Six titles were invited to participate at the great North American event. Starting from the world premiere of Rainbow-A Private Affair by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani in the Masters programme. Adapted from the posthumously published bestseller by Beppe Fenoglio, an inspired and poetic film which seems to include all the key elements of these two Masters¹ cinema (Italian resistance movement, Fascist cruelty, Innocence, Youth). From the Venice competition comes The Leisure Seeker, (Gala Presentation) the American adventure by Paolo Virzì with Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland, Canadian national glory, and Hannah (Contemorary World Cinema) the second film by Andrea Pallaoro, supported by a continually allusive and explosive performance by Charlotte Rampling.
A Ciambra by Jonas Carpignano , presented at the directors fortnight in Cannes, arrives in Toronto in the Contemporary World Cinema programme after being one of the real surprises on the Croisette, with critical acclaim and excellent market sales, it confirms the International calling of this talented young author.
In the Special Presentations programme we find Luca Guadagnino¹s film Call Me by Your Name already selected from Berlinale and Sundance, another Italian author who is pushing past our boundaries. Finally the short film Mon Amour Mon Ami by Adriano Valerio will participate in The Short Cuts programme.
A large Italian presence in a festival like Toronto is more than a confirmation. Italian movies in
recent years are participating and earning an increasing number of awards at some of the major film events worldwide which focus on quality, art and discoveries. Toronto, besides these titles, stands out for quality, attendance and market, where art is combined with Industry.
These six Italian titles show an eclectic production, which vary greatly in age-from two elders of European Cinema such as the Taviani brothers to two second features whose sets include film stars as well as a Rom family , creative co.productions able to reach an audience with different passports but maintaning an authorial look is perhaps a sign of a growing maturity.
Without a doubt , recognition from a Festival which proposes art to such a vast audience, like cinema should do, have it be Italian is a successful way to begin the journey.
The presence of Italian films in Toronto is coordinated from Filmitalia of Istituto Luce Cinecittà.