The festival can be enjoyed in over 10 cities in Portugal, including Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Beja and, for the first time also Lagos in the Algarve, at the end of May.

The Italian Cinema Festival, organised by the Il Sorpasso Association since 2008, is the largest event in Portugal dedicated to Italian cinema and culture with this edition being no different, as it presents films by new and renowned directors, classics of cinematography, documentaries and parallel events that celebrate Italian culture in Portugal through music, art and gastronomy.

Opening session

With regards to the programme, the opening session took place at Cinema São Jorge in Lisbon and Cinema Trindade in Porto on the 1st of April with the premier “Ennio” by Giuseppe Tornatore. “Ennio” delves deep into the most beloved and prolific film composer of the 20th century, who was a two-time Oscar winner and author to over 500 unforgettable scores. In addition to this, there will be a program dedicated to love entitled “The Decades of Love” with screenings showcasing Italy and its connection to love, over five decades, constructed through the eyes of Italian teenagers.

Ennio - Watch the trailer below

This edition will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of film director Pier Paolo Pasolini in a tribute by presenting a retrospective, in collaboration with the Cinemateca Portuguesa - Museu do Cinema. In addition to the screening of Pier Paolo Pasolini's films, you will have the opportunity to watch works where he collaborated as a writer or that were inspired by his life in a total of 25 films.

In Lisbon, the festival will take place from the 1st to the 10th of April and alongside the film viewings there will be karaoke parties, disco Italo and Italian gastronomy through a three-night secret cine-dinner which combines cinema with the best of Italian cuisine. The cine-dinner will show the renowned L’anatra all’arancia directed by Luciano Salce. In addition to this, there will also be a fantastic concert by Salvador Sobral who will pay tribute to singer Franco Battiato. There will also be a screening of the documentary Estrada Temporária (una) vita di Franco Battiato which is all about the songwriter’s life.

Ennio - Official Trailer

Key guests

Some of the key guests attending the festival are Italian actor Ninetto Davoli who became known for his roles in several Pier Paolo Pasolini films as well as Matilda De Angelis who is an Italian actress and singer. Finally, Silvano Agosti, who devoted himself to film editing in the early years and went on to make his first film in 1967, signing more than 30 films, will be joined by Marco Bellocchio through zoom for a debate.

For more information, please see https://festadocinemaitaliano.com/ where you can find the complete programme, with more cities to be added. You can also keep up to date by following @festadocinemaitaliano on Facebook and Instagram.