Italian cinema has landed in Los Angeles, thanks to Italian Screens, with four screenings of three of the films nominated for the 2022 David di Donatello Awards and which, within the different categories, won major awards: Ariaferma by Leonardo di Costanzo, Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti, Qui rido io by Mario Martone.
Italian Screens is an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), Cinecittà for the Directorate General of Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC) and Accademia del Cinema Italiano - Premi David di Donatello.
The festival in Los Angeles is organised by ITTV Forum & Festival in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute and under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles.
For the Los Angeles leg, from October 31 to November 2, two different locations ― Hollywood's Soho House and USC's Norris Cinema Theatre ― have been chosen to offer screenings of Italian the titles. The choice of dates, in conjunction with the American Film Market, was strategic.
"It is a project ― comments Roberto Stabile, Head of Special Projects of the DGCA of the MiC at Cinecittà ― strongly desired by the DGCA of the MiC and entrusted to Cinecittà that finally makes the sometimes abused concept of ‘working as a system’ a reality, and makes the oft-cited ‘cultural diplomacy’ a reality.
“In parallel, we will excecute ‘business-minded’ moments, combining cultural promotion with a more commercial one.”
Italian Screens, which after Los Angeles will arrive in Sao Paulo and Berlin, is a fundamental opportunity to introduce the protagonists of Italian cinema abroad, but also to present to local operators the best of what the Italian audiovisual system has to offer in order to encourage co-productions, the growth of the professional quality of the industry, and the internationalisation of Italian cinema.
