Fancy an escape to Italy zooming around on a Vespa, but can’t stomach the idea of plane delays and late luggage? You’re in luck, the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is coming to Palace Cinemas Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Windsor Cinema and Luna on SX from September 22 – October 16. You’ll be guaranteed days of romance, drama, stunning scenery and intriguing documentaries. No travel agent can promise all that. Here are some hints about what to expect and check out.

The ST ALi Italian Film Festival celebrates Italian culture and cinema through a broad range of film genres. Festival Director Elysia Zeccola rightly pointed out …

“It’s that time of year when we emerge from our wintery cocoons to embrace Spring and take a cinematic trip to Italy! Join us at the cinema for a ST. ALi Coffee, vino or aperitivo, as we share the enjoyment of seeing films on the big screen together.”

ST. ALi. Lachlan Ward, co-CEO and co-owner added “Supporting the arts is paramount for ST. ALi. Supporting the Italian Film Festival is one the biggest highlights of the year for us.” 

So what can we expect and what are my tips?

1. Film Trailers. I strongly recommend hoping onto the cinema or festival websites and checking out the trailers. Experience has taught me not to go by a title and cast list alone.
2. Opening night. BELLI CIAO It’s always good to check out the opening night movie either on the actual night or during the season. Belli Ciao was a box office hit in Italy. The popular comedy follows two formerly inseparable friends who reunite in their hometown in Puglia after years apart, resulting in an entertaining north vs south culture clash. 
3. Closing night. YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW The same reasoning applies for the closing movie. This year it will be the Oscar-winning trilogy Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow starring someone you may have heard of … Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.
4. Festival Centrepiece. NOSTALGIA, is billed as the festivals centrepiece. It’s about a man who returns to his hometown of Naples after forty years and rediscovers the city’s codes and rules, while facing a past that haunts him.
5. Special Presentation films. There are two of these films coming direct from their world premieres at major international film festivals: LORD OF THE ANTS from its In Competition screenings at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, is a powerful new drama based on the 1968 trial of Aldo Braibanti, a Roman intellectual whose relationship with a younger student caused a nationwide scandal; and THE HUMMINGBIRD  direct from its Gala screening at the Toronto, is a star-studded ensemble drama which follows its main character from childhood to adulthood exploring the relationships that have criss-crossed his life over the years.
6. Documentaries. If you enjoy a good doco there’s  SALVATORE: SHOEMAKER OF DREAMS directed by acclaimed filmmaker Luca Guadagnino charts the rise of Italian shoemaker to the stars, Salvatore Ferragamo, in this love letter to the fashion icon. This is definitely on my list, I mean come on, Italy and shoes. There are two more documentaries. ENNIO – THE MAESTRO celebrates the life and legacy of the legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone and features interviews with Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, Bernardo Bertolucci and Hans Zimmer, plus the man himself prior to his death aged 91. POWER OF ROME charts the marvels of the city and its history led by Roman native Edoardo Leo.
7. Pier Paolo Pasolini. The festival will be honouring the centenary of the birth of celebrated auteur Pier Paolo Pasolini in a retrospective presenting three of his iconic film adaptations of literary works: THE CANTERBURY TALESon its 50^th anniversary, ARABIAN NIGHTS and THE DECAMERON presented by Italian Cultural Institute Sydney.

Then there are some specific films that sound interesting to me. It’s not the full list you can find that on the websites listed at the end of this post.

1. THE PERFECT DINNER– Suspense and a pinch of romance are the ingredients of this delicious comedy about a Neapolitan mafioso who is sent to Rome to launder money through a restaurant, crossing paths with a chef who dreams of winning a Michelin star.
2. ON OUR WATCH – Taking aim at the technology multinationals that have transformed our modern world, this sci-fi comedy follows an up-and-coming manager who accidentally makes his job superfluous and must work as a delivery rider to get by.  
3. BLACKOUT LOVE – In this biting romantic comedy, Anna Foglietta plays a commitment phobic volleyball coach who has her life completely figured out, never looking back on her past relationships, until one day her ex reappears in her life.  
4. 3/19 – An intriguing new drama from Silvio Soldini in which a successful lawyer is involved in a traffic accident that results in the death of a young immigrant.
5. THE INNER CAGE  Is a suspenseful drama about a group of prisoners and their guards in a remote prison. The Film won Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor for Silvio Orlando, who plays opposite festival favourite Toni Servillo, at the 2022 David di Donatello Awards. 
6. THE CODE OF SILENCE – Inspired by the true stories of women who stood up to the ‘Ndrangheta, this evocative drama about a young girl learning the truth of her mother’s death is a powerful story of resistance.
7. THE GREAT SILENCE – A screen adaptation of best-selling writer Maurizio De Giovanni’s stage play, this Naples-set story from Alessandro Gassmann follows a once well-off family that is selling their house and must face up to their own secrets and silence.
8. THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS WITCH 2: THE ORIGINS – Set in the 18^thcentury, this prequel to the hugely successful comedy The Legend of the Christmas Witch, tells the origin story of the Befana, featuring an excellent ensemble cast including Monica Bellucci.

For more information and session times go to Palace Cinema and Luna Cinema or ST ALi Italian Film Festival
The Festival runs in Perth from September 22 – October 16 2022