The 18th edition of the Festa do Cinema Italiano, the main event dedicated to Italian cinema in Portugal, organised by the cultural association Il Sorpasso with the support of the Italian Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute of Lisbon, Cinecittà, various Portuguese institutions and various private sponsors, ended in Lisbon to great critical and public acclaim. Over 13,000 spectators attended the screenings held in no less than five cinemas in the Portuguese capital, many of them in the presence of directors and actors who came to meet the public.
The official Jury of the competitive section - composed of producer Luís Urbano, the director of Locarno Pro, Markus Duffner, and popular cartoonist Hugo van der Ding - awarded the Jury Prize to the film "Anywhere Anytime" by Milad Tangshir (Italy, 2024), which recounts the harsh reality of Issa, a young illegal immigrant in Turin. With an intense and human narrative, inspired by neo-realism, the film impressed with its emotional strength and authenticity. Produced by Vivo Film, Young Films and Rai Cinema, the film was presented at the Venice International Critics' Week. The Audience Award went to "Il ragazzo dei pantaloni rosa" by Margherita Ferri (Italy, 2024), a touching tale based on a true story of cyberbullying, inspired by the book by the mother of the young victim, "Andrea oltre i pantaloni rosa".
Many of the films presented at the Festa do Cinema will have commercial distribution in Portugal starting in the coming days. These include 'Diamanti' by Ferzan Ozpetek, 'Marcello Mio' by Christophe Honoré, 'Vermiglio' by Maura Delpero, 'Food for Profit' by Giulia Innocenzi and Pablo D'Ambrosi, 'Palazzina LAF' by Michele Riondino, 'La grande ambizione' by Andrea Segre, 'FolleMente' by Paolo Genovese and 'Un altro ferragosto' by Paolo Virzì. The festival now continues its national tour in at least twenty Portuguese cities before landing, from 26 June to 2 July, in as many cities in Brazil.
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