After canceling the 2020 season because of the pandemic, SIFF Cinema Italian Style returned to Seattle for a week in early November, showcasing 13 films to celebrate the festival’s 13^th season. “Seattle loves this festival,” declared SIFF’s Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “And it’s no wonder: these films are passionate, heartbreaking, funny, inspiring, and thought-provoking. They’re 13 wonderful ways to celebrate the festival’s 13th year.”

This year, all films were shown at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian on Capitol Hill. In addition, eight films could be viewed on the SIFF Channel, its online streaming portal. Because international travel was still iffy, veteran SIFF programmer Angelo Acerbi arranged for pre-recorded Q&A sessions with three of the directors — Leonardo di Costanzo (The Inner Cage),  Stefano Sardo (With or Without You), and Alessandro Gassmann (The Great Silence) – to air after each film was screened.