The 9th Annual Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis and St. Paul launches with the Italian Cultural Center's celebrated Opening Night party and auction at the Minneapolis Event Center, just one block behind the St. Anthony Main Theatre, connected by a skyway. The fun begins at 6:00pm, followed at 8:30pm by the local premiere of Quo vado?
Opening Night Party
Our opening night party celebrates the vision of Spaghetti Western director Sergio Leone! Guests are invited to enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks while bidding on unique items at our annual live auction, hosted by WCCO-TV news anchor Frank Vascellaro. The music of Ennio Morricone is provided by local band Colt in the Hand of the Devil. All proceeds from this event benefit the Italian Cultural Center.
Opening Night Film
Moderator: Graeme Stout is a Senior Lecturer and Film Studies Coordinator at the University of Minnesota. His teaching and research focus on the nature, deployment, and transformation of power in the modern age and the relationship of aesthetic form to social consciousness
The biggest box office smash in Italian history finally makes its way to Minnesota!
Checco Zalone (played by Checco Zalone!) is a humble civil servant, grateful for having achieved posto fisso—a permanent, guaranteed job in government for life. But to his utter dismay, a new reformist politician is voted in, and she vows to eliminate Checco's prized position!
When buying him out proves impossible, the new government official, Mrs. Sironi (Sonia Bergamasco), decides to place Checco into the most hellish jobs imaginable, in the hopes of forcing him to accept retirement. From the heat of South Africa to the frigid wastelands of the Arctic, is there anything that will wear down the resilient Checco?
Starring Checco Zalone, one of Italy's most beloved and versatile entertainers, Quo vado? is a critically acclaimed and hilarious comedy that has broken box office records, surprising everyone by becoming the highest grossing film in Italian history.
Press
"A phenomenon in the history of the Italian box office!" — La Stampa
Sponsored By
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JOAN AND RICK NAYMARK |
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ANDREA & VITTORIO RAIMONDI |
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PARTNERSHIPS
An array of special screenings and related events presented in collaboration with numerous arts organizations, social and human services agencies, international groups, businesses, educational institutions, interest groups and individuals.
Browse Partnership films