Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival is proud to announce the 18th edition of the annual celebration of contemporary Italian cinema and culture. The 2024 event is set for Nov. 14-17 at the Queen Street Playhouse, 20 Queen St., downtown Charleston.
The festival will screen 13 feature films and documentaries, including Matteo Garrone’s magnificent “Io capitano,” a hero’s journey featuring two young cousins emigrating from Senegal; Edoardo De Angelis’ “Comandante,” a compelling drama that examines the conflict between wartime protocols and maritime ethics; and John Maggio’s documentary “Milano: The Inside Story of Italian Fashion.” Maggio will be among the special guests attending the festival.
Two movies with Jewish themes are “Rapito,” by Marco Bellocchio, which tells the true story of Edgardo Mortara a young Jew forcibly taken from his family and raised as a Christian; and “Terezin,” by Gabriele Guidi, a love story between musicians set in Prague during World War II.
Other highlights include:
- “Enea” by Pietro Castellitto, a story of two adventurers
- “Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples” by Trudie Styler
- “Marcello Mio” by Christophe Honoré, featuring Chiara Mastroianni
“As usual, the movies presented by Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival highlight contemporary life in Italy and pay tribute to its history and traditions,” Festival Founder and Artistic Director Giovanna De Luca said. “We are pleased to be able to screen the latest works by important directors such as Edoardo De Angelis, Matteo Garrone, and Alice Rohrwacher. The diversity of this year’s offerings is notable, with a terrific mix of drama, comedy and documentary.”
John Maggio will appear in person to discuss his movie “Milano,” and a fashion show will follow the screening at The Principle Gallery on Meeting Street. The fashion show is produced in partnership with M. Dumas & Sons.
Other special guests are:
- Actor Mauro Conte, who appears in “Terezin”
- Valentina Signorelli and Cecilia Zoppelletto, co-directors of the documentary “A.P. Giannini – Bank to the Future”
“Italian cinema is characterized by ingenuity and great storytelling,” De Luca said. “These movies demonstrate those qualities very well.”
Tickets cost $15 each. All screenings are general admission. Each ticket is valid for one person per screening. Go to adamp305.sg-host.com to purchase tickets. Students and veterans with ID pay $5 per ticket at the box office. Tickets will be sold at the theater during the festival.
Sponsors of the annual festival are Luce Cinecittà, Istituto Italiano di Cultura Miami, the Nathan and Marlene Addlestone Foundation, the Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation, the Alfred Olivetti Foundation, Farina Law Firm, Dante Alighieri Society Charleston, Thorne Heritage Resources, Lisa Mancini, and Dr. Ram Kalus.
Visit adamp305.sg-host.com to purchase a membership, make a charitable donation or sign up as a festival sponsor. Follow @nuovocinemaiff on Instagram or visit facebook.com/nuovocinemaiff.
Founded in 2006, Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival is the premier event of its kind in the United States, with 13 screenings, presentations by special guests from Italy and a variety of related events, all designed to promote Italian arts, language and culture.
