A new slate of 13 acclaimed contemporary Italian movies is on tap for Nov. 4-8 at the Queen Street Playhouse
Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival is proud to announce the 20th edition of the annual celebration of contemporary Italian cinema and culture. The 2026 event is set for Nov. 4-8 at the Queen Street Playhouse, 20 Queen St., downtown Charleston.
The festival will screen 13 feature films and documentaries over five days, including:
- The opening night comedy “Che Dio perdona a tutti” (“God forgives everyone”) about a disillusioned real estate agent in Sicily who falls in love with a beautiful – and religious – pastry chef.
- “Primavera,” a drama about a young violinist in 18th-century Venice who, mentored by Antonio Vivaldi, learned to free herself from an unwanted destiny.
- “La vita va cosi” (“Life Goes This Way”), a comedy about a stubborn old Sardinian man who refuses to sell his land.
- “La salita” (“The Climb”), a drama based on the true story of a theater workshop Neapolitan playwright Eduardo De Filippo organized at a juvenile detention center.
- The documentary “Brunello: The Gracious Visionary,” directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, about the philosopher-designer Brunello Cucinello, who built a luxury fashion empire.
The screening of “Brunello” at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, has inspired the festival to organize a special fashion show, set for 8:30 p.m. at the Queen Street Playhouse. The fashion show will feature high couture, models, music and a reception for festival members.
Another special event is a screening at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, of the Neapolitan episode of Roberto Rossellini’s Neorealist classic “Paisan,” starring African-American actor Dotts Johnson. After the screening, Dr. Luvada Harrison, associate professor of musical theater and voice at The University of Alabama, and a relative of Johnson, will discuss the life of the actor-musician and his experiences in Italy immediately following the end of World War II.
“I started this festival 20 years ago because Charleston-area residents and students lacked access to quality international cinema,” said founder and artistic director Giovanna De Luca. “Over the years, the festival has grown and become a cornerstone event on Charleston’s cultural calendar. It’s thrilling to reach our 20th year, a real milestone made possible because of our engaged members and dedicated team.”
Two movies with Jewish themes are “Elena’s War” by Stafano Casertano, which tells the true story of Elena Di Porto, a courageous and rebellious Jewish woman who defied the fascist regime and the Nazi occupation; and “La farfalla impazzita” by Enrico Rosati, the story of Giulia Spizzichino, a Roman Jew whose family members were killed by the Nazis in the Fosse Ardeatine massacre. These screenings are made possible thanks to longstanding support from the Nathan and Marlene Addlestone Foundation and the Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation.
“Once again, the festival is bringing Italian filmmakers to Charleston to discuss their work and engage with local audiences and students” De Luca said. “The combination of presenting the latest in Italian cinema along with the some of the people responsible for making it is a special honor for us, and a unique opportunity for our patrons.”
The festival will host several special guests this year:
- Domenico De Sole, chairman of Tom Ford International, former chairman of Sotheby’s, and former president and CEO of Gucci Group
- Valerio Ciriaci, director of “Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence”
- Stefano Caseretano, director of “Elena’s War”
- Alfredo Cossu, actor starring in “La Salita”
- Rino Pinto, producer of “La Salita”
- Gianluca Matarrese, director of “Il quieto vivere”
For a schedule of screenings, go to https://nuovocinemaitaliano.com/festival/schedule/.
The festival is a membership organization. Those who join, or renew, have access to all the screenings. Go to https://nuovocinemaitaliano.com/support/membership for information and to become a member.
For non-members, individual tickets cost $15 each. All screenings are general admission. Each ticket is valid for one person per screening. Go to nuovocinemaitaliano.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.
Our Presenting Sponsor for the 20th anniversary Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival is the Farina Law Firm.
Other sponsors of the annual festival are Lisa Mancini, Dr. Ram Kalus, Istituto Italiano di Cultura Miami, the Nathan and Marlene Addlestone Foundation, the Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation, the Alfred Olivetti Foundation, and the Dante Alighieri Society Charleston.
Visit nuovocinemaitaliano.com to make a charitable tax-deductible 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 films screened, presentations by special guests from Italy and a variety of related events, all designed to promote Italian arts, language and culture.
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