Annual events and city festivals mark the holiday season and bring a familiar rhythm to autumn. There is one in particular event that Italian transplants, Italian-Americans and Italian culture lovers mark on the calendar come every November: “Cinema Italian Style” of SIFF, Seattle International Film Festival.
This will be the sixth year for the Italian section of SIFF and each year the program becomes stronger with a more diverse selection of films that fill a whole week of Italian features, documentaries and short films.
More then twenty films will be on shown on the cozy big screen at Uptown Cinema in Queen Ann, from Thursday November 13th to Thursday November 20th.
One of the great aspects of the Cinema Italian Style is the participation and interaction. This year six guests associated with the films, including select directors from Italy, will be on hand after their films to answer questions from the audience.
For the opening night film, Noi 4, by film director Francesco Bruni (well known screenwriter for Paolo Virzì films) will be featured.
Set in a beautiful sunny Rome, Noi 4, follows the four family members of a family in crisis, and Francesco Bruni doesn’t just show the drama from an outsider’s point of view, but instead tells the story from each character’s prospective. The film will be followed by a Opening Night Party in the Fireside Room at the Sorrento Hotel, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres by The Hunt Club and Bocelli Family Wines presented by August Wine Group.
The week will continue with an incredible selection of movies, here are a few of them: Smetto Quando Voglio, “I can quit whenever I want” by Sydney Sibilia, winner of the Italian Golden Globe for Best Comedy, screened on Friday, November 14th at 9PM and again on Wednesday November 19th at 9PM.
In grazia di Dio, Quiet Bliss, by Edoardo Winspeare, showing on Saturday November 15th at 1PM and Monday November 17th at 9PM. This film shot in Giuliano di Lecce, Salento, has the distinction of a cast of up in coming actors.
Piccola Patria, Small Homeland, by Alessandro Rossetto, on the screen on Saturday November 15th at 6.30PM, is set in Northeast of Italy and follows two young girls who live in a small town and their desire to explore the life far from home. The film has been selected at the Venice International Film Festival 2013, for the category “Orizzonti”.
Il giovane favoloso, Leopardi, by Mario Martone is one of the films that many are excited to see. Selected for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival, Leopardi cannot be missed on Sunday November 16th at 1PM.
Il Capitale Umano, Human Capital is another one of “must-see” films at the annual SIFF on Monday November 17th at 6.30PM.
Directed by Paolo Virzì, the film is based on the American novel Human Capital by Stephen Amidon. For her performance in the film Valeria Bruni Tedeschi was awarded Best Actress at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. It has also been selected as the Italian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards.
Anime nere, Black Souls by Francesco Munzi is scheduled on Tuesday November 18th at 6.30PM. The drama was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival and it is all set in the beautiful southern landscape of Calabria.
Le cose belle, Beautiful Things, is a splendid documentary about Naples and life in Naples, by Agostino Ferrente showing on Wednesday November 19th at 6.30 and on Thursday November 20th at 4PM.
Il Conformista, The Conformist, the 1970 political masterpiece directed by Bernardo Bertolucci will be featured in a restore version on Saturday, November 15th at 9PM.
There is no better way to close this amazing week of films than with Una Piccola Impresa Meridionale, A Small Southern Enterprise by Rocco Papaleo at 7PM of Thursday November 20th. Closing Night Party will follow at Osteria La Spiga in Capitol Hill to celebrate in style and appreciate another great annual Italian Film Festival in Seattle – toasting SIFF, the largest, most highly attended film festival in the United States.
For more info and tickets, visit http://www.siff.net/.
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