The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis - St. Paul, in partnership with MSP Film Society, is thrilled to present the 16th Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis - St. Paul (IFF), taking place at The Main Cinema from February 27 through March 2, 2025. This year's lineup, while still being finalized, promises an extraordinary celebration of Italian cinema, featuring some of the best contemporary films alongside timeless classics.

Don't wait to secure your spot! Festival passes are now available, granting access to all festival screenings and events, including to special advance showings of the highly anticipated film Vermiglio by Maura Delpero, which will start in late January or early February ahead of the festival. Please note that access to these advance showings will be limited, so be sure to secure your pass early to guarantee your spot.

Schedule of Events:

Semidei (Flesh and Bronze)

Semidei, directed by Fabio Mollo and Alessandra Cataleta, is a captivating documentary that traces half a century of history, focusing on the enigmatic "Bronzi di Riace", two ancient Greek statues discovered in 1972 off the Ionian coast of Calabria, after 2,000 years underwater. These statues, among the 20th century's most significant archaeological finds, became a defining symbol for the small town of Riace.

Blending archival footage with contemporary interviews, Semidei offers a powerful exploration of humanity's past, present, and future. Drawing on the words of philosopher Georges Didi-Huberman, who suggests that unconscious desires are those of a future we have yet to understand, the film raises the question: can we glimpse the future by looking at two statues that are 2,500 years old? By mixing past and present, Semidei creates a continuous narrative, spanning millennia, while contemplating the future, a future that, more than ever, feels uncertain.

A love letter to Calabria and its people, Semidei underscores the importance of preserving the Bronzes and the message they represent for humanity today. 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.

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Tutto quello che vuoi (Friends by Chance)

An aimless young troublemaker, Alessandro (Andrea Carpenzano), squanders his days gambling and getting into fights, and he often spends his nights in jail. With few prospects, he begrudgingly accepts a job as a companion to Giorgio (Giuliano Montaldo), an elderly poet suffering from Alzheimer's. On their daily walks, the two banter and become friends, and Alessandro quickly learns more about this forgotten poet as the old man's memory drifts. After learning a secret from Giorgio's past, Alessandro and his friends work to uncover the mystery of this tale, an unexpected history lesson and a touching coming-of-age 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 Andrea Carpenzano and Giuliano Montaldo, himself one of Italy's greatest directors of the 1960s.

IFF is honored to bring this little gem of Italian cinema once more to the screen in Minnesota, and highlight the incredible work of visiting director Francesco Bruni.

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Un altro ferragosto (Another Summer Holiday)

The sequel to 1996 film Ferie d'agosto, it revisits the island of Ventotene and its characters in a follow-up that reflects the passage of time and changing societal dynamics. The original film was a groundbreaking comedy that stood out for its sharp portrayal of class, politics, and social identity in Italy during the 1990s. It became emblematic of Paolo Virzì's distinctive filmmaking style, blending humor with keen observations on Italian society, and it sealed the director's writing collaboration with his long time friend Francesco Bruni.

Un altro Ferragosto builds upon this foundation, offering a new perspective on the same group of people and exploring how they have evolved or how the political landscape has shifted over the decades. It also serves as a continuation of the personal stories, reflecting the ways in which the characters' relationships and worldviews have changed since the original film. By returning to the setting of Ventotene, Virzì connects the past and the present, providing both a nostalgic revisit for fans of the first film and a fresh exploration of Italian society through the lens of his distinctive comedic style.

In short, it is not necessary to have seen Ferie d'agosto to fully enjoy Un altro Ferragosto!

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