Cinema Made In Italy to honour the late Monica Vitti

CINEMA MADE IN ITALY is set to honour the late Monica Vitti at their upcoming festival, adding one of her most celebrated films to their programme. L’ECLISSE joins the festival’s line-up to pay tribute to Vitti following her death last week at the age of 90 and to celebrate her enormous influence on Italian cinema. A recipient of Venice Film Festival’s career Golden Lion award, Vitti first found recognition collaborating with renowned Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni in acclaimed films L’AVVENTURA and LA NOTTE, before achieving success in beloved comedies such as DRAMMA DELLA GELOSIA (The Pizza Triangle) and THE GIRL WITH THE PISTOL.

Dedicated to Monica Vitti, L’ECLISSE will receive multiple showings during the 5-day long festival where film fans can enjoy the unique talent of an Italian screen legend. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at 1962’s Cannes Film Festival, Michelangelo Antonioni’s captivating black-and-white classic boasts a mesmerising performance from Vitti in this modern romance masterpiece.

Another new addition to this exciting programme is Pier Paolo Pasolini’s TEOREMA, as CINEMA MADE IN ITALY looks to mark the 100th anniversary of the famed Italian director’s birth. TEOREMA was Pasolini’s sixth film, but his first time working with professional actors, including Terence Stamp, Silvana Mangano and Massimo Girotti. The film won a special award at the Venice Film Festival from the International Catholic Film Office, only for the award to be withdrawn by the Vatican protested due to the sexual content in the film.

News of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s still unsolved murder rocked Italy in 1975, cutting short a life and career that refused to conform to the status quo. A director, poet, writer, actor and political figure, Pasolini is perhaps best known for his 1961 directorial debut ACCATTONE and his wildly popular ‘Trilogy of Life’ film series. A notoriously controversial personality, Pasolini endeavoured to challenge and question norms, an attitude reflected in some of his finest contributions to world cinema.

As previously announced, CINEMA MADE IN ITALY returns to its home at the Ciné Lumière, South Kensington from 3rd – 7th of March. The rich and diverse programme includes Nanni Moretti’s THREE FLOORS that will open the festival, attended by stars Alba Rohrwacher (The Lost Daughter) and Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2). Screening the following day is CALIFORNIE attended by co-director Alessandro Cassigoli and FREAKS OUT will be presented by director Gabriele Mainetti later that evening. On Saturday co-director of FUTURA Francesco Munzi will be in attendance as well as Laura Bispuri for her film THE PEACOCK’S PARADISE. Actors Swamy Rotolo and Grecia Rotolo will be travelling to London for their screening of A CHIARA which will be followed by THE TALE OF KING CRAB attended by director Matteo Zoppis. On the last day of the festival Andrea Segre will present his film WELCOME VENICE and finally COMEDIANS will close the festival. Further talent attendance to be confirmed.

Italian cinema expert, Adrian Wootton OBE, is back at the helm hosting filmmakers to take part in filmmaker Q&A sessions throughout the festival with Co- director of Fright Fest and international film critic Alan Jones hosting on Saturday 5 March.

The full programme can be found below and tickets are available to purchase here.

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Filmmakers attending the festival and available for interview:

• Riccardo Scamarcio – THREE FLOORS
• Alba Rohrwacher – THREE FLOORS
• Alessandro Cassigoli – CALIFORNIE
• Gabriele Mainetti – FREAKS OUT
• Francesco Munzi – FUTURA
• Laura Bispuri – PEACOCK’S PARADISE
• Swamy Rotolo – A CHIARA
• Grecia Rotolo – A CHIARA
• Matteo Zoppis – THE TALE OF KING CRAB
• Andrea Segre – WELCOME VENICE

CINEMA MADE IN ITALY FULL FESTIVAL LINE UP

MONDAY 3 MARCH

8.00pm

THREE FLOORS (Tre piani)

Director: Nanni Moretti

UK distributor: Modern Films

A series of events will radically change the lives of the inhabitants of a Roman apartment building, revealing their difficulties in being parents, siblings or neighbours, in a world where coexistence seems to be ruled by fear and resentment. While the men are imprisoned by their obstinacy, the women, each in their own way, attempt to mend these fragmented lives to finally and serenely pass on a love that had been thought lost forever.

Released in UK cinemas on 18 March

TUESDAY 4 MARCH

6.15pm

CALIFORNIE

Directors: Alessandro Cassigoli, Casey Kauffman

The five-year journey of a young woman from Morocco who tries to fit in at a small town near Naples: her dreams, her disappointments and her loneliness.

8.20pm

FREAKS OUT

Director: Gabriele Mainetti

Rome, 1943: Matilde, Cencio, Fulvio and Mario are the main attractions of the “Mezza Piotta Circus” run by Israel, meanwhile someone start looking for the four freaks with a plan that could change the fate of the whole world.

SATURDAY 5 MARCH

1.45pm

THEOREM (1968)

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

An upstanding Italian household is shaken and stirred when a handsome stranger arrives at the doorstep. He seduces every family member and then disappears. Each has an epiphany of sorts, but no one knows who the mysterious man was or why he appeared.

Repeat screening on Monday 7 March at 8.35pm

3.50pm

FUTURA

UK distributor: Modern Films

Directors: Pietro Marcello, Francesco Munzi, Alice Rohrwacher

Futura is a truly collective work, where collectiveness is at the service of a whole project. It explores what boys and girls from 15 to 20 think about the future, through a series of interviews filmed during a long journey across Italy. It is a portrait of the country, as seen through the eyes of a group of teens who talk about the places they live in, their dreams, expectations, desires and fears.

6.20pm

THE PEACOCK’S PARADISE (IL PARADISO DEL PAVONE)

Director: Laura Bispuri

On a winter’s day, Nena brings her family together to celebrate her birthday. Everyone is there: her husband Umberto; her son Vito and his wife Adelina; her daughter Caterina and her ex-boyfriend Manfredi with his new girlfriend Joana; cousin Isabella; her housekeeper Lucia and her daughter Grazia; and Alma, her grand-daughter, the child of Vito and Adelina. And then there is Paco, Alma’s peacock. While waiting for a lunch that will never arrive, Paco falls in love with a little dove in a painting. An impossible love that shakes the whole family: everybody is pushed to reflect on their true feelings and on what remains and what is gone forever.

8.40pm

AMERICA LATINA

Director: Damiano D’Innocenzo, Fabio D’Innocenzo

Massimo Sisti is the proprietor of a dental surgery that bears his name. Professional, courteous and calm, he has attained everything he could have desired: a villa in a peaceful setting and a family he loves and that keeps him company as the days, the months, the years go past. His wife Alessandra and daughters Laura and Ilenia (the former a teenager, the latter not yet) are his raison d’être, his happiness, the reward for a life rooted in self-sacrifice and honesty. Then the unforeseen bursts into this imperturbable and calm springtime: on a day like any other Massimo goes down to the cellar and the absurd takes possession of his life.

SUNDAY 6 MARCH

2.00pm

L’ECLISSE

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

A young woman meets a vital young man, but their love affair is doomed because of the man’s materialistic nature.

Repeat screening on Monday 7 March at 6.00pm

4.45pm

A CHIARA

UK distributor: MUBI

Director: Jonas Carpignano

The Guerrasio family and their friends gather to celebrate Claudio and Carmela’s oldest daughter’s 18th birthday. There is a healthy rivalry between the birthday girl and her 16-year-old sister Chiara, as they compete on the dancefloor. It is a happy occasion, and the close-knit family is in top form. However, everything changes the next day when Claudio disappears. Chiara starts to investigate; as she gets closer to the truth, she is forced to decide what kind of future she wants for herself.

7.25pm

THE TALE OF KING CRAB (RE GRANCHIO)

Directors: Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis

Italy, nowadays. Some elderly hunters reminisce about the tale of Luciano together.

Late 19th century, Luciano lives as a wandering drunkard in the Tuscan countryside. His lifestyle and constant opposition to the despotic local prince have turned him into an outcast for the community. In an ultimate vengeful move to protect (from the lord) the woman he loves, Luciano commits the unforgivable. Now an unfortunate criminal, he is exiled to Tierra del Fuego.

There, with the help of ruthless gold diggers, he seeks a mythical treasure, paving his way towards redemption. Yet, little but greed and madness can grow on these barren lands.

MONDAY 7 MARCH

6:15pm

WELCOME VENICE

Director: Andrea Segre

Two brothers are in conflict over the way the Venetian lagoon has been transformed, and the identity of the city and its residents has drastically changed.

8.30pm

COMEDIANS

Director: Gabriele Salvatores

Theatrical adaptation: a group of aspiring comedians at a Manchester evening school reunite for their last rehearsal before performing for an agent from London.