ST. ALi Italian Film Festival Centrepiece Premiere: Sweetheart

Lose yourself in the magic and mystery of Sicily at the 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival Centrepiece Premiere of Sweetheart, Margherita Spampinato's award-winning feature film debut. Plus, enjoy a complimentary glass of prosecco upon arrival!

Written and directed by Margherita Spampinato, this award-winning drama follows a young boy who discovers ancient mysteries, love and superstition when he is sent to spend his summer holidays with an aunt in Sicily. 

A lively, cheeky boy, Nico's (Marco Fiore) family lives a modern, technological and hyper-connected lifestyle. He is sent to spend the summer in Sicily, as a guest of an elderly aunt, Zia Gela (Aurora Quattrocchi), a religious and grumpy woman. She lives alone in the house where she was born and raised, a place untouched by technology, without wi-fi, and suspended in time. Nico's aunt welcomes him with annoyance, introducing him to her mysterious world inhabited by angels and spirits, dominated by a magical sense of religion and steeped in superstition. 

But, as modernity clashes with tradition and science with faith, a reluctant summer together transforms into a spellbinding adventure when Nico learns that the mysterious Sicilian house is full of secrets.  

EVENT DETAILS:
Sunday, September 20 & 27
Check your preferred location for specific times & dates.

PRICING:
Palace Movie Club: $29.00
General Admission: $34.00

🏆WINNER - Best Actress, Best New Director | David di Donatello Awards 2026 
🏆WINNER - Special Jury Prize CINÉ+, Pardo for Best Performance | Locarno Film Festival 2025  
🏆WINNER - BNL BNP Paribas Special Award | Nastro d'Argento Awards 2026