Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival Plays On

Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival, in partnership with the Dante Alighieri Society and Italian Consulate of Miami, is proud to announce the 14th edition of the annual celebration of contemporary Italian cinema and culture.

The 2020 event, set for Nov. 18 and 19 at the Charleston Music Hall, will feature four recent movies: Refugees in Cinecittà by Marco Bertozzi (5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18); The Goddess of Fortune by Ferzan Ozpetek (8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18); Say It Loud by Guido Chiesa (5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19); and Champion by Leonardo D’Agostini (8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19).

Giovanna De Luca (center) at the 2018 festival. (Photo provided.)

Giovanna De Luca, associate professor of Italian and film at the College of Charleston, spearheads the annual festival, which presents the most artistically significant of contemporary Italian cinema from both established and emerging directors. With feature film screenings, special guests and a variety of events, Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival (NCIFF) is the premiere event in the Southeast, U.S.A., promoting Italian arts, language and culture. The College of Charleston, local and international businesses and organizations, and individual donors provide support for the annual festival.

“I’m very glad we are able to present the festival, despite the pandemic,” says De Luca. “Though it is necessarily abbreviated, NCIFF will provide patrons a chance to experience cinema the right way: together, in front of the big screen. This is possible thanks to the Charleston Music Hall’s collaboration and its stringent safety protocols. We’re grateful to have an opportunity to offer local moviegoers, who are experiencing unprecedented restrictions this year, with a taste of Italy.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated an abbreviated festival and prevented organizers from including special guests from Italy or assembling a jury for the purpose of honoring an audience-selected “best film.” Charleston Music Hall will implement strict protocols to ensure the safety of all patrons, limiting occupancy of the 950-seat venue to 250 people, enforcing social distancing rules, requiring the use of masks and choreographing movement throughout the space, among other measures. The College will monitor all students. faculty and staff attending the event for contract tracing.

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at charlestonmusichall.com. College of Charleston students, faculty and staff with a CofC ID get in free. Tickets also will be sold at the box office only on the days of the festival. This year’s festival is co-sponsored by the Yashik Foundation and the Dante Alighieri Society.

For more on Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival, visit nuovocinemaitaliano.com, follow @nuovocinemaiff on Instagram, or visit facebook.com/nuovocinemaiff.