Welcome to Italian Cinema London. This year’s event showcases a selection of Italy’s best and most recent cinema. Alongside feature films by emerging directors, we screen a collection of short films and some documentaries to set the scene for the revival of “La Dolce Vita/The Sweet Life” in the year of its 50th anniversary.

We would like to invite you to see the UK premiere of “Happy Family”, the latest comedy by Oscar-winning director Gabriele Salvatores, to experience the love story of a life time in “Ten Winters/Dieci inverni”, to share the emotional turmoil of a new mother waiting for her baby’s heart to beat unaided in “The White Space/Lo spazio bianco” and to empathise with Valeria Golino’s unusual predicament in “Julia Doesn’t Date at Night/Giulia non esce la sera”.

Coinciding with the Festival, Riverside’s gallery hosts an exhibition featuring the work of one of Italy’s greatest stills photographers, Sergio Strizzi. Come and see rare black and white portraits of divas such as Monica Bellucci and Monica Vitti, and legendary Marcello Mastroianni, from the family’s private collection brought to London for the first time. Join us in celebrating this tribute to Italian cinema past and present!

8.45pm (Single Bill)

Happy Family (15)
Gabriele Salvatores, Italy, 2010, 90m, subtitles

Cast: Margherita Buy, Diego Abatantuono, Fabrizio Bentivoglio

“Happy Family” tells the story of two families whose lives are thrown together when their two headstrong fifteen-year-olds announce their intent to marry.

There will be a Q & A with the director, Gabriele Salvatores, after the screening – tbc.

Saturday 17 April: Riverside Studios

2.30pm

Shorts Programme (15)
Approximate running time: 115m

Love is a Yoke
(L’amore è un giogo)
Andrea Rovetta, Italy, 2008, 13m subtitles

Cast: Neri Marcorè, Cecilia Dazzi, Mattia Sbragia

While playing poker a man remembers the highlights of his last great love story.

By the Sea
(A’mare)
Martina Amati, Italy, 2009, 15m subtitles

Cast: Andrea/Felice Puglisi

One day during a fishing trip Andrea and Felice’s usual routine is disturbed when something unexpected appears in the water. Will their friendship survive the turbulent events that follow?

Fleeting Love
(L’amore non esiste)
Massimiliano Camaiti
Italy, 2008, 15m subtitles

Cast: Pietro Sermonti, Marina Rocco, Edoardo Pesce

Solo is convinced he possesses a terrible power: wherever he goes, love fades.

Hitchhike
(L’autostop)
Leonardo and Simone Godano
Italy, 2008, 8m subtitles

Cast: Claudia Pandolfi, Diane Fleri

We Were Twenty-Years-Old
(Avevamo vent’anni)
Ivan Silvestrini
Italy, 2009, 30m subtitles

Cast: Manuela Vellés, Alessandro Tiberi, Giorgio Colangeli

Sara and Matteo are twenty-years-old when they first meet. They fall in love and decide to live together, fantasising about the perfect life. Their plans don’t quite work out as expected, partly by fate, partly by choice.

Beach Boy
(Fisico da Spiaggia)
Edoardo De Angelis
Italy, 2009, 5m subtitles

Cast: Beniamino Marcone, Nicola Nocella, Livia Taruffi

How to slim in two seconds? Holding your breath has magic effects.

Luigi Indelicato
Fabrizio/Bruno Urso
Italy, 2009, 14m subtitles

Cast: Ignazio Barcellona, Ture Magro, Lucia Vitale

Luigi is a young, hard-working carpenter. After receiving a number of threats, he realizes that he has to find the money to pay off the local mafia.

TV
Andrea Zaccariello
Italy, 2009, 13m subtitles

Cast: Salvatore Cantalupo, Michela Cescon, Michela Scrocca

A man laden with debts meets a washed out and lonely woman who works for a debt collecting agency. He shares his story, his hopes and fears.

With thanks to Vanessa Strizzi who curated and will introduce this programme.

5.30pm (Single Bill)

Looking for Sofia (12)
Roberto Olla
Italy, 2004, 52m subtitles documentary

In 1934 Sofia Loren was born daughter to Riccardo Scicolone, a construction engineer and Romilda Villani, a piano teacher and aspiring actress. When her father refused to get married, he condemned mother and daughter to a life of poverty and disgrace in a society where single mothers were a shameful presence. “Looking for Sofia” explores the life and career of one of the greatest actresses of the silver screen, from misery to world fame.

6.45pm (Single Bill)

Ex (12)
Fausto Brizzi
Italy, 2009, 120m subtitles

Cast: Claudio Bisio, Claudia Gerini, Vincenzo Salemme

Juggling multiple storylines with aplomb, this mostly comic study of the vagaries of romantic entanglement focuses on six different couples and the ups and downs of their relationships. From a divorce attorney going through a brutal break-up with his wife, to a French youngster smitten with his Italian girlfriend, to a handsome cop stalking his former lover, co-writer/director Brizzi presents a wide variety of idiosyncratic characters looking for love.

9.05pm (Single Bill)

The White Space (15)
(Lo spazio bianco)
Francesca Comencini
Italy, 2009, 98m subtitles

Cast: Margherita Buy, Antonia Truppo, Gaetano Bruno

A middle-aged, somewhat footloose teacher falls pregnant during a short-lived affair, gives birth to a premature baby and finds her life revolving around her hopes and fears for the newborn life. Countless films have been made about men who run from impending fatherhood or don’t want children. Few, examine those feelings in women as movingly as this film does without judging their lack of maternal instinct.

Sunday 18 April: Riverside Studios

2.30pm (Single Bill)

Federico Fellini’s Autobiography: Clips from his Life (12A)
Paquito Del Bosco
Italy, 2000, 55m,subtitles documentary

When, in 1939, Fellini enrolled in law school to please his parents, no one thought he would ever attend a class ... as was the case. His life was meant for something else. This film is a precious contribution to our understanding of the great director and his genius, providing insight into his life and mind as he reacts to the interviewers' questions with a mixture of boundless curiosity, delightful candour and an irresistible sense of humour.

The film will be introduced by film lecturer Donata Puntil, Co-Ordinator and Lecturer of Italian Studies, King’s College London.

3.50pm (Single Bill)

La Dolce Vita (15)
(The Sweet Life)
Federico Fellini, Italy, 1960, 174m subtitles

Cast: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Yvonne Furneau

A series of nights and mornings along the Via Veneto in Rome as seen through the eyes of jaded society reporter Marcello (Mastroianni). Hoping to quit his job as a gossip columnist to become a novelist, he never seems to be able to concentrate long enough to make any progress on his serious writings.

7.30pm (Single Bill)

Cosmonaut (12)
(Cosmonauta)
Susanna Nicchiarelli
Italy, 2009, 85m subtitles

Cast: Claudia Pandolfi, Sergio Rubini, Pietro Del Giudice

As capitalist America and communist Russia compete for pre-eminence in the Space Race, fifteen-year-old Luciana, fascinated by the proletariat who were launching their ideas beyond earth, grows up influenced by the Communist Party and struggles to affirm her feminine identity.

Monday 19 April: Riverside Studios

7.30pm (Single Bill)

Federico Fellini’s Autobiography: Clips from his Life (12A)

Please see Sunday 18 April for details.

8.45 (Single Bill)

Happy Family (15)

Please see Friday 16 April for details.

Tuesday 20 April: Riverside Studios

6.15pm (Single Bill)

Ex (12)

Please see Saturday 17 April for details.

8:35pm (Double Bill)

In Association with DocHouse

The Master of the House (15)
(Il padrone di casa)
Ludovica Fales
Italy, 2010, 28m subtitles documentary

Graziana, a young Italian woman, like so many of her generation aspires to a glittering career in the media. While trying to pass her law degree, she suddenly finds herself implicated in Prime Minister Berlusconi's infamous sex scandal saga. After such notoriety, what are her options in the Italy of Îl Padrone di Casa?

9.15pm

Videocracy (15)
Erik Gandini
Sweden, 2009, 85m subtitles documentary

Italian-born director Erik Gandini portrays the televisual world that prime minister and media tycoon, Silvio Berlusconi, has created in Italy. Gaining unique access to the most powerful media spheres, he unveils a remarkable story, born out of the scary reality of “TV-Republic” Italy and, by accident or design, “Videocracy” ends up holding a mirror to the larger world.

The film will be introduced by documentary-maker and lecturer, Dick Fontaine.

7.00pm (Single Bill)

Christine Cristina (15)
(Christine Cristina)
Stefania Sandrelli
Italy, 2009, 92m subtitles

Cast: Amanda Sandrelli, Alessio Boni, Alessandro Haber

The film is the anticipated directorial debut of Italian acting icon Stefania Sandrelli. It is the story of medieval poetess Cristina da Pizzano - also known as Christine de Pisan - who discovers her gift for writing when she is left destitute.

8.55pm (Single Bill)

The Frontline (15)
(La prima linea)
Renato De Maria
Italy/Belgium/France/UK, 2009, 96m subtitles

Cast: Riccardo Scamarcio, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Fabrizio Rongione

This film is loosely based on the memoirs of Sergio Segio, the former “Commander Sirio” of the armed communist organisation Prima Linea (Front Line), who was sentenced to thirty years in prison for the murder of Judge Emilio Alessandrini in 1979.

7.00pm (Single Bill)

Looking for Sofia (12)

Please see Saturday 17 April for details.

8.30pm (Single Bill)

Raise Your Head (15)
(Alza la testa)
Alessandro Angelini, Italy, 2009, 87m subtitles

Sergio Castellitto, Anita Kravos, Giorgio Colangeli

Set in the sprawling multi-ethnic outskirts of Rome, the film focuses on the relationship between shipyard worker Mero (Castellitto) and his teenage son Lorenzo (Campanelli), a promising young boxer who is trained by his dad in a homemade gym.

6:30pm (Single Bill)

Ten Winters (12A)
(Dieci inverni)
Valerio Mieli, Italy, 2009, 99m subtitles

Cast: Isabella Ragonese, Michele Riondino, Glen Blackhall

Winter 1999. A small ferry crosses the Venice lagoon. Camilla, a shy eighteen-year-old who has just arrived from her small town to study Russian literature at the University, spots a boy in the crowd. It's Silvestro. The two exchange looks ... “Ten Winters” is a story about falling in love slowly.

8:30pm (Single Bill)

Julia Doesn’t Date at Night (12)
(Giulia non esce la sera)
Giuseppe Piccioni, Italy, 2009, 105m subtitles

Cast: Valeria Golino, Valerio Mastandrea, Sonia Bergamasco

Coasting through both his life and his career novelist Guido (Mastandrea) is nominated for a major literary award. While his wife and daughter move to a new place, he stays in their old apartment to work on his next novel. One day he meets his daughter’s swimming instructor and is intrigued by this charming woman and her mysterious past.

2.30pm (Kids’ Single Bill)

The Thin Match-Man (U)
(L’uomo fiammifero)
Marco Chiarini, Italy, 2009, 81m subtitles

Cast: Francesco Pannofino, Marco Leonzi, Gabriele Manfredi

The film tells the story of Simone, an eleven-year-old boy who is on his summer holiday but finds country life dull. He takes refuge in an imaginary world he has created for himself in the surrounding countryside.

The film will be followed by a Q & A with the director, Marco Chairini.

All tickets £5

Cosmonaut (12)
(Cosmonauta)

Please see Sunday 18 April for details.

6.30pm (Single Bill)

Purple Sea (15)
(Viola di mare)
Donatella Maiorca, Italy, 2009, 105m subtitles

Cast: Ennio Fantastichini, Isabella Ragonese, Valeria Solarino

An imaginary island off the coast of 19th century Sicily makes for a scandalous setting for a lesbian love story. Shut up in a cave by her father when she refuses an arranged marriage, Angela is saved by her mother who convinces the curate to change Angela's name and sex on her birth certificate to Angelo. This film is an intense examination of the frontiers of identity and geography as the story interweaves fact, legend and poetry and re-evokes an ancient scandal lost in time.

8.35pm (Single Bill)

The White Space (15)
(Lo spazio bianco)

Please see Saturday 17 April for details.

2.30pm (Single Bill)

Happy Family (15)
Gabriele Salvatores, Italy, 2010, 90m, subtitles

Cast: Margherita Buy, Diego Abatantuono, Fabrizio Bentivoglio

“Happy Family” tells the story of two families whose lives are thrown together when their two headstrong fifteen-year-olds announce their intent to marry.

5.00pm (Single Bill)

Small Sea (15)
(Mar piccolo)
Alessandro di Robilant, Italy, 2009, 87m subtitles

Cast: Michele Riondino, Giulio Beranek, Giorgio Colangeli

Tiziano (Beranek) is a maladjusted boy who lives in a run down neighbourhood. A poor student, his school attendance is even poorer, as he spends his time doing odd jobs for local boss Tonio (Riondino), whilst he dreams of leaving it all behind. His future seems doomed, all the more so when he ends up in a juvenile detention centre. But Tiziano is not alone: he has the guard (Colangeli), his Italian teacher, his girlfriend and his mother.

7.00 pm (Single Bill)

The Face of the Land (12A)
(La Faccia della terra)
Gianfranco Firriolo, Italy/USA, 2009, 55m documentary

This is an "on the road' narrative to discover seasons gone by, unusual musical instruments, unreal and ordinary people - life stories which turn into songs: a mosaic of events and of human beings who travel and at times cross paths, on the face of this earth and whom Vinicio Capossela celebrates in this song, inspired by each one of them.

8.20pm (Single Bill)

Ten Winters (12A)
(Dieci inverni)

Please see Friday 23 April for details.

The film will be followed by a Q & A with Michele Riondino.