italy, San Francisco; and the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco wrapped up a five-day run dedicated to celebrating the rich cinematic tradition of Italy and bringing the country’s newest directors and films to audiences in San Francisco. At a special Closing Night presentation, Edoardo Leo’s Out of the Blue (Buongiorno papa) was selected to receive the NICE City of Florence Award.
The NICE City of Florence Award was decided by audience ballots from San Francisco screenings of films in competition and announced at the Closing Night award ceremony Sunday, November 17 by Rod Armstrong of the Film Society and Viviana del Bianco and Grazia Santini of New Italian Cinema Events.
This year’s New Italian Cinema was bookended by in-person appearances by notable Italian filmmakers Silvio Soldini (Garibaldi’s Lovers) and Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty), and featured a competitive series of eight feature films by emerging directors and a three-film spotlight on Neapolitan cinema. Landmark’s Clay Theatre was filled to the rafters for the sold-out Closing Night presentation of Sorrentino’s latest, followed by a lively Q&A with the director and an exclusive reception at 1300 on Fillmore.
New Italian Cinema is a key local element in the Italian Ministry of Culture’s Year of Italian Culture in the United States, which has featured more than 200 events in more than 50 cities throughout the country in 2013. With a focus on research, discovery and innovation, “Italy in U.S. 2013” seeks to celebrate the influence of Italian culture on countless aspects of art and science, both throughout history and with an eye to the future. For more information visit italyinus2013.org.
For the fifth year, the Film Society’s Youth Education program teamed up with filmmaker guests in town for New Italian Cinema to arrange school visits and cultural enrichment opportunities for local high school students. Silvio Soldini (director of Garibaldi’s Lovers), and Stefano Mordini (director of Steel) made visits to Italian classes at San Francisco School of the Arts and Lowell High School to discuss their craft-mostly in Italian-with many students.
New Italian Cinema is presented in collaboration with New Italian Cinema Events (nicefestival.org) and Italian Cultural Institute, San Francisco under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy and with sponsorship from Comune di Firenze; Fondazione Sistema Toscana; Ministero dei Beni Culturali; Regiona Toscana; special support provided by John and Karen Diefenbach and John and Romana Bracco; and media sponsors The Bold Italic, SF Weekly, San Francisco Bay Guardian and San Francisco Examiner. The Closing Night Party was supported by 1300 on Fillmore and wine sponsors Barefoot Wine and Bubbly and Siena Imports.