COMPLETE FILM SCHEDULE 2012 WITH SUMMARIES, SCREENING AT MIAMI
BEACH CINEMATEQUE, 1130 Washington Ave, Miami Beach
Wed April 11th
07:00pm
Opening Ceremony and Opening Documentary: Miami Molto (I Love the SFF) by Roberto
Damiata
Miami Molto/ I Love the Sicilian Film Festival directed by Roberto Diamiata
There are thousands of ways to highlight the natural beauty, culture and talent of Sicily – cinema,
among them with Sicily’s many renowned writers, directors, actors, and photographers.
To bring recognition of Sicilian cinema to America (and beyond), in 2006 Sicilian-born sculptor,
musician, writer, and designer Emanuele Viscuso, who lives in Miami Beach, created the
Sicilian Film Festival, located in Miami Beach. Sicilian director, play right and essayist Salvo
Bitonti joined in 2008 as Artistic Director. Now in its 7th edition, the Sicilian Film Festival
continues to flourish. In 2011, the festival delegated director Roberto Damiata, winner of the
2010 short film division with his work “The Light of Dreams,” to document the growth and
realization of the 6th edition. This year we are presenting his beautiful documentary – Miami
Molto – celebrating the Sicilian Film Festival 2011.
08:00pm
Opening Feature Film: Io Sono l’Amore (I am Love) by Luca Guadagnino with Tilda Swinton,
Alba Rohrwacher, Marisa Berenson, Gabriele Ferzetti 120’
Best Feature Film, Boulder International Film Festival 2010; Best Actress, Dublin Film Critics
Award, 2010; Best Foreign Language Film, San Diego Film Critics Society, 2010; Top Five
Foreign Films, National Board of Review, USA, 2010; European Silver Ribbon to Tilda
Swinton, Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists, 2010; Best Foreign Language Film,
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards, 2010
I am Love/ Io Sono l’Amore Directed by Luca Guadagnino
A tragic love story set at the turn of the millennium in Milan. The film follows the fall of the
haute bourgeoisie due to the forces of passion and unconditional love.
I Am Love tells the story of the wealthy Recchi family, whose lives are undergoing sweeping
changes. Eduardo Sr., the family patriarch, has decided to name a successor to the reins of his
massive industrial company, and in so doing, surprises everyone by splitting power between his
son Tancredi and grandson Edo. However, Edo dreams of opening a restaurant with his friend
Antonio, a talented chef. At the heart of Tancredi’s family is his wife, Emma (Tilda Swinton), a
Russian immigrant who has adopted the culture of Milan. An adoring and attentive mother,
Emma’s existence is shocked to the core when she falls deeply in love with Antonio and pursues
a passionate love affair that will change his family forever. Guest appearance by Marisa
Berenson as the glamorous wife of Eduardo Sr.
Thur April 12th
07:30pm
Tribute to Luchino Visconti Feature Film: Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) by Luchino Visconti
161’with Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Claudia Cardinale Presented by Società Dante Alighieri
Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival, 1963; David, David di Donatello Awards, 1963; Silver
Ribbons for Best Cinematography. Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Italian
National Syndicate of Film Journalists, 1964
The Leopard/Il Gattopardo directed by Luchino Visconti
The Prince of Salina, a noble aristocrat of impeccable integrity, tries to preserve his family and
class amid the tumultuous social upheavals of 1860′s Sicily.
In the 1860s, a dying aristocracy struggles to maintain itself against a harsh Sicilian landscape.
With a slow and deliberate rhythm, this 1963 highly acclaimed classic film traces the waning of
the noble home of Fabrizio Corbero, Prince of Salina (the Leopard/Burt Lancaster) and the
corresponding rise to eminence of the enormously wealthy ex-peasant Don Calogero Sedara
(Paolo Stoppa). The prince himself refuses to take active steps to halt the decline of his personal
fortunes or to help build a new Sicily but his nephew Tancredi (Alain Delon), Prince of Falconeri
swims with the tide and assures his own position by marrying Don Calogero’s beautiful daughter
Angelica (Claudia Cardinale). The climatic scene is the sumptuous forty-minute ball, where
Tancredi introduces Angelica to society.
Fri April 13th
07:00pm
Docufiction: La Voce del Corpo (The Voice of the Body) by Luca Vullo 60’
La Voce del Copo/The Voice of the Body directed by Luca Vullo
A fun, wild, and at the same time informative journey to discover that particular gesture that says
“Sicilian.”
Sicilians are a people famous worldwide for particular gestures, facial expressions and body
movements that accompany each speech, conversation or greeting. To lead the audience on the
trip to find out what identifies Sicilians as Sicilians, director Luca Vullo engages the sizzling
actors-triptych of Evelyn Famà, Rosario Petìx and Vincenzo Flight as guides, and introduces
some prominent Sicilian personalities including Pippo Baudo, Emma Dante, Mimmo Cuticchio,
Lucia Sardo, and Salvo La Rosa. The journey is highlighted by a soundtrack featuring such
groups such Agricantus, Tinturia and Ipercussonici.
08:15pm
Feature Film: Loose Cannons/ Mine Vaganti by Ferzan Ozpetek110’ (replaces Terrafirma)
Loose Cannons/Mine Vaganti directed by Ferzan Ozpetek
A family tragicomedy about homosexuality and family values, full of memorable quirky
characters and laugh out-loud moments mixed with bittersweet and poignant reflections.
The story focuses on the large Cantone family and the youngest son, Tommaso, who is about to
come out to his parents. But just when he’s about to break the news, his older brother, Antonio,
announces to everyone that he is gay. Unable to accept or understand Antonio’s sexuality, their
father has a heart attack. Tommaso feels that he has no other choice now but to keep quiet and
stay to run the family pasta-making business while his father recuperates. A visit from Rome by
Tommaso’s flamboyant gay friends makes life difficult as he tries to balance his priorities.
Ultimately, Tommaso’s paternal grandmother, who started the factory and is known as the loose
cannon of the family (and has long kept secret of her own), has her own say in what happens in
the family.
Sat April 14th
07:00pm
“A Window to Cuba” Documentary: Un Sueño a Mitad by Francesco Apolloni 60′
Un Sueño a Mitad directed by Francesco Apolloni
Soon after the revolution, when Castro and Guevara met at the Havana Country Club for a round
of golf, they resolved to turn the park ̶ a place once dedicated to fun for the rich ̶ into the most
important cultural center in South America where millions of students from Latin America,
Africa and Asia could come to study the Arts. To transform this dream into reality, they called
upon three young architects: Vittorio Garatti, Roberto Gottardi and Riccardo Porro, two of whom
were Italian. Un Sueño a Mitad tells the story of three lives full of passion, an emotional
explosion brought on by pure idealism, and a dream of art, culture and politics that abruptly
comes to an end, leaving the unfinished constructions to time’s natural degredation.
8:30pm
Feature Film: L’Estate di Martino (Martino’s Summer) by Massimo Natale with Treat Williams,
Luigi Ciardo, Matilde Maggio 87′
Best Actor Award (Luigi Ciardo), 6th Cyprus International Film Festival; Audience Award, Best
First Feature, Flaiano International Prizes, 2011; 34th Starz, Denver Film Festival, USA 2011;
Audience Award Best First Feature and Best actress, Festival Maremetraggio Trieste, 2011
Martino’s Summer/L’Estate di Martino directed by Massimo Natale
A modern day fairy tale that softens the shades and darkness surrounding the mysteries tied to
tragic events that happened in the summer of 1980: the Ustica tragedy on June 27th, and the
bomb attack at the station of Bologna on August 2nd. These episodes form the backdrop for a
love story between Martino (Luigi Ciardo) and the beautiful Silvia (Matilde Maggio) and speak
of a friendly relationship with Captain Clark (Treat Williams) – a soldier stationed in an
American base in the Mediterranean.
Sun April 15 th
07:00pm
“Turkey Guest Country 2012,” Short Animation Film: The Little Girl* – Kiz Cocugu by Hakan
Berber
Best Animation Short Movie Script Award, TURSAK Foundation ̶ Turkish Ministry Of Culture
And Tourism 2010/ Best Animation Short Movie Script Award, Canlandıranlar Talent Camp
2011
“Turkey Guest Country 2012,” Feature Film: Being Italian with Signora Enrica* by Ali Ilhan
with Claudia Cardinale 110’
Best Film, Best Actress, Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, 2010; Audience Award Best
Feature Film, Best Actress, New York City International Film Festival, 2011; Audience Award
Best Feature Film, Silver Plate Award to Claudia Cardinale, IFS Durres Film Festival, Albania,
2011; Best Film, Tenerife International Film Festival, 2011
Being Italian with Signora Enrica/Sinyora Enrica ile Italyan Olmak directed by Ali Ilhan
Abandoned with a son by her husband years ago, Signora Enrica (Claudia Cardinale) is notorious
in her native Rimini for refusing to allow men into her house. She rents out rooms only to female
students, while also working as a tailor at the market. She decides to make an exception for Ekin,
a young Turkish student who she allows inside her home. Ekin falls in love with Valentina,
another tenant in the house. So, in this romantic comedy, Signora Enrica teaches Ekin Italian,
dancing, and cuisine – in other words everything he needs to know to win the heart of Valentina.
Mon April 16th
07:00pm
Feature Film: Basilicata Coast to Coast by Rocco Papaleo with Rocco Papaleo, Alessandro
Gassman, Paolo Briguglia, Max Gazzè, Giovanna Mezzogiorno 93’
Best Music, Best New Director, David di Donatello Awards, 2011; Best First Feature, Golden
Globe Italy, 2010; Silver Ribbon Best New Director, Best Music, Italian National Syndicate of
Film Journalists, 2010
Basilicata Coast to Coast directed by Rocco Papaleo
A band of musicians ̶ a professor of mathematics, a tobacco shop owner, a carpenter and an
actor ̶ set off on a road trip to participate in the Scanzano Jonico musical festival, crossing on
foot the region of Basilicata from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Ionian Sea. A journalist from a small
newspaper who is assigned to document their journey, joins the group. The trip will have a
therapeutic value for all.
When Nicola (Papaleo) enters his unassuming band in a music festival on the other side of
Basilicata, he comes up with the idea of walking there in 10 days ̶ partly as a publicity stunt and
partly as a bonding journey. This trip would normally take under two hours by car, but his
motley crew is willing: sweet-natured Salvatore (Paolo Briguglia), his hipster ex-TV celeb
cousin Rocco (Alessandro Gassman), and amiable mute Franco (singer Max Gazze in his screen
debut). Tagging along on this adventure is apprehensive journalist Tropea (Giovanna
Mezzogiorno), who displays her flair for comedy in this charming role. Against the sometimes
barren landscapes, these extremely likeable characters and their relationships are revealed.
Ultimately this is a lyrical, subtle and loving tribute to a little-known part of Italy, punctuated by
a wonderful soundtrack of jazzy songs by Papaleo.
9:15pm
Sicilia Queer Film Section coming from Sicilia Queer Film Festival Palermo – 5 Shorts:
K@biria by Sigfrido Giammona, From Moment to Moment by Fulvio Perna, After by Mark
Pariselli, What’s the Difference by Maurilio Mangano, Water Welles by Iyar Dyoman and Sivan
Levy 90’
Sicilia Queer Filmfest is the first International LGBT Film Festival and New Visions coming
from Sicily. It stems from the widespread demand and need to represent the changing society we
live in. Using cinema, Queer brings us a fresh way of looking at ideas of citizenship, social
justice, civil rights, and personal freedom. Queer goes beyond GLBT issues, breaking new
ground in terms of cinematic techniques, as well as unorthodox, independent and alternative
approaches to film production and distribution: in other words, what we like to call “new
visions.”
The second edition of the Sicilia Queer filmfest will take place from June 1-7, 2012, in Palermo
(Sicily, Italy), and will host movies from all over the world for the “Queer Panorama.” To
introduce the festival internationally for the first time, these five short films from the 1st edition
of the Sicilia Queer filmfest will be screened as part of the Sicilian Film Festival.
The mission of both the Sicilia Queer Filmfest and the Sicilian Film Festival in presenting these
films is “to show to Sicilian emigrants and every American willing to know the Sicilian culture,
not only the way for defending and promoting civil rights, but also a way to concretely change
society…as Fassbinder says, to ‘free your mind’ as individuals.”
Tue April 17th
07:00pm
Feature Film: Scossa by Francesco Maselli, Carlo Lizzani, Ugo Gregoretti, Nino Russo with
Lucia Sardo, Massimo Ranieri, Amanda Sandrelli, Paolo Briguglia 92’
Shock/Scossa directed by Ugo Gregoretti, Carolo Lizzani, Francesco Maselli, Nino Russo
Four separate stories, directed by four different directors, recount events, moments and feelings
related to the Messina earthquake of 1908 and the Reggio Calabria.
The countless deaths and devastation that continued for years after the Messina earthquake of
1908 are recalled through the stories of a mother trapped in the rubble looking for help, a man
mistaken for Jackal, an intellectual who was visiting the region, and a fisherman waiting for his
new home. While each of the four directors employs his own creative filmmaking techniques, the
film ultimately conveys a uniform message: while the earthquake was a disaster, the reaction to it
by the State and authorities was even worse.