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 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?