The tenth edition of Italy On Screen Today New York concluded with resounding success, reaffirming the festival’s central role in the 2026 Academy Awards campaign.
Under the artistic direction of Loredana Commonara, the initiative transformed Manhattan into a true international hub for Italian cinema, drawing extraordinary audiences, enthusiastic critical support, and a constant presence of members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
The festival opened with the exclusive screening of La Grazia, the new film by Academy Award winner Paolo Sorrentino, starring Toni Servillo, presented at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Robin Williams Theatre. A packed auditorium and an intense conversation between Servillo, AMPAS members, and the New York audience — moderated by film journalist Anne Katrin Titze — marked an event co-organized with the Consulate General of Italy in New York, launching a week dedicated to the excellence of contemporary Italian cinema.
During the discussion, Toni Servillo explored the depth of his character, highlighting its introspective nature: “The fascination of this character lies in his being a reserved President of the Republic with great moral and intellectual rigor, who, when faced with significant decisions, is tormented by constant doubt. Grace corresponds to the beauty of doubt up to the very last moment, because great decisions are the result of tormented reflection.”
Loredana Commonara, the festival’s artistic director, stated: “We are honored to have opened the tenth edition with such an exquisite work and with one of the most emblematic figures of Italian cinema,” emphasizing the symbolic and strategic significance of the event within the Oscar season.
Echoing her words, Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General of Italy in New York, added: “It was a privilege to host in New York the screenings of these wonderful films within the collaboration between the Consulate General of Italy and Italy On Screen Today New York. This event not only celebrates recent works by Italian filmmakers, but also marks an important moment in the Academy Awards campaign, confirming New York’s role as an essential showcase for Italian cultural excellence.”
In the days that followed, the festival scored two additional major successes: Familia by Francesco Costabile — selected to represent Italy at the 2026 Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category and currently in the running for the shortlist — for which the festival launched the Oscars campaign in New York; and Sotto le Nuvole by Gianfranco Rosi, presented to Academy members and likewise competing for the Documentary Feature shortlist to be announced on December 16, 2025. At the Quad Cinema, Sotto le Nuvole received a prolonged standing ovation and captivated an incredibly engaged audience.
In the ensuing Q&A, Rosi discussed the film’s construction, work on sound, and his portrayal of a Naples that is “suspended, complex, and irreducible.” Speaking about the city, Rosi said: “Naples is a place of complexity: judgment, love, contradictions. A city with three thousand years of history, always suspended between present, past, and a possible future. A city living in suspended time. For me it was essential to tell what is not seen — what exists off-screen. The off-screen is fundamental: a film must contain what I did not film but lived. Everything outside the frame is almost more important than what is visible.”
An equally emotional evening greeted Familia at the Bryant Park Hotel, where the New York audience was deeply touched by the film’s exploration of gender-based violence. Costabile described the film as “an experience that transforms an individual story into a collective wound. Through this film, it is possible to understand violence, experience it from the inside, and gain awareness. Especially with psychological violence, it is crucial to recognize that sometimes we are unconscious victims.” A long final applause, accompanied by many Academy members, sealed another crucial night for the Oscars campaign. The Q&A sessions were moderated by journalist Silvia Bizio. The festival’s concluding phase confirmed the extraordinary nature of this edition with two highly anticipated events.
At Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò (NYU), the audience celebrated the 25th anniversary of Marco Tullio Giordana’s I Cento Passi with an overwhelmingly warm reception for the extraordinary Luigi Lo Cascio. “Even after 25 years, I still remember the image and the words of Peppino Impastato’s mother, Felicia, who said to me: You don’t resemble him in your face at all, but in that small, agile body, you are exactly like Peppino. And for me the body is important, because I was not allowed to bury it. They tore him apart.” His dialogue with Stefano Albertini (NYU) offered profound reflections on Peppino Impastato and the film’s enduring civic legacy, culminating in a standing ovation reaffirming its timeless power. Actor Mark Ruffalo — newly nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Series for HBO’s Task — was visibly moved in the audience: “WatchingI Cento Passifor the first time moved me deeply. I loved Luigi Lo Cascio’s performance.”
The edition concluded at Lincoln Center with the New York premiere of Tre Ciotole, a film that has touched audiences worldwide and features the extraordinary performances of Alba Rohrwacher and Elio Germano. Based on the novel by Michela Murgia and directed by Isabel Coixet, the film achieved yet another sold out screening, with a long line of spectators eager to attend.
The director, joined by actress Sarita Choudhury and Alessandro Giammei (Yale University), curator of Murgia’s literary legacy, spoke about the delicacy involved in adapting the novel, addressing themes of loss, fragility, and rebirth in a conversation moderated by Stefano Albertini (New York University). Coixet also emphasized the many extraordinary coincidences during filming, such as the protagonist’s house being identical to that of Michela Murgia’s closest friend.
“This year we supported three films in the running for the Academy Awards —La Grazia, Sotto le Nuvole, and Familia— and celebrated two works that represent the profound identity of our country: I Cento Passi and Tre Ciotole. I wish to thank our guests, the institutions supporting us, and my team,” stated Loredana Commonara.
The festival also featured other notable titles, including Le Assaggiatrici by Silvio Soldini, and remains the first and only festival in New York to include TV series in its program. Among the series presented were Valeria Golino’s L’Arte della Gioia and Billie August’s Il Conte di Montecristo. The evenings welcomed an exceptional lineup of celebrities and international guests including MARK RUFFALO, EMILY MORTIMER, DOLLY WELLS, journalist and activist AMY GOODMAN, producer JOSHUA ASTRACHAN, award-winning Indian costume designer ARJUN BAHASIN, writer JOAN JULIET BUCK, singer-songwriter DEBBY HARRY, and actor and director ANDREW MACCARTHY.
The enthusiasm of New York audiences, the sustained presence of Academy members, and the high quality of the programming confirm the vitality of contemporary Italian cinema and the importance of this festival as a cultural bridge. With record attendance, critically acclaimed films, TV series, and an international filmmaking community gathered in Manhattan, the tenth edition of Italy On Screen Today New York stands as one of the most significant in its history, further strengthening the city’s role as an essential crossroads for Italy’s Oscars journey.
Italy On Screen Today New York – Film & TV Series Fest is made possible thanks to the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture – Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual, the Consulate General of Italy in New York, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò – New York University, and under the Patronage of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York.
For the tenth consecutive edition, the festival collaborates with Italy for Movies (www.italyformovies.com), the portal for Italian locations and financial incentives managed by Cinecittà in collaboration with Italian Film Commissions and coordinated by the Ministry of Culture’s Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual. The portal — also available as an app — provides essential information on filming locations and financing opportunities for productions wishing to shoot in Italy, along with industry news, background insights, and itinerary suggestions for movie lovers wanting to visit shooting locations.
