Saturday, March 1 at 11:00am • Q&A with visiting screenwriter/director Francesco Bruni

One of Italy’s most important, beautiful yet widely unknown films of the 1960s and a fascinating, multi-layered portrait of Italian society during those years, “Io la conoscevo bene” immerses the audience in the vibrant world of Rome, echoing the atmosphere of “La Dolce Vita”, while offering a critical, incisive perspective on the culture of fame and sexual politics in Italy at the time.

Saturday, March 1 at 2:00pm • Q&A with Director Francesco Costabile, Connecting Live From Italy

Based on an autobiographical account, “Familia” tells the story of Gigi, a young man in early 2000s Rome grappling with the legacy of his abusive, imprisoned father. Living with his mother (Babara Ronchi, winner of the David di Donatello for Best Actress in 2022) and brother, Gigi seeks refuge in a fascist gang, where his anger is nurtured. When his father returns, the cycle of violence reignites. This gripping film, with strong performances and evocative cinematography, premiered in the Orizzonti section of the 2024 Venice International Film Festival.

Saturday, March 1 at 5:00pm • Q&A with IFF’s Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano

Co-written with Anna Pavignano, the film marks Troisi’s remarkable debut both in film directing and acting. It offers a charming, witty, and poignant look at the life of Gaetano, a shy, introspective young man from Naples, who is yearning to escape the suffocating provincialism of his family and the monotony of his factory job. The plot unfolds as Gaetano decides to leave his southern-Italian city for what he believes to be a more modern and cosmopolitan city: Florence. In search of a new life, a fresh start and, in general, filled with a young man’s desire to explore the world (for crying out loud, don’t anyone dare call him an “emigrante”!), Gaetano is about to grow up and discover love for the first time.

Saturday, March 1 at 7:30pm • Q&A with visiting Actor Vinicio Marchioni

The most successful film in Italy in 2023, the 10th highest-grossing film in the country of all time, the highest-grossing film ever directed by an Italian woman, winner of 6 David di Donatello awards (including Best New Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay), Paola Cortellesi’s tragic and funny first feature “C’è ancora domani” is set in 1940s Rome. The film tells the story of Delia, a struggling working-class wife and mother, who endures physical and psychological abuse from her husband, while trying to create a better future for her children, particularly her teenage daughter. The film's black-and-white and themes consciously and playfully pay tribute to Italian Neorealist Cinema.