The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis / St. Paul is proud to announce the 13th edition of its annual Italian Film Festival (IFF) which will be held in a hybrid format this year. The festival will be held in-person as well as on-line, in collaboration with the MSP Film Society. IFF2022 will bring ten beautiful films to our Minnesota audience. Many are Minnesota premieres, two are US premieres and one is a World Premiere.

Here are a few highlights of the festival. We are thrilled to offer 4 in-person screenings on the big screen - all with COVID-19 safety precautions and reduced capacity - February 24-27, at the beautiful and historical St. Paul Landmark Center and extend the journey with online screenings throughout Sunday, March 6th.

The festival will open on Thursday, February 24th, in-person, with Il silenzio grande (The Great Silence) by Alessandro Gassmann, a poignant journey of self-discovery within a family that is as exceptional as it is dysfunctional. On Friday, February 25th, we are proud to bring to our audience the World Premiere of I Misteri (Mysteries) by Daniele Greco and Mauro Maugeri, a stunning documentary where we will discover ancient Sicilian traditions and rituals, either not well known or considered “dangerous” by modern standards. On Saturday, February 26th, we present Qui rido io (The King of Laughter), a biographical drama directed by Mario Martone. This screening represents the US premiere of this film; furthermore, we are honored to connect with Martone for a Q&A session on March 5.

In-person screenings continue on Sunday, February 27th with Antonioni's L'avventura (The Adventure), 1960 drama that pays homage to film icon Monica Vitti who just passed away. The day will close with Emma Dante’s gracious and powerful drama Le sorelle Macaluso (The Macaluso Sisters) which will immerse the viewers into the lives of four sisters, over a span of 70 years, whose world is turned upside-down by a sudden catastrophe.

Online screenings will extend the journey through the Italian landscapes and the lives of its people to our viewers at home. The not-to-be missed, powerful acting duel between accomplished pros Toni Servillo and Silvio Orlando in the tense prison drama Ariaferma (The Inner Cage) will take us to a remote corner of the island of Sardinia; The delightful comedy Io sono Babbo Natale (I am Santa Claus) will extend the magic of the Christmas season for the delight of all our audiences - young and old; I nostri fantasmi (Our Ghosts) and Una Relazione (With or Without You) will bring the heartwarming stories of love and friendship we all yearn.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of acclaimed director, poet, writer and intellectual Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1975), IFF2022 is honored to bring his first feature-lenght documentary Comizi d'amore (Love Meetings) with its humorous and unique look at sexual mores and taboos in early 1960's Italy. Prof. Francesca Cadel, will help us better understand Pasolini and his work during two virtual presentations on February 20th and 27th.

An important disclosure: Online access to the films is geo-restricted to viewers in Minnesota with a MN billing address required to purchase a ticket.

As with our previous editions of the Italian Film Festival, we remain fully committed to bringing top quality Italian cultural events and activities to our members, friends and followers. All films presented in Italian with English subtitles. Buona visione!