Festivals

IFF26 Life is Life

Inspired by a true story, this Italian box office hit from Riccardo Milani (A World Apart IFF24) sees two different sets of ideals collide on an unspoiled stretch of coastline in southern Sardinia. Efisio is a solitary shepherd who lives in the small house where he was born, a silent guardian of a time that seems to no longer exist. Meanwhile Giacomo (Diego Abatantuono), the president of a powerful Milanese real estate group, is determined to transform the picturesque coast into a luxury resort alongside construction site manager Mariano (Aldo Baglio) who is tasked with convincing Efisio to sell his land. Caught between these irreconcilable worlds is Efisio’s daughter Francesca (Virginia Raffaele), who is torn between the call of change and her deep attachment to her homeland. But when Efisio refuses yet another multi-million offer, negotiations turn into a legal battle. As pressure mounts and the community fractures, Efisio’s unwavering ‘no’ takes on collective meaning in this David versus Goliath tale about courage, cultural identity and the environment.

IFF26 Holy Cannoli

Witty, romantic and smart, this film from beloved Italian satirist Pierfrancesco ‘Pif’ Diliberto (The Mafia Kills Only In Summer) - adapted from his own bestselling novel - is a hugely entertaining and gently irreverent comedy about love, faith and finding the perfect pastry. Arturo (Pif) is a successful real estate agent, but less so in love. Arturo lives alone, is the weak link in his office's football team, and nurtures an unwavering passion for desserts, with a soft spot for sciù from Palermo's most celebrated pasticceria. His life lights up when he meets the devoutly Catholic Flora (Giusy Buscemi), who is looking to open her own patisserie, and he falls instantly, hopelessly in love. To win Flora over, Arturo embarks on an increasingly absurd attempt to live by the gospel, a quest that earns him an unexpected spiritual advisor: the Pope. Italian box office hit Holy Cannoli is playful, pointed and cheeky, using comedy to expose the contradictions of contemporary Italian life seen through the eyes of a soul-searching, sweet-toothed sceptic.

IFF26 Sweetheart

Written and directed by Margherita Spampinato in her feature film debut, 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.

IFF26 Separate Beds

A box office smash hit in Italy, Separate Beds is a clever romantic comedy starring Edoardo Leo (Somebody to Love IFF25) and Claudia Pandolfi (also in The Greater Good). Alessandra (Pandolfi) and Valerio (Leo) could not be more different. Alessandra is a free-spirited forty-year-old: independent, unconventional, socially committed, a staunch feminist, and allergic to cohabitation and long-term relationships. Valerio is an athletic man of the same age, but unlike Alessandra, he is rigid and conventional, leading a simple, disciplined, and rather ordinary life. Then one day, their paths cross. Their chemistry is undeniable, the passion is overwhelming, and they are instantly drawn to one another for a night of passion. Then to their surprise, they discover that they also work at the same school! However, while she is adored by her students, he is the strict principal keeping all the students in line. Amid school corridors and classrooms full of teenagers, will these two irreconcilable opposites be able or willing to learn how to coexist or will they go their separate ways?

IFF26 Nino. 18 Days

Directed by his son Toni D'Angelo, this touching documentary about Neapolitan singer/actor Nino D'Angelo explores the story of an artist who has crossed genres, stages, and generations, while remaining true to his roots. In the 1980s, Nino D'Angelo had the most famous blonde bob in Italy after Raffaella Carrà. Now his hair is grey, he now composes his music in a small studio, and he lives in Rome, surrounded by his large family. In 2024, his concert at the Maradona Stadium in Naples is a definitive farewell to the 1980s, and sharing the moment with him, behind the camera, is his son Toni. In Nino. 18 Days, Toni D'Angelo follows his father on this tour around Italy. As Toni questions Nino about who he was and how he rose to success, he also takes him back to his childhood, to San Pietro a Patierno in Naples where he grew up, to Casoria where Nino became a man, a singer, and a father, recording intimate moments as they try to reclaim lost time and reconnect.

IFF26 Three Goodbyes

From acclaimed director Isabel Coixet, Three Goodbyes is a critically acclaimed, bittersweet romantic drama starring Alba Rohrwacher (La chimera IFF23) and Elio Germano (Sicilian Letters IFF25). After what seems like a trivial argument, couple Marta (Rohrwacher) and Antonio (Germano) split up. Marta, a teacher, reacts by withdrawing into herself. The only symptom she cannot ignore is her sudden lack of appetite. Antonio, a rising chef, throws himself into his work. Yet despite being the one who ended things with Marta, he cannot get over her, and every corner of Rome brings back memories of her. Heartbroken by the separation and a future that will never be, but also with a glimpse of hope, for Marta everything changes: the taste of food, the music, the desire, and the certainty of the choices she has made. A life-affirming tale based on the bestselling final novel by Michela Murgia and shot on warm 35mm, Three Goodbyes is a must-see gem that explores relationships, love, and the preciousness of time.

IFF26 Classmates

Starring a splendid Anna Ferzetti (La Grazia IFF25) and based on Gaja Cenciarelli’s eponymous, autobiographical novel, Classmates is an intergenerational dramatic comedy about the power of education, respect and community that sees the relationship between a driven teacher and her pupils transcend the school gates. An English teacher (Ferzetti), who is convinced of the fundamental value of education, is assigned to a challenging high school in Rome’s Rebibbia neighbourhood. Her colleagues have lost hope of making anything of the last class, a melting pot of the most difficult and reluctant students. Amid difficult lives, broken families, late-night antics, first loves, and preconceptions, the students are convinced that life outside of school is hostile. Their teacher, or rather, "Pressoré," as everyone calls her, has three options. She could run away like her predecessors, turn a blind eye, or step into the lion's den. So, "Pressoré" attempts to find a way to reach their hearts and give meaning both to their school journey and her life as a teacher.

IFF26 Incanto

A magical family tale about the importance of imagination and kindness, Incanto is the debut feature from writer/director Pier Paolo Paganelli. On his deathbed, Ludovico entrusts his ten-year-old daughter Margot to the housekeeper, Felicia (Vittoria Puccini), requesting the family villa be transformed into an orphanage so that the little girl can grow up with other children. But the wicked Felicia only wants the little girl’s assets, so she exploits the orphaned children and neglects Margot, who is confined to a room upstairs. However, one night Margot manages to escape and, after overcoming the darkness of the woods, she comes across a travelling circus. Greeted by the white clown Charlie, Margot is introduced to the secret that makes their circus unique: the old big top is magical, capable of showing anyone who enters its ring for who they truly are. Welcomed by her new circus family, Margot shines and begins to find her voice again. But the wicked Felicia is looking for her; will Margot be able to finally free herself from Felicia’s clutches?

IFF26 The Eyes of Others

Starring Jasmine Trinca (Diamonds IFF25) and Filippo Timi (In the Mirror IFF24), this provocative erotic thriller is loosely inspired by sensational true events in 1960s Italy involving high-society couple the Marquises Casati-Stampa, Camillo and Anna. On the scenic Pontine Islands archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, amidst the wild beauty of an island owned by an immensely wealthy marquis (Timi), the enigmatic Elena’s (Trinca) arrival sparks a passionate love affair. Under the blinding sun, their relationship unfolds and soon complicity, transgression, sex and power begin to intertwine. Surrounded by decadent excess, voyeurism and clandestine affairs, erotic desire and games gradually spiral into obsession. In his third feature, director Andrea De Sica (Children of the Night) blends melodrama, thriller and noir eroticism to explore moral ambiguity, power and the boundary between love and violence. Featuring the stylings of modernist 1960s Italian cinema, but with contemporary themes, The Eyes of Others delivers an intense tale of passion and crime in the privileged classes.

IFF26 The Greater Good

Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Pollino National Park, spanning the regions of Calabria and Basilicata, The Greater Good is a bittersweet comedy directed, co-written by and starring Rocco Papaleo (Somebody to Love, IFF25). Tour guide Biagio (Papaleo) and his nephew lead an unusual hiking expedition into the Pollino massif, escorting four women nearing the end of their prison sentences. Organised by their workshop leader, the struggling actress Raffaella (Vanessa Scalera, Diamonds, IFF25), the group sets out in search of an ancient Bosnian pine, a symbol of resilience, but the trek soon becomes an unexpected journey of transformation. As they navigate the park's rugged yet awe-inspiring terrain, shared stories, songs, and moments of quiet reflection reveal old wounds, hidden hopes, and a deep longing to be seen and heard. Bound together by an unlikely solidarity, each step forward brings the group closer to healing and a renewed sense of belonging, until an unforeseen event forces them to confront the fragile progress they have made.

IFF26 Twin Stars

Featuring stellar supporting performances from Margherita Buy and Laura Morante, this new comedy from Luca Lucini is a story of family, transformation, modern love, and self-discovery. Achille (Matteo Olivetti) and Stella (Martina Gatti) have been together since they were fifteen. Now at thirty, they have a son, a farm, and a mortgage. While Stella has never stopped dreaming, she has grown increasingly weary of Achille’s immature attitude. So, Stella decides to take a break and visit an old childhood friend in Rome. There, at a party, she meets Gil, a chef with a contagious smile, and is swept up in a passionate night with him. The next morning, guilt overwhelms her, and she returns home to Achille, where their passion rekindles. Soon, Stella discovers that the unthinkable has happened: she is pregnant by both men, an extremely rare occurrence of heteropaternal superfecundation. Caught in an emotional whirlwind, can Stella withstand judgment, nervous breakdowns, and gossipmongers, while searching for her own path?

IFF26 A Beautiful Day

Directed by and starring Fabio De Luigi (When Mum is Away...With the In-Laws IFF25) this tender romantic comedy about parenthood and making a fresh start explores what it means to fall in love after one has already built a family. Tommaso (De Luigi) is a single father of four daughters. His life features a chaotic yet solid family routine, defined by responsibilities and quiet affection, with absolutely no time left for himself. When his daughters decide it is time for their father to put himself back out there romantically, Tommaso meets Lara (Virginia Raffaele, A World Apart IFF25), a brilliant and charming bank manager. It is an unexpected encounter that could change their status quo and encourage them to open up emotionally. They immediately develop a rapport, but they are each hiding something significant. While Tommaso hides his family's situation from his new love interest, in turn Lara is hiding her past. But soon their secrets and misunderstandings begin to add up, with comedic consequences. Presented by Co.As.It Sydney

IFF26 A Brief Affair

Pilar Fogliati (Somebody to Love IFF25), Adriano Giannini (Family Matters IFF24), and Valeria Golino (Fuori IFF25) star in this suspenseful and mischievous romance written and directed by acclaimed Italian screenwriter Ludovica Rampoldi (Gomorrah – the series) in her feature directorial debut. The fates of two couples, thirtysomethings Lea and Andrea, and Rocco and Cecilia, twenty years older, collide by chance one night when Lea (Fogliati) and Rocco (Giannini) meet by chance in a bar and an instant attraction ignites between them. They begin a secret affair, consisting of fleeting, clandestine meetings in a hotel room. What seems at first to be an ordinary case of infidelity becomes obsessive as time passes. Lea tries to intrude more and more into Rocco’s life, with events taking an unsettling turn when she becomes a patient of Rocco’s therapist wife (a brilliant Valeria Golino). Combining romance, comedy and thriller, A Brief Affair explores the complexity of relationships, love and passion through the unexpected twists of this fling turned love story.

IFF26 Almost Grazia

In a world where women were rarely granted access to higher education, or to any education at all, only nine extraordinary female writers won the Nobel Prize in Literature during the twentieth century. Sardinian author Grazia Deledda (1871 – 1936) was the second, being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1926, and to this day she remains the only Italian woman to receive the honour. Based on the eponymous novel by Marcello Fois, this poetic biographical drama follows three pivotal moments in Grazia Deledda's life: the unexpected arrival of her mother from Nuoro; the hours before the announcement of the world's most prestigious literary prize; and the moments when a doctor searches for the right words to deliver a difficult truth. Written and directed by Peter Marcias, Almost Grazia portrays her determination and perseverance to fight against prejudice, revealing the profound political resonance of her personal journey, and offering a profound reflection on the relationship between women and literature. Presented by the Embassy of Italy in Canberra

IFF26 Andrea's Island

Written and directed by award-winning director Antonio Capuano, Andrea’s Island is a moving chamber drama about the legal battle waged by two parents over the custody of their only child. Marta (Teresa Saponangelo, also in For You) and Guido (Vinicio Marchioni, There’s Still Tomorrow IFF24) are separating, but things are complicated with their son, eight-year-old Andrea. In conflict, they turn to the courts to decide custody and regulate how many days Andrea should spend with each of them. The magistrate orders interviews and expert assessments, forcing Marta, Guido and Andrea to delve deeper into the reasons for their respective difficulties and desires. Through confrontations in front of judges, psychologists, and consultants, the complex story of their relationship begins to emerge. They gradually reveal a love born with enthusiasm, marked by family interference, silences, betrayals, and growing distance that led to a definitive break. But while Marta and Guido continue fighting, each waiting for the other to give in, Andrea is in an impossible position, caught between his parents.

IFF26 Anna Magnani - The Untold Story

Written, directed by and starring Monica Guerritore (Deceitful Love), this biopic tells the story of acclaimed Italian actress Anna Magnani (Bellissima, Mamma Roma, Rome, Open City), a woman who faced an adversity and fought it with dignity. Set during the evening of 21 March 1956 when Anna Magnani (Monica Guerritore) wins the Oscar for Best Actress in The Rose Tattoo, she spends the night waiting for the news to arrive while wandering the alleys and squares of Rome, encountering the locals who love her and recounting special memories she holds dear. Meanwhile Roberto Rossellini (Tommaso Ragno) remains always present in her mind. Throughout this pivotal evening, there is a young girl by her side who will become her agent Carol Levi (Beatrice Grannò, The White Lotus). Unbeknownst to them, a sudden and unpredictable turn of fate awaits Anna. Anna Magnani – The Untold Story retraces the darker side of Anna's life, love, and struggle to defend her talent and authenticity within the world of cinema.

IFF26 Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion

A must watch for fashion lovers, Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion is a fascinating, star-studded documentary that traces the rise of Italy’s style empires through the story of the legendary families that have been ruling it for decades and have defined an era: Armani, Versace, Gucci, Valentino, Missoni, Zegna, Ferragamo, Dolce&Gabbana, Prada, and beyond. In his final interview on screen, Giorgio Armani reflects on his life and his brand's undeniable influence on Italian fashion and taking America by storm with the wardrobe for Richard Gere in American Gigolo (1980). Set against Milan’s lavish and exclusive fashion sanctuaries, amidst ateliers, runways, and private retreats, the film explores creative rivalries, personal stories and the enduring love affair between Hollywood and Italian designers. Featuring insights from fashion icons, actors, industry insiders and collaborators, including Sharon Stone, Tom Ford, Helen Mirren, and Samuel L. Jackson, Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion delivers an intimate portrait of ambition, elegance, and the making of modern luxury in an industry of glamour, discipline, and power.

IFF26 A Year of School

Adapted from the 1929 novella by Giani Stuparich, this finely crafted coming-of-age drama follows an uprooted teenage girl who must navigate the challenges of growing up in a male-dominated world. September 2007. Exuberant and curious, Swedish 17-year-old Fredrika 'Fred’ (Stella Wendick) moves to Trieste with her family after her father takes on a new management job in the Northeastern Italian city. She enrols in the local Technical High School for her final year but finds herself as the only girl in an all-male class. Fred quickly becomes the centre of attention, especially for three friends: the fascinating and reserved Antero, the outgoing womaniser Pasini, and the sweet and protective Mitis. The three boys have been a unit for as long as they can remember, but Fred’s arrival disrupts their equilibrium and puts their longstanding friendship to the test. As each of the boys secretly desires Fred, she yearns to be accepted into their circle and become one of them. But to truly belong, she is asked to increasingly sacrifice more.

IFF26 Brunello, The Gracious Visionary

From Academy Award® winning director Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso, Ennio) and scored by Oscar-winning composer Nicola Piovani (Life is Beautiful), this inspirational documentary delivers an intimate portrait of the life and career of Brunello Cucinelli, a fashion entrepreneur with a humanistic philosophy, who rose from humble rural origins to become celebrated as “The King of Cashmere”. Blending classic documentary and cinematic fiction styles, Brunello: The Gracious Visionary retraces the key places and moments in Cucinelli's life, from his childhood in the countryside village of Solomeo, in rural Perugia, to the founding of his company in 1978, and reaching the heights of success as a fashion luminary. Featuring testimonials, archival footage and intimate recollections from Brunello himself, Tornatore highlights the power of dreams and reveals the extraordinary journey a man who, from humble beginnings, built a world-renowned company and luxury fashion empire while maintaining strong values of dignity, artistry and social justice.

IFF26 Bellissima

Marking its 75th anniversary, Anna Magnani delivers a career-defining turn in Bellissima, Luchino Visconti’s biting critique of postwar Italy’s obsession with fame. When Cinecittà Studios launches a child talent search, working-class nurse Maddalena (Magnani) becomes the ultimate stage mother, upending her humble household and pushing her young daughter toward stardom. Yet her relentless hustle collides with reality when a scheming studio insider demands money and favours, leading to a heartbreaking awakening about the true cost of chasing illusions. Equal parts witty and devastating, Bellissima captures two masters of Italian cinema at the absolute peak of their powers.

IFF26 Beloved

Directed by Elisa Amoruso (Sirley) and adapted for the screen by Ilaria Bernardini from her own novel, Beloved tells an intimate story of maternity through two women from different worlds who are facing opposing fertility struggles. Nunzia (Tecla Insolia, Primavera) is a 19-year-old student with a crushing secret: an unwanted pregnancy. Alone, she weighs up the difficult decision of whether to keep the baby or give it up. When Nunzia secretly gives birth to a daughter, Margherita, she considers leaving her in the hospital, unsure if she wants to claim her. Meanwhile, 42-year-old architect Maddalena (Miriam Leone, Miss Fallaci) and her partner Luca (Stefano Accorsi (Diamonds IFF25), are on the verge of adopting a child after struggling with infertility. As the days pass, a chance soon presents itself: delicate, luminous, full of anticipation. Exploring the complexity of motherhood, love and freedom, Beloved asks uncomfortable yet important questions to deliver a sincere drama about two lives connected by invisible threads and the choices that can change a person’s fate.

IFF26 For You

Written and directed by Alessandro Aronadio (Ears, Still Time) and based on a true story chronicled in Serenella Antonazzi’s book Un tempo piccolo, For You is a moving drama about a father and son which celebrates the power of love that transcends time and memory. Every day, eleven-year-old Mattia (remarkable newcomer Javier Francesco Leoni) experiences the illness of his father Paolo (Edoardo Leo, Somebody to Love IFF25), who, in his early forties, is slowly beginning to lose fragments of his memory. Yet, even as the world starts to fade, Paolo chooses to remain close to what truly matters, strengthened by the love of his wife, Michela (Teresa Saponangelo, also in The Greater Good) and Mattia. Together they embark on a journey defined by moments of shared daily life, joyous laughter, and silences that speak volumes, as they create new memories to cherish. In 2021, Mattia Piccoli was named a Flag-bearer of the Republic by President Sergio Mattarella in recognition of the dedication with which he cared for his father.

IFF26 La Scala: The Force of Destiny

Anissa Bonnefont’s atmospheric documentary follows 900 artists, staff and technicians at Milan’s legendary Teatro alla Scala over four months as they race to stage a new production of Verdi's The Force of Destiny for the theatre’s traditional 7 December Opening Night gala. Inside La Scala's creative hive, stage director Leo Muscato readies his vision with the set and costume design teams, as the chorus and orchestra rehearse under maestro Riccardo Chailly, and theatre staff prepare the 250-year-old venue. There is added anticipation with the arrival of the star international cast, set to fill the theatre's hallowed halls with their powerful voices. But with the clock ticking, the tension backstage builds. Will they be ready when the curtain rises? Filmed with unprecedented access, La Scala: The Force of Destiny is more than a behind‑the‑scenes chronicle. Beautifully capturing the remarkable endeavour of staging a major new production, it reveals the passion, apprehension and brilliance of these artists, and celebrates the grandeur and preciousness of the artform.

IFF26 Show Me the Truth

From director Davide Minnella, this biting ensemble comedic drama explores the blurred lines between entertainment and voyeurism and our relationship with the truth, in public and private. The Morettis, a close-knit, affluent Roman family, featuring parents Carolina (Claudia Gerini) and Edoardo (Claudio Amendola), and their children Flavio, Prisca, and Micol, decide to participate in Fuori la Verità, a new game show offering a prize of one million euros. There is only one rule: answer always and only with the truth. But every answer provided hides a lie because no one is honest with who they are and secrets simmer just below the surface. Surrounding them in the TV studio are writers and producers led by the ruthless host Marina Roch (Claudia Pandolfi, Somebody to Love IFF25), who are sharp and determined to push the game beyond all limits for the sake of ratings. Amidst rising tension and unsettling realisations, the Morettis reach a crucial crossroads.

IFF26 The Echo Chamber

Direct from competing In Competition at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, The Echo Chamber is a spellbinding romantic drama about time and memory starring Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Luca Marinelli (The Eight Mountains IFF23) and Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise). Directed by Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro and featuring a score composed by Academy Award® winner Clément Ducol (Emilia Pérez), this final work of Bernardo Bertolucci (The Conformist, 1900), who wrote the story and screenplay with Ilaria Bernardini (Beloved) and Ludovica Rampoldi (also directs A Brief Affair), follows a love story where the boundaries between presence and absence, care and dependence, desire and control blur until they dissolve. In an endless cycle of longing and separation, intimacy and distance, Leo (Marinelli) and Anne (Vikander) chase each other, but as they drift apart and search for their way back, they cannot let go nor break free. Meanwhile, songstress Ava’s (Sarandon) voice echoes across time, bringing to the surface that which endures and can no longer be held back.

IFF26 Illusion

Starring Jasmine Trinca (Diamonds IFF25), this intense drama from Francesca Archibugi dives into a murky web of power, desire and lies in the European underworld. On the outskirts of Perugia, a young, beautiful girl (Angelina Andrei) is found in a ditch dressed in haute couture. When the police are about to move her body, they discover that she is still alive. Her name is Rosa Lazar; she is Moldovan and barely sixteen years old. Deputy Prosecutor Cristina Camponeschi (Trinca) and psychologist Stefano Mangiaboschi (Michele Riondino) are immediately called to the case and together with Deputy Police Chief Pizzirò (Filippo Timi) they join forces to uncover what happened. But their investigation is more complicated than expected, because Rosa appears unaware of what she suffered and hides the truth. Appearing joyful and childlike, Rosa's outward demeanour masks her experience of a disturbing, dark underworld, and soon she becomes the key to an international investigation into a frightening prostitution ring in the heart of Europe.

IFF26 I Want Her Dead

Based on petty and absurd true events in his hometown, this documentary written and directed by Gianluca Matarrese tells a darkly comic and emotionally charged tale of an unhappy Southern Italian family on the verge of implosion. In a remote Calabrian village, a domestic war rages between family members living on top of each other in Contrada Viscigliette in a handful of streets clinging to a hill known as Il Cozzo. Luisa, a fierce and headstrong woman, is at war with her sister-in-law Imma, fuelling a bitter feud that consumes their entire household. As tensions spiral, three eccentric aunts in a tragicomic chorus stage a surreal family “trial” in a last-ditch effort to restore peace. Blending reality and fiction, farce and tragedy, this film delivers an inventive meditation on reconciliation and forgiveness to explore the meaning of blood ties, as the family walks the fine line between everyday resentment and irreversible catastrophe.

IFF26 Love Divine

Directed and co-written by Francesco Lagi, this Rome-set exploration of modern relationships features a stellar ensemble cast including Vanessa Scalera (Diamonds IFF25), Vinicio Marchioni (There's Still Tomorrow IFF24), Isabella Ragonese (Like Sheep Among Wolves IFF23), and Francesco Colella (The Leopard series, Miss Fallacci). A lighthearted yet poignant choral saga, Love Divine chronicles the romantic destinies of eight people across the course of four seasons. From varied walks of life, they are linked together by love, loss, passion, and betrayals, forming a network of entangled relationships and chaotic emotions. Guiding us on this journey is the poet Ovid, the eternal bard of love, who, transcending sentimentality and moral judgment, travels from Imperial Rome straight into our modern world to tell us this story. The eight protagonists' fates lie in the hands of the God of Love, a fickle and unpredictable deity, by turns benevolent and gentle, and at other times fierce and combative, who weaves their lives and loves into a complex tapestry.

IFF26 Malavia

A compelling coming-of-age drama from Nunzia De Stefano, Malavia tells the story of a Neapolitan boy who uses music to try to make something of himself. Sasà, a thirteen-year-old boy from the outskirts of Naples, spends his days listening to rap music with his two best friends. Raised by his single mother Rusè, the two share a deep bond, but it is tested by jealousy, poverty, and the pressures of a difficult environment. A lover of hip-hop with great musical talent, Sasà dreams of becoming a famous rapper so he can provide his mother with a better life. An encounter with Yodi, a well-known figure in the Neapolitan old-school rap scene, gives hope and momentum to Sasà's dream, leading him to compose his first real track: a rap song dedicated to Rusè. However, faced with the tough realities of the music industry, will Sasà be able to keep working towards his aspirations, or will he turn to crime and risk losing everything?

IFF26 Mamma Roma

In this 1962 drama from Pier Paolo Pasolini, Anna Magnani delivers a powerhouse performance as a mother desperate to escape her past and build a decent life for her son. Driven by Pasolini’s signature obsession with society’s outcasts, Mamma Roma delivers a gritty, neorealist snapshot of postwar Italian survival. Once banned for obscenity, it is now celebrated as a landmark of world cinema, capturing both the iconic Magnani at her peak and a visionary director finding his voice.

IFF26 Sand Roads

In 2010 best friends Valerio De Simoni, Jamie Kenyon and Kris ‘Ted’ Davant embark on the adventure of a lifetime: a 50,000km quad bike journey across three continents to break a Guinness World Record while fundraising to combat global poverty. Valerio keeps a diary and they carry a video camera, vowing to document everything, no matter what. Starting in Istanbul, they cross Europe, travelling through Italy to Sicily and on to Tunisia, then traverse East Africa to Malawi. Embracing new cultures, making friends in unlikely places and creating memories against everchanging, exquisite landscapes, this is their rite of passage to adulthood, and they are intent on testing their limits. The road obliges, becoming tough and unforgiving, fraught with breakdowns, exhaustion, and personal tensions, until tragedy strikes and changes their lives forever. Now, 16 years later, this Australian/Italian co-produced documentary Sand Roads shares the intimate road trip footage alongside a rediscovered diary and contemporary reflections to tell their heartfelt story of friendship, adventure, loss, and courage.

IFF26 The Lesson

Starring Matilda De Angelis (Fuori IFF25) and Stefano Accorsi (Diamonds IFF25), The Lesson is a psychological thriller and legal drama from Stefano Mordini, based on the eponymous novel by Marco Franzoso, reflecting on truth, justice, duplicity and paranoia. Elisabetta (De Angelis) is a young and brilliant lawyer from Trieste. Having successfully defended the charismatic university professor Angelo (Accorsi) against charges of sexual assault in the past, she is contacted by him again to file a lawsuit against the university which, despite reinstating him, has relegated him to a marginal role. At the same time, a nightmare from her past comes back to haunt her: strange signs, elusive presences, and a constant sense of threat plant the suspicion that her former partner Daniele, a violent and obsessive man convicted of stalking, has resumed his torment. As the boundary between reality and imagination grows increasingly blurred, Elisabetta decides to uncover the truth. Soon the tension begins to rise to a crescendo that will ultimately force her to question everything she thought she knew.

IFF26 Words Left Unspoken

From acclaimed director Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), this riveting drama about imperfect families based on the novel Siracusa by Delia Ephron follows two middle-class couples in crisis on a trip to Morocco. Carlo (Stefano Accorsi) and Elisa (Miriam Leone) are a successful couple living in Rome. He is a university professor and novelist facing a creative block; she is a sharp-witted, internationally respected journalist. Their life alternates between intimacy and routine, but slowly a distance is growing between them. Seeking a change and hoping for renewal, they travel to Tangier, Morocco with their longtime friends Anna (Carolina Crescentini) and Paolo (Claudio Santamaria), and their thirteen-year-old daughter Vittoria, an intelligent and curious girl. Beneath the surface, tensions slowly emerge as unresolved dynamics and secrets challenge each of their long-held certainties. Then Blu arrives, Carlo’s twenty-three-year-old philosophy student, whose mysterious presence disrupts the fragile balance. In this sweltering Moroccan environment, their relationships are transformed as hidden truths are exposed.