Tampa’s first Italian Film Festival, Vivere All ’Italiana: Italian Film, will be premiering at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts this weekend. The TECO Theater will host three films on Saturday and three on Sunday. It is curated by Dr. Patrizia La Trecchia, an associate professor for the University of South Florida and director of the USF Italian program, in conjunction with the Consulate General of Italy in Florida

“I’ve always wanted to create an Italian Film Festival because I came here, I saw Tampa, an upcoming thriving city, and I wanted to make a contribution and there was never an opportunity. I accidentally bumped in to Judy Lisi (Chief Executive Officer) from Straz and it just clicked,” said La Trecchia.