The Italian Cultural Institute of Montréal is pleased to present the Québéc 5th edition of the Italian Contemporary Film Festival – ICFF 2017 at Casa d’Italia: a film event, collaboration between the Italian Cultural Institute of Montréal, the Italian Contemporany Film Festival in Toronto, the Cinémathèque Québécoise, Casa d’Italia and the Cinéma Cartier in Québec.
The Festival, which will be held from June 11 until June 16th 2017, at Casa d’Italia, 505 rue Jean Talon Est, (514) 271-2524 offers 6 recent films by well-known Italian directors rewarded in Italy and internationally. Six days of film of great Italian contemporary cinema, in which will be examined themes linked to a global public, exploring Italy of yesterday and today, offering a unique opportunity to celebrate the Italian reality in Canada.
The screenings will be presented in the original language, subtitled in French and English. For more information please see the program below or call (514) 271-2524.
Sunday June 11 – 7pm
In Guerra per Amore / At War for Love by Pierfrancesco Diliberto
Cast: Andrea Di Stefano, Pierfrancesco Diliberto aka Pif
[It., 2016, 99 min, VOSTE]
Trailer
Plot – New York 1943. Arturo, a Sicilian emigrant, is in love with Flora who is already engaged to the son of a well known New York boss. She loves Arturo though and they would like to get married, but to do so he needs her father’s blessing. The man lives in Sicily and the only way for Arturo to get there is to enroll in the US Army in order to start a journey to the Italian island and take part in the event which is going to change the history of Sicily, Italy and Mafia.
Pierfrancesco (Pif) Diliberto – Pif was born on June 4, 1972 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy as Pierfrancesco Diliberto, son of director Maurizio Diliberto. He studied Media Practice in London. He is an actor and writer, known for The Mafia Kills Only in Summer (2013), Ridendo e scherzando – Ritratto di un regista all’italiana (2015) and In guerra per amore (2016).
Monday June 12 – 7pm
La Pazza Gioia / Like Crazy by Paolo Virzi
Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Micaela Ramazzotti
[It., 2016, 118 min, VOSTF]
Trailer
Plot – Beatrice is a blabbermouth and a so-called billionaire countess who likes to believe she’s in intimacy with world leaders. Donatella is a young quiet tattooed woman, locked in her own mystery. They are both patients of a mental institution and subject to custodial measures. Paolo Virzì’s new film tells the story of their unpredictable friendship and their escape from the treatment constraints that will become an hilarious and moving adventure of two technically insane creatures, looking for a bit of fun and love in this open-air nuthouse, the world of healthy people.
Paolo Virzi – Raised in Leghorn, made his debut in 1994, with La bella vita, awarded with a David for the “Best Debut Director”, where he displayed his exceptional skills in directing actors and dealing with dramatic themes with an ironic and light tone. During his successful career spanning over 25 years Virzì won numerous awards for his intense and entertaining films: in 2014 Il capitale umano, based on a novel by Stephen Amidon, obtained a record 19 David nominations. La pazza gioia was recently awarded Best Film and Best Director David Prizes. He has already started working on The Leisure Seekers, shot entirely in the USA, and starring Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren.
Tuesday June 13 – 7pm
Qualcosa di Nuovo / Something New by Cristina Comencini
Cast: Paola Cortellesi, Micaela Ramazzotti,
[It., 2016, 93 min, VOSTE]
Trailer
Plot – Lucia and Maria have known each other forever, two friends that are complete opposites. While Lucia is a very rational and pragmatic person – giving up on men after her divorce, Maria is spontaneous and naïve – and quite addicted to men. Then one night, the perfect man falls into Maria’s bed; he’s charming, sensitive, passionate and mature. The problem is he’s just 19-years-old, so Maria, along with Lucia create a lie, and fabricate a new version of their life. Perhaps in meeting this boy by happenstance, is truly the man everyone dreams of, because of his simple outlook on life, he’s able to transform their habitual ways, and revolutionize every desire and certainty they previously held.
Cristina Comencini was born in Rome in 1956. Her father was the Italian director Luigi Comencini and with him she began her career as a screenwriter, co-writing Il matrimonio di Caterina (1982), Buon Natale… Buon anno (1989), Quattro storie di donne (1986), Cuore and La Storia.
Wednesday June 14 – 7pm
Non c’è più Religione / Messy Christmas by Luca Miniero
Cast: Claudio Bisio, Alessandro Gassmann
[It., 2016, 90 min, VOSTE]
Trailer
Plot – On a small Mediterranean island called Porto Buio, a real life nativity scene is a traditional Christmas event. Unfortunately,this yearthe child who’s played baby Jesus for years has completely outgrown the role, and there’s no one to replace him –the island hasn’t celebrated a birth in years. With this fundamental tradition on the line, newly elected Mayor Cecco wants to ask theTunisian community that lives on the islandto “borrow”one of their children, but difficulties could arise as there’s conflict between the two communities. The mayor will call on old friends to aidhim in this challenging feat, although the likes of this nativity scene the island hasn’t seen in over 2000 years! A hilarious comedy about Italy today, focusing on a universal religion: happiness.
Luca Miniero was born in 1966 in Naples, Campania, Italy. He is a director and writer, known for Questa notte è ancora nostra(2008), Benvenuti al sud (2010) and Benvenuti al nord (2012).
Thursday June 15 – 7pm
L’Ora Legale / It’s the Law by Salvatore Ficarra, Valentino Picone
Cast: Salvatore Ficarra, Valentino Picone
[It., 2017, 92 min, VOSTF]
Trailer
Plot – In the small Sicilian village of Pietrammare, the moment has arrived to elect a new mayor. For years, the town has been under the tainted leadership of Gaetano Patanè, who’s ready to use every trick in the book to keep his position and power. His opposition comes in the form of 50 year old Professor Pierpaolo Natoli, with no former political experience, an honest man just wanting to give his 18 year old daughter, Betti, an alternative for her first time voting. Against all odds, and with the help of Salvo and Valentino championing his causes, Pierpaolo wins, and immediately gives start to a new age of legality and respect for the rules in town. Would the citizens of Pietrammare be ready for that?
Salvatore Ficarra, Valentino Picone – They started in 1993 as comedy trio with Salvatore Borrello performing together on stage as Chiamata Urbana Urgente. Remained in two, they kept that name until 1998, when they began to use their surnames: Ficarra & Picone. In 2000 they made their film debut with Chiedimi se sono felice and two years later they made the first film as main actors, Nati stanchi.
Friday June 16 – 7pm
Veloce come il vento / Italian Race by Matteo Rovere
Cast: Stefano Accorsi, Matilda De Angelis
[It., 2016, 110 min, VOSTF]
Trailer
Plot – The De Martino family have always had motor oil and gasoline flowing in their veins: they have been putting together and racing cars for generations. Mario, the head of the family, is forced to give way to his very young and exceptionally talented daughter Giulia. She is joined by her 40 year old brother Loris, a former driver, totally unreliable, but with an extraordinary sense of trajectories and highly knowledgeable about engines. Together, they will have to return to the track and win, while escaping their demons and learning what it means – and hard it is – to be a family.
Matteo Rovere was born in 1982 and directed his first movie when he was very young, after directing several shorts, among which the multi-award winning Homo Homini Lupus with Filippo Timi. He is also a producer: he produced Smetto quando voglio for Ascent Film, The Pills – Sempre meglio che lavorare, La foresta di ghiaccio, other than several shorts and documentaries like Ritratto di mio padre by Maria Sole Tognazzi.