16th Annual Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival Kicks Off Nov. 10

The Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival, in partnership with the College of Charleston, is proud to announce the 16th edition of the annual celebration of contemporary Italian cinema and culture. The 2022 event is set for Nov. 10-13, 2022, at the Queen Street Playhouse, 20 Queen St., in downtown Charleston.

“The movies to be screened at the festival this year are wide ranging and include comedies, dramas and documentaries,” says Giovanna Caterina De Luca, CofC professor of Italian and film and artistic director of the film festival. “We will have guest artists from Italy, live performances and students assisting with the programs and interacting with the filmmakers. I’m thrilled we can share with Charleston audiences these critically acclaimed and award-winning movies, all recent releases, including Nostalgia by Mario Martone, which will represent Italy at the 2023 Academy Awards as an entry in the International Feature Film Award category.”

Founded in 2006, the Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival is the premier event of its kind in the United States, with 13 screenings, presentations by special guests from Italy and a variety of related events, all designed to promote Italian arts, language and culture. No other university organizes an Italian film festival of this scope.

Highlights of this year’s festival include a screening of The Shadow of the Day, a romantic drama set in charming Ascoli Piceno in the late 1930s. The film is directed by Giuseppe Piccioni, who is part of a new generation of directors raising the profile of Italian cinema. Andrea Segre will discuss his film Welcome Venice, which he presented at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival. His film is a compelling story about two Venetian brothers who confront the challenges of the tourist industry.

Tickets cost $12 each and all screenings are general admission. Each ticket is valid for one ticket per person per screening. Go to footlightplayers to purchase tickets. All students, faculty and staff with ID, regardless of institution, get in free. Tickets will also be sold at the Queen Street Playhouse box office on the days of the festival.

Support for the annual festival comes from the College of Charleston, Istituto Luce of Rome, the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington D.C., the Nathan and Marlene Addlestone Foundation, local and international businesses and organizations, and individual donors.

Visit Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival’s website at www.nuovocinemaitaliano.com to purchase a membership or sign up as a festival sponsor. Follow @nuovocinemaiﬀ on Instagram or visit facebook.com/nuovocinemaiﬀ.