The London audience at the 49th London Film Festival (October 19th-November 3rd ) gives an enthusiastic welcome to the Italian films in the programme. The Italian selection, once more organized by AIP-Filmitalia in their continuing and close collaborative effort with the Festival, stands out in the extensive programme of what considered to be the United Kingdom’s most prestigious and anticipated event.
Eclectic and impressive are words which best describe the Italian delegation that have come to present the films and represent an added attraction for the viewing public: Gabriele Salvatores, Maurizio Totti, Cristina Comencini, Francesca Marciano, Valeria Golino, Domenico Procacci, Tilde Corsi,Gianni Romoli, Ferzan Ozpetek, Giorgio Diritti and Simone Bachini.
Last monday’s sold out screening of Don’t Tell by Cristina Comencini was followed by a Q&A with the film’s director and set designer, Francesca Marciano, conducted by the Independent’s film critic Roger Clarck. The screening was also the perfect occasion for testing out the film’s appeal on anglosaxon territory, having been chosen to represent Italy in the running for the Oscars.
Great anticipation and warm welcome for Gabriele Salvatores, by now a familiar name to the English audience since his film Io non ho paura was released in the United Kingdom, who presented Quo vadis, baby?, which hopes to find a local film distributor.
Sold out performance at the world premiere of Giorgio Diritti’s first feature film, E il vento fa il suo giro; a small budget film which attracted quite a bit of attention, and whose screening was attended by the director and the complete cast.
Then just yesterday, the long awaited screening of Mario’s War by Antonio Capuano, previously presented at Locarno and at Toronto, which was followed by an open discussion with Valeria Golino and Domenico Procacci who took turns answering questions from a very attentive audience.
Tonight’s turn goes to Once You’re Born by Marco Tullio Giordana.
Last but not least, the long awaited Cuore Sacro by Ferzan Ozpetek, the last Italian title which is programmed for October 31st, and November 1st.