Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2015

Overview

The sights and sounds of Italy are heading our way once again, for the latest edition of the Lavazza Italian Film Festival. Hosted in select Palace Cinema locations around the country, this year's festival of more than 30 films will be bookended by two special gala events. Smash-hit comedy God Willing screens on opening night, while a special restoration of Bernardo Bertolucci's 1970 masterwork The Conformist will bring the festival to a close. In between you'll find comedies, dramas and eye-opening documentaries, as well as a number of high-profile titles making their Australian debuts.

Heading up our list of must-sees are a pair of films that caused a stir at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Matteo Garrone directs Selma Hayek and John C. Reilly in the surreal fantasy Tale of Tales, while John Turturro stars opposite Italian actress Margherita Buy in the madcap comedy Mia Madre. We're also intrigued by Venice-set comedy Pizza and Dates, about the city's Muslim population searching for a place to build a new mosque, as well as compilation documentary Italy in a Day, made up of hundreds of short videos submitted by people from all around the country.

For the full Lavazza Italian Film Festival program, visit their website.