Florence’s Film Scene: A New Beginning

 

Cinema La Compagnia (Via Cavour 50/r) opens its doors once again this autumn in Florence with a brand new film series schedule. At the start, the public can look forward to some of American director James Ivory’s most impressive works, and later on to the Toscana Film Network, a weekly showing of local, Tuscan movies.

To kick-start the month of October, La Compagnia, a theater-converted-cinema will run a three-day viewing of some of his best films, including Maurice (1987), Howards End (1992), The Remains Of The Day (1993), and The City of Your Final Destination (2009).

Perhaps the most well known of Ivory’s efforts is Room with a View (1985), will be screening on October 7.   The event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its release and will be organized in conjunction with the City of Florence, New York University, the British Institute of Florence, and the Odeon Cinema. Fall in love all over again with this romantic drama by following Lucy on her journey to find the right man. Experience the pure beauty of Florence in all its glory through her eyes.

Next up is the Festival dei Popoli, which promotes the study of social documentary production to complement its program of showings. Held between October 10 – 17, courses and workshops will be available for aspiring filmmakers to learn techniques and to make contacts.

Complementing the Festival dei Popoli is Top Doc, a new documentary festival. It showcases not-to-be-missed international movies such as Loving Vincent, a crime fiction zooming in Van Gogh’s last few days, brought to life through scenes of artworks created by 100 artists using the technique of Painting Animation Work Station.

From October 19 – 22, France Odeon Festival will promote the French culture and influence through the medium of film. With a single entrance at €8, the festival, founded in 2009, allows the public to explore what contemporary French cinema has to offer.

One can experience the power of classic films during the Cinema Ritrovato from November 2 – 5, featuring iconic entries made over 50 years ago. The Festival Internazionale di Cinema e Donne from November 8-12 provides an opportunity for audiences to appreciate the importance of female roles— glimpsed through stars, directors and storylines—in a male-dominated cinematic world.

Lo Schermo dell’Arte Film Festival on November 15 – 19 comprises exhibitions and film premieres on contemporary art. The program spotlights a series of short films such as The Dust Channel (2006) by Israeli artist Roee Rosen. The Dust Channel reflects the feelings of being confronted with xenophobia—the family, which the film centers on, becomes obsessed with dust and dirt, for them symbolic in subliminal manner of the desert and the Holot, a local detention center for refugees.

Following this is the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival from December 7-12, which is the only event in Italy dedicated to the Indian film industry, as well as the NICE retrospective on December 15 showing Italian movies presented at U.S. festivals.

The grand finale is the Toscana Film Network, which will take place between December and February. There will be a weekly program of local Tuscan films, as well as an opportunity for professionals to meet one another. (karen gee)