Friday, February 28 at 2:00pm • Q&A with visiting director Fabio Mollo

“Semidei” retraces half a century of history, exploring the story of the “Bronzi di Riace”, two ancient Greek statues discovered in 1972 off Calabria’s Ionian coast after 2,000 years underwater. Among the 20th century's most significant archaeological finds, they became a defining symbol for the small town of Riace. Blending archival footage with contemporary material, “Semidei” reflects on humanity’s past and future while paying heartfelt tribute to Calabria and its people. The Bronzes have entrusted them with a timeless message of peace, one that humanity needs now more than ever.

The documentary premiered at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival as part of the Giornate degli Autori, and IFF is honored to host its U.S. premiere.

Friday, February 28 at 6:00pm • Q&A with visiting screenwriter/director Francesco Bruni

Alessandro (Andrea Carpenzano), a young troublemaker, reluctantly becomes a companion to Giorgio (Giuliano Montaldo), an elderly poet with Alzheimer's. As they form a bond during their daily walks, Alessandro uncovers secrets from Giorgio’s past, leading to an unexpected adventure. Winner of two Nastri d’Argento awards for Best Screenplay (Francesco Bruni), Special Award (Giuliano Montaldo), and two David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor (Giuliano Montaldo) and the David Giovani award , this touching coming-of-age film blends humor and emotion, featuring unforgettable performances by Carpenzano and Montaldo. A little gem of recent Italian cinema, this film will move you deeply and bring a smile to your face.

Friday, February 28 at 8:30pm • Q&A with visiting screenwriter/director Francesco Bruni and Actor Vinicio Marchioni

The sequel to the 1996 Virzi’/Bruni box office hit film “Ferie d’agosto”, a groundbreaking comedy that stood out for its sharp portrayal of class, politics, and social identity in Italy during the 1990s,d “Un Altro Ferragosto” builds upon “Ferie d’agosto”’s foundation, offering a new perspective on the same group of people returning on the island 30 years later with new family members. The result is a stand alone, explosive, delightful, irresistible, biting, in depth, merciless, hysterically funny analysis of 2020’s Italy which brings together the most stellar cast of Italian actors of any other film of 2024 (Sabrina Ferilli, Silvio Orlando, Laura Morante and Christian De Sica, just to name a few).