12th annual Charleston Italian film festival hones in on cultural hub of Naples

The 12th Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival, which runs Oct. 25-28 at the Sottile Theatre, is Charleston’s biggest celebration of Italian culture.

This year it focuses on a particular city in Italy known as a creative center in a country known for its artistic and cultural legacy. Four of the 13 films to be screened at the festival tell stories of Naples.

“Naples is arguably the cultural epicenter of Italy, the place that has spawned great music, theater and painting over the centuries,” says Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival founder and artistic director Giovanna De Luca. “Today it is an unofficial capital of Italian cinema. Several important directors either are from Naples or have set their films there, and this year’s festival will highlight their work.”

Among the Neapolitan movies on tap is an unusual animated film. “La Gatta Cenerentola” (“Cinderella the Cat”) is a critically acclaimed feature that tells the story of a modern-day Cinderella living in Naples. It’s known for its music score, which the festival will highlight thanks to the presence of Neapolitan singer-songwriter, and the movie’s co-director, Dario Sansone, who contributed to the score. Sansone will perform original songs, joining forces with local musicians JT Rollerson, Greg Loney and LaVonta Green at the film screening on Friday, Oct. 26.

Source: 12th annual Charleston Italian film festival hones in on cultural hub of Naples | Charleston Scene | postandcourier.com