"We not only want to help these films find the right audiences, but also help them find more new audiences."
On March 7, Italian film scholar and Italian Artistic Director of the China-Italy Emerging Directors Project Marco Muller recommended Italian newcomer films at the opening ceremony of the "Italian Film Week: Emerging Directors Exhibition" held at the Grandview Cinema. The film curator, who has introduced several generations of Chinese filmmakers to the West, has also introduced Italian film history classics to movie fans at the Grandview Cinema. This time, he hopes that Chinese audiences can see the freshest creations of contemporary young Italian creators.
Event poster
The "New Directors Exhibition" will screen six films, including "There is Tomorrow", "Ode to the Lord", "Blue Summer Love", "Anytime, Anywhere", "Foolish Factory" and "Family Feud" at Shanghai Grand Cinema and Peace Cinema from March 7 to 16. All of them are excellent first or second feature films by new Italian directors. The directors of the first four films will attend each post-screening, hoping to interact with Shanghai audiences and share the charm of movies; the director of "Foolish Factory" will meet with the audience online. In addition, the screening event also specially presents two classic works of Italian film master Vittorio De Sica, "Italian Wedding" and "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow".
On the opening day, "There is Tomorrow" was released in mainland China. The film has a Douban score of 9.2 and is an Italian masterpiece that has gained international acclaim in recent years. Director and lead actress Paola Cortressi came to the opening ceremony to interact with the audience. Before the screening, she made an agreement with the audience, "Don't rush to catch the subway after the movie. I really want to communicate with you."
Mark Mueller (right) and Paula Kotler
As the representative of the emerging Italian directors, Paola said that although it was her first time directing a feature film, she had been working in the film industry for 30 years. This film, which looks back at the situation of Italian women of the previous generation, is a gift she hopes to give to her daughter, so that young girls today can understand that the rights they have today are the result of the struggles of several generations. The release of this film in China is particularly appropriate on the occasion of International Women's Day. At the same time, Paola also solemnly recommended the works of other younger Italian directors, hoping that everyone will pay attention to and support them. Mark Mueller commented that these works not only show the innovative spirit of Italian films, but also reflect the unique perspectives and artistic talents of emerging directors.
Event site
Teng Junjie, Chairman of the Shanghai Art Film Alliance and Chinese Artistic Director of the China-Italy Emerging Directors Program, introduced that the "China-Italy: Emerging Directors Project" will last for three years. Every March, Italian directors will be invited to Shanghai, and in September, Chinese directors will go to Italy for exchanges, with the goal of eventually creating a Sino-Italian co-production film.
During his stay in Shanghai, the Italian director will also hold relevant master classes and film forums at the Shanghai Film Academy of Shanghai University to share his creative experiences with colleagues and students, and promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Italian films.
The organizers said that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and China, and will also celebrate the 130th anniversary of the birth of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema. They hope that through this project, filmmakers from China and Italy can work together to promote the innovation and development of film art and contribute to the diversification of world cinema.
【Video Introduction】
Gloria! (2024)
Set in a girls' boarding school in Venice at the end of the 18th century, Margherita Vicario's feature directorial debut tells the story of Theresa, a young dreamer who, along with a small group of extraordinary musicians, crosses centuries to challenge the antiquated constraints of the ancien régime to create music that is rebellious, upbeat and modern - pop!
Familia (2024)
The second feature film directed by Francesco Costabile is a tense family drama. 20-year-old Luigi lives with his mother and brother. Ten years ago, their abusive father left home. In search of a sense of belonging, Luigi joins an extremist group, but his father's return complicates everything. Won the Best Actor Award in the Horizon Unit of the 81st Venice Film Festival.
Troppo Azzurro (2023)
In Filippo Barbagallo's feature debut, Dario is a sarcastic and chaotic student obsessed with the unattainable Laura. His friends are busy with relationships, so he plans to spend the summer alone in Rome. One night, after a minor cooking accident, he meets Caterina in the waiting room of the emergency room. They start dating, but Dario doesn't like surprises in life and he succeeds in screwing it up. However, fate does not let him go and puts him to another test, this time with his dream girl Laura. In this hot Roman summer, Dario's emotional and psychological confusion reaches its peak.
Anywhere, Anytime (2024)
Milad Townhill's debut feature film. Isa is a young undocumented immigrant struggling to survive in Italy's big city. Thanks to a friend who lends him an identity, he starts working as a rider. However, this fragile balance is disrupted when his bike is stolen. In his desperate search for his bike, Isa is drawn into a series of dramatic events.
Matrimonio all'italiana (1964)
A classic romantic comedy directed by Italian film master Vittorio De Sica. Playboy Dominic and beautiful civilian woman Filomena fall in love at first sight, but Dominic soon gets tired of her and Filomena tries her best to win him back. Later, Filomena has three children, and she tells Dominic that one of them is his own. The film won the 37th Academy Award for Best Actress (nominated) and the 38th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (nominated).
The Stupid Factory (Palazzina Laf 2023)
Michele Leondino's first feature film tells the story of the inside of a large factory in southern Italy. Palazzinaravé is a department of the ILVA steel plant in Taranto, Italy, which became the focus of a workplace bullying case, and the company was eventually found guilty. Won the 69th Italian David Award for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Original Song.
"Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" (Ieri, oggi, domani 1963)
Italian comedy film, directed by the famous director Vittorio De Sica, starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. The film is presented in a three-part structure, exploring the themes of love, desire and social morality through three independent stories. The film won the 37th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the 21st Golden Globe Award for Samuel Goldwyn.
There is Tomorrow (2023)
Paola Cortressi wrote, directed and acted in the film. In post-World War II Italy, in a poor family in Rome, after receiving a mysterious letter, Delia tried to break the traditional family model and longed for a different future. The film won six awards at the 69th Italian Film David Awards: Best New Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Young David Award and Audience Award.
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