Sunday, March 2 at 11:15am • Q&A with IFF’s Artistic Director Tommaso Cammarano

Based on true events, “Il Postino” follows Mario (Massimo Troisi), a shy postman who forms a transformative bond with exiled poet Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret) on a small Italian island (namely Salina, one of Sicily’s Eaolian Islands). As Mario learns Neruda’s secrets, the poet helps him win the heart of Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) and inspires him to see his life through a more poetic lens. Nominated for five Academy Awards, “Il Postino” is a timeless masterpiece that showcases Troisi’s exceptional, heartbreaking, poetic comedic genius.

Sunday, March 2 at 2:30pm

Six half-siblings gather for the first time after the death of their estranged father, Manfredi Alicante. They reunite in the family home, briefly embracing the hope of becoming a united family. However, each of them carries a unique history and identity, and reviving the past may prove to be far more challenging than they ever imagined. “Sei Fratelli” speaks to everyone and is about everyone, balancing heartfelt moments with touches of humor that illuminate the complexities of family. The “dreamy” cast is composed by some of the most talented Italian actors presently in the industry.

Sunday, March 2 at 4:30pm

“El Paraiso” explores the complex bond between Julio-Cesar, a driftless 40-year-old, and his Colombian mother, who entered Italy as a pregnant drug mule. Living intertwined lives on the fringes of society, they work in the shadow of the drug trade. When a young Colombian woman arrives, their fragile world unravels, forcing Julio-Cesar to confront his identity, independence, and ties to a homeland he’s never known. “El Paraiso” has earned widespread critical acclaim as well as a number of prestigious awards, including Best Screenplay and Best Actress for Margarita Rosa De Francisco’s astounding performance at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival’s Orizzonti section.

Sunday, March 2 at 7:30pm

Imagine the pop music of today, born in the year 1800! In a convent outside Venice, Teresa, a young scullery maid who dreams of music far ahead of its time, joins forces with the convent’s female musicians to envision a brighter, freer world for women through the power of music.

Don’t miss the original, uplifting, exhilarating, empowering feature film debut of Margherita Vicario that we have no doubt will help us close this year’s festival with a pretty loud, wonderfully composed and orchestrated bang!