Miami Beach. April 11 – 17, 2012
Director of “Annalisa”, Pippo Mezzapesa alongside SFF President, Emanuele Viscuso (a Sicilian native and Miami Beach resident) gave the audience a window to the rural beauty of Southern Italy through a “coming of age” tale.
Last week Sicilian Film Festival President, Emanuele Viscuso spoke at the introduction of the Italian film, “Annalisa/Il Paese Delle Spose Infelici” that made its North American Premiere at the 29th Annual Miami International Film Festival. Viscuso, a Sicilian native and Miami Beach resident, alongside Director Pippo Mezzapesa gave the audience a window into the beauty of rural Southern Italy through a “coming of age” tale – one of the many cinematic themes explored through a larger selection of Italian films screened each April at Viscuso’s festival.
The Sicilian Film Festival (SFF), now in its 7th year, provides a continued opportunity for South Floridians to experience films by directors primarily from Southern Italy alongside events that highlight all of the regions art, literature, food and wine, music, fashion, and culture. Screenings take place at the Miami Beach Cinematheque from April 11 through 17, 2012.
“The Greater Miami Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau has declared the month of March as Miami Movie Month to coincide with the city’s efforts to promote good cinema from around the world through film festivals both large and small,” states Viscuso. “I am very happy to be part of this cultural growth!”
Feature films at this year’s SFF include: “Martino’s Summer/L’estate di Martino” starring Treat Williams; Luchino Visconti’s classic “The Leopard/Il Gattopardo” starring Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale, Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival and Golden Bear, Berlin Festival recipient; and Golden Globe and Oscar nominated film, “I am Love/Io sonno l’amore” by Luca Guadagnino and starring Tilda Swinton.
Other events include a photography exhibit; a VIP Cocktail Reception at the private residence of the Consul General of Italy; and awards ceremony with announcement of the SFF Special Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented to actress, Vanessa Redgrave at and official SFF event anticipated to occur this summer in Rome.
While the festival’s home base is Miami Beach, the SFF hosts events in both the US and other cities worldwide including last year’s presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award to Claudia Cardinale at the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival, and the awarding of Honorary Doctorate in Tourism to Miami Beach Vice-Mayor Michael Gongora in Caserta, Italy.
In speaking about a past festival, Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower stated: “We appreciate the efforts of this Festival in bringing the Sicilian culture to the fore and sharing the beauty and life of Sicily with the people of Miami and the US. Through theater, music, art, and love, boundaries are traversed and all nations learn to share each other’s works and get to understand and appreciate different cultures.”
SFF 2012 Annual Event has the Patronage of Accademia del Cinema Italiano Premi David di Donatello.
The VII Sicilian Film Festival is made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners and with the support of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority and City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council.
Sicilian Film Festival
www.sicilianfilmfestival.com
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