Ciao, Charleston. The Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival is back for the 16th year.
The festival partners with the College of Charleston to bring a celebration of contemporary Italian cinema and culture to the city. This year's event featuring 13 films is Nov. 10-13 at the Queen Street Playhouse downtown.
There will be presentations by special guests from Italy and a variety of related events. All films are in Italian with English subtitles.
Giovanna De Luca, professor of Italian and film at the college and artistic director of the festival, said there will be a wide range of films featured, including comedies, dramas and documentaries.
“We will have guest artists from Italy, live performances and students assisting with the programs and interacting with the filmmakers," she said. "I'm thrilled we can share with Charleston audiences these critically acclaimed and award-winning movies, all recent releases, including ‘Nostalgia’ by Mario Martone, which will represent Italy at the 2023 Academy Awards as an entry in the International Feature Film Award category.”
Paolo Pierobon in "Welcome Venice" by Andrea Segre. True Colors/Provided
Highlights of the festival include “The Shadow of the Day,” a romantic drama set in Ascoli Piceno in the late-1930s, directed by Giuseppe Piccioni.
Andrea Segre will discuss his film “Welcome Venice,” which he presented at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival. The film is about two Venetian brothers who confront the challenges of the tourist industry.
The festival also will offer the documentary “Ennio” by Giuseppe Tornatore that celebrates the life of the legendary composer Ennio Morricone. It will conclude with a performance of his songs by the Charleston Opera Theatre.
Support for the annual festival comes from the College of Charleston, Istituto Luce of Rome, Italian Cultural Institute of Washington D.C., Nathan and Marlene Addlestone Foundation, local and international businesses and organizations, and individual donors.
De Luca said the festival is a chance for Charleston area residents to experience another culture and explore a different type of filmmaking.
“For better or worse, Italian filmmakers don’t work within a Hollywood-like studio system. They don’t have big budgets or access to special effects. So their movies must rely on creative storytelling, interesting camera work and good acting," she said. "It’s this sort of moviemaking that reveals the true artist, no?”
Composer Ennio Morricone in "Ennio" by Giuseppe Tornatore. Piano B Produzioni/Provided
Tickets for each film cost $12 and are available via nuovocinemaitaliano.com/box-office/.
Students, faculty and staff with ID, regardless of institution, get in free. Tickets also will be sold at the box office on the days of the festival.
For a description of all the films featured at this year’s festival, and a chance to view movie trailers and read about the special guests, go to nuovocinemaitaliano.com. Follow the festival on Instagram @nuovocinemaiff or visit facebook.com/nuovocinemaiff.
