The festival’s Showcase Film takes center stage on Saturday, at 2:00 PM with the screening of Gli Innocenti (The Innocents of Florence), a riveting and beautifully filmed documentary that tells the little-known story of the forgotten children of Florence and the women who saved them with the establishment of Europe’s first children’s hospital and orphanage in 1445. Saturday evening, treats the audience to a spy comedy, Ma cosa ci dice il cervello (Don’t Stop Me Now), teeming with laughs and international intrigue.

The festival close on Sunday is all about food. It begins at 3:00 PM at the Hiland Theater with Quanto Basta (As Needed), a heartwarming dramedy about a renowned chef and his young protégé who suffers from Asperger’s. The film is followed by the final dinner where, once again, Italian Meets Greek at festival title sponsor Nick & Jimmy’s Restaurant featuring a Mediterranean inspired dinner, wine and live music.

Festival 2021 welcomes two new title sponsors, the Garcia Alfa Romeo dealership, as well as long-time festival supporters and donors, Carl and Linda Alongi. The Garcias and Alongis join Nick & Jimmy’s Restaurant in supporting the festival with sponsorships valued at $5000.

The NM Italian Film & Culture Festival is a unique cultural offering on many levels, but its centerpiece is always film. Italian cinema has had a major influence on the film industry worldwide. Italian filmmakers are gifted storytellers who continue to expose audiences to a broad range of genres, trends, and social commentary, and who remain at the forefront of global cinematic art. The festival showcases the very best of contemporary Italian filmmaking.

The festival is a fundraising benefit for the children served by the state’s premier youth development organization, NDI New Mexico. “We’re passionate about celebrating Italian cinema and culture in New Mexico and proud to have raised nearly $350,000 for children’s causes through our festivals”, notes festival Director, Dan Puccetti.

FILMS AND DESCRIPTIONS

Criminali a domicilio (Bob and Marys) 2018 Crime Comedy / True Crime – Italian Style! The criminal practice known as accùppatura forces innocent homeowners to warehouse illegal merchandise for gangsters. In this dark comedy based on real events, Bob and Mary become victims of accùppatura, and boldly take the matter into their own hands. Tuesday, October 12, 6:45P – The Hiland Theater

Metti la nonna in freezer (Put Grandma in the Freezer) 2018 Black Comedy / A rollicking, irreverent spoof-tale of money and love Is it okay to cheat the system if the system is cheating you? Claudia decides “Yes!” and sets off a crazy chain of events that includes a little romance and a lot of laughs. Wednesday, October 13 7:00P – The Hiland Theater

Una storia senza nome (The Stolen Caravaggio) 2018 Drama / A visually rich and intriguing mystery thriller Valeria is a ghost-screenwriter for an uninspired filmmaker. A mysterious stranger’s gift of a plot based on the Mafia’s 1969 heist of Caravaggio’s painting (La Nativita`) from a church in Palermo triggers engaging intrigue. Thursday, October 14 7:00P – The Hiland Theater

10 giorni senza mamma (When Mom Is Away) 2019 Comedy / Italy’s hilarious 2019 runaway box-office hit See what happens when a tired and stressed-out mother takes ten days of R & R , leaving the three children with a father who was practically absent until then. Prepare to laugh! Friday, October 15, 6:45P – The Hiland Theater

Gli innocenti (The Innocents of Florence) 2019 Documentary FESTIVAL SHOWCASE FILM Two art restoration specialists begin work on the mysterious 600 year-old painting, Madonna of the Innocents, and uncover the little-known story of Florence’s forgotten children and the women who saved them. This riveting documentary explores art, motherhood, Florentine humanism, and how a progressive-thinking Renaissance society created the first hospital in the world dedicated to caring for children. Saturday, October 16, 2:00P – The Hiland Theater

Ma cosa ci dice il cervello (Don’t Stop Me Now) 2019 Spy Comedy / International intrigue and a mission of revenge for the “Fantastic Five” Secret agent, Giovanna, uses her professional training and skills to champion her old high school friends as she embarks on a mission to avenge their grievances. A “moral comedy”, this film holds hearty laughs and a superb performance by Paola Cortellesi. Saturday, October 16 7:00P – The Hiland Theater

Quanto basta (As Needed) 2018 Drama/Comedy / "A simple and delicious comedy, like a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce" (nonsolocinema.com) Follow Arturo – an acclaimed chef who has done prison time for anger management issues – and Guido – his talented, young protégé` who suffers from Asperger’s – as their improbable friendship unfolds when they team up for a major culinary competition in Tuscany. Sunday, October 17, 3:00P – The Hiland Theater

Full Schedule and Tickets at www.italianfestivalsnm.org