This is the eighth year of collaborations between the Italian Cultural Institute in Sydney and the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
This year’s collaboration is called: ‘Another Italy: stories, relationships and emotions in Italian cinemas at the beginning of the millennium”.
The director of the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Craig Donarski, noted that the Italian community in Liverpool is integral to the rich local culture.
“I often think that the first bridges between cultures are built from food, film, music and the arts, and I think this is particularly true for the Italian community,” he said.
“Australia wouldn’t be the great multicultural society that it has become without their influence in all of these areas.
“It is only fitting that at Casula Powerhouse we continue to celebrate and promote all aspects of Italian culture.”
The 2022 program includes: La kryptonite nella borsa by Ivan Cotroneo, L’intervallo by Leonardo Di Costanzo , Gli equilibristi I by Ivano Di Matteo, Le cose belle by Agostino Ferrante and Giovanni Piperno, Corpo celeste by Alice Rohrwacher, Un giorno speciale by Francesca Comencini, La felicità e un sistema complesso by Gianni Zanasi.
The first film in the lineup, La Kryptonite Nella Borsa, is a comedy that was released in 2011.
The film follows protagonist Peppino, who navigates the fallout from his father’s affair while dealing with his best friend’s death.
The films will be presented by several hosts, including Cristiana Palmieri, Federico Spoletti and Angela Prudenzi.
Palmieri works in the Department of Italian Studies, at the School of Languages and Cultures, at the University of Sydney.
Passionate about cinema, she has worked as a film critic and journalist for FRED Film Radio for the past 12 years , an online radio that covers film and cinema festivals globally, in 25 languages.
“After the success of last year’s program, I was excited to bring Spoletti and Prudenzi on board,” Palmieri said.
“Prudensi worked on selecting the films for the program, while Spoletti is involved in their presentations.
“Both Spoletti and I will be interviewing the directors and filmmakers for prerecorded segments that will give audiences some context before they watch the films.
“I’m so excited to have this opportunity to promote Italian cinema in Australia.”
Spoletti is an entrepreneur, journalist and film buff who has been active in the film industry for the past 20 years.
He is the co-founder and CEO of SUB-TI, an international film subtitling company based in London.
In 2011, Spoletti launched FRED FILM Radio – The Festival Insider.
Prudenzi is an Italian film journalist, writer, producer, event organiser and educator on the Selection Committee of the Venice International Film Festival.
A member of the National Union of Italian Film Critics, she regularly collaborates with prestigious newspapers such as Rivista del Cinematografo, Les Cahiers Du Cinéma, Cinecritica and Close Up, and she also lectures at the Sapienza University of Rome.
The first film in the line up will be screened on April 1 at the Casula Powerhouse, alongside a musical performance from Gaetano Bonfante and quirky Italo-lounge DJ sets from Jay Katz & Miss Death.
Donarski noted that the 2022 program had expanded, acknowledging the contribution from the State Government.
“We are particularly delighted to have received additional funding from the NSW Government to expand and amplify our regular Italian Film Screening series with three special nights, on the first Friday of each month in April, May and June,” he said.
“We are adding live musical performances, DJs, projections and workshops to the free film screenings, to make our ongoing partnership with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura bigger, better and more bellissimo than ever!”
For more information or to book tickets, visit the website
