The 24th edition of New Italian Cinema Events presents three days of free screenings of new and original Italian feature films from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8 at the Penn Museum, 3260 South St. From the festival’s inception, organizers have chosen cutting-edge, thought-provoking cinema that presents fresh perspectives on the issues of the day.

This year’s offerings range from dramatic films that tell stories of social distress, related to problems inherent in the world of crime and corruption, to more personal spheres such as adolescent and female growth, but also comedies that are played on the edge of an irony that highlights the social difficulties of today’s world and the various ways and styles of life.