Cinema Italian Style

With all the rain we’ve been having in Seattle these last few weeks and the short days we’re excited to hunker down with some warm popcorn and enjoy, Cinema Italian Style, the seventh annual festival of the best in current Italian film. We’re proud to be the sponsor of what has become a significant cultural event in Seattle. The festival runs from November 12th through November 19th and attracts six to seven thousand film enthusiasts. All films are subtitled and are shown at Queen Anne’s Uptown Theater.

Seven years ago, Donna James, former director of the Seattle Mayor’s Office of Film and Music, contacted staff at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) about the idea of adding an Italian Film Festival. “SIFF was very enthusiastic about the idea of an Italian film festival,” said James. “But before they would commit, they asked us to bring some money to the table. We secured an introduction to Matt Galvin, of Pagliacci Pizza, who agreed to sponsor our very first Italian film festival. SIFF contributed some funds as well, and we were in!”

This year the festival features 15 extraordinary feature films. It opens on Thursday, November 12th, with “My Mother,” a tender, semi-autobiographical family drama from master-director Nanni Moretti. Andrea Barrett, SIFF’s director of programming, said, “The films we offer are usually brand new to North American audiences or have not been shown a great deal. They give a range of what is happening cinematographically in Italy and span all film types—comedy, Mafia dramas, war dramas, thrillers, documentaries. There’s something for everyone.”

For movies and movie times visit SIFF’s website.

To read more about the festival check out this great article by Rita Cipalla.