Four free screenings will retrace the history of Italian women filmmakers through 60 years of the Chicago International Film Festival.
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Chicago International Film Festival, the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago presents the retrospective ITALIAN WOMEN DIRECT, featuring a selection of films by Italian women directors that have been presented at the Festival through the past 60 years. With a weekly free screening, the Institute invites the audience to rediscover the history of Chicago’s longest running film festival, while learning how Italian women helped shape contemporary cinema, and contribute to ongoing discourses on representation in the film industry. Each title represents diverse themes, styles and narratives that all together provide a snapshot of the evolution of Italian cinema over more than half a century.
“The Institute is a long-time partner and supporter of the Chicago International Film Festival and we are grateful to the continued growth of our collaboration. – says Luca Di Vito, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago. – The retrospective ITALIAN WOMEN DIRECT is our latest shared project, that looks into the role of Italian women filmmakers in the history of the Festival, and how they contributed to shape the future of cinema.”
“The Chicago International Film Festival has had the privilege of working with the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago for many years, fostering a deep and enriching partnership that has significantly contributed to the cultural tapestry of our festival,” said Vivan Teng, Managing Director of Cinema/Chicago. “Over the 60 years of our Festival, we have a rich history of presenting the best in Italian cinema and welcoming the creative talents behind those films. Bringing Italian films and filmmakers to audiences in Chicago has given us many opportunities to share unique cultural perspectives and artistry that resonate with our diverse film-loving communities. As a partner, the Italian Cultural Institute has been instrumental in making these cultural exchanges possible, and we are honored that they are helping us to celebrate our history by presenting these incredible films showcasing the depth and breadth of our history with Italian cinema.”
The initiative is part of In Futuro: a survey of possibilities, theme of the 2024 program series organized by the Italian Cultural Institute. Each program reflects on how Italian creatives imagine, represent and, with an historical perspective, have imagined and represented the future.
Thursdays at 6 p.m. September 12 – 19, 2024 and October 3 – 10, 2024
Free screenings with registration.
FILM D’AMORE E D’ANARCHIA (LOVE AND ANARCHY)
Dir. Lina Wertmüller, Italy, 1973
September 12, 2024 at 6 p.m.
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LA PELLE (THE SKIN)
Dir. Liliana Cavani, Italy, 1981
September 19, 2024 at 6 p.m.
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CORPO CELESTE (HEAVENLY BODY)
Dir. Alice Rohrwacher, Italy, 2011
October 3, 2024 at 6 p.m.
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FIGLIA MIA (DAUGHTER OF MINE)
Dir. Laura Bispuri, Italy, 2018
October 10, 2024 at 6 p.m.
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The 60th Chicago International Film Festival runs October 16 – 27, 2024 at venues throughout Chicago. For more information, visit www.chicagofilmfestival.org.
