Italian Film Festival 2020

This year's festival features Rome-set dramas, award-winning crime films and a new live-action version of 'Pinocchio'.
Sarah Ward
September 29, 2020

Overview

In a normal year, Sydney's annual Italian Film Festival gives cinephiles a chance to venture to Europe from the comfort of their cinema seats. In 2020, it's doing the same — but for everyone desperate to soak in some scenic sights well beyond their own four walls, that mission feels especially resonant.

Cue an impressive array of films that'll whisk you off to the other side of the planet, as screening at Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinemas and Palace Central from Tuesday, September 29–Sunday, October 18. With Bad Tales, viewers will head to a southern suburb of Rome during a tense summer. Via psychological drama Feel Your Memories, a trip to 90s-era Naples is in order. And thanks to the latest live-action version of Pinocchio — IFF's opening night film, and the latest feature by Gomorrah and Dogman's Matteo Garrone — seeing the country through the eyes of a sentient wooden puppet is also on the agenda.

The festival's other highlights include Martin Eden, which nabbed The Old Guard's Luca Marinelli the Best Actor prize at the 2019 Venice Film Festival; crime drama The Traitor, which won big at Italy's version of the Oscars this year; and a 20th anniversary screening of Giuseppe Tornatore's romantic tragedy Malèna, starring Monica Bellucci. Or, you can opt for a rom-com with 7 Hours to Win Your Heart, jump into a holiday comedy via I Hate Summer and get immersed in a legal drama with Ordinary Justice.

The 2020 Italian Film Festival screens at Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinemas and Palace Central from Tuesday, September 29–Sunday, October 18.

Information

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