Pantelis Voulgaris’s most recent film deals with one of the most important chapters of modern Greek history: the execution of 200 Greek resistance fighters by the German occupying forces on May 1st, 1944, in Kaisariani, as reprisal for the ambush of Nazis by the Greek Resistance. It takes us to the concentration camp of Chaidari, the period before Labor Day (May 1st), and introduces us to the people behind the tragic events. The leading character is 34-year-old Napoleon Soukatzidis, a Cretan born in Asia Minor, who had been arrested under the Metaxas dictatorship in 1936 and had been in prison and exile ever since.

Award-winning filmmaker Ferzan Özpetek returns with this Italian box office hit, a joyous and touching tribute to the costume designers and seamstresses whose great craftsmanship bring to life the magic of cinema. Inspired by Özpetek’s personal experience frequenting film and theatre tailoring shops in the 1980s, Diamonds features a dazzling all-star ensemble cast led by Luisa Ranieri (Parthenope IFF24) and Jasmine Trinca (Maria Montessori IFF24), with costumes by designer Stefano Ciammitti. In the present day, Özpetek decides to make a film about women and so gathers his favourite actresses for a lunch and script read-through, which leads to his imagination transporting them into another era. In 1970s Rome, sisters Alberta and Gabriella run a prestigious fashion house, where the noise of the sewing machines fills a workplace populated by women. When an important order arrives from an Oscar-winning costume designer client, challenges arise as the team of talented dressmakers try to fulfill the requirements. Outside and within the atelier, passions, anxieties, and unbreakable bonds intertwine as the line between reality and fiction begins to blur.

A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin is a psychological giallo thriller directed by Lucio Fulci, a filmmaker later known for pushing the boundaries of the horror genre. Set in swinging London, the film follows Carol Hammond (Florinda Bolkan), the wealthy daughter of a prominent politician, who is plagued by disturbing, erotic dreams about her free‑spirited neighbor Julia (Anita Strindberg). When Julia is found brutally murdered in the same fashion as Carol had dreamt, Carol becomes the prime suspect. As the investigation deepens, she is drawn into a hallucinatory spiral of paranoia, deception, and hidden desires. The film is widely praised for its dreamlike atmosphere and surreal imagery, blending psychedelic visuals with Hitchcockian suspense. Fulci crafts a disorienting narrative where the line between reality and dream blurs, leaving audiences unsure of what to believe. The film is also notable for its groundbreaking special effects by Carlo Rambaldi, who would go on to create the effects for E.T. A powerful Ennio Morricone score adds a hypnotic layer to the story, shifting from lush orchestration to unsettling dissonance, perfectly mirroring Carol’s mental unravelling. Though less graphic than Fulci’s later horror work, A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin remains one of his most acclaimed films, celebrated as a hallucinatory giallo classic and a high point in 1970s Italian thrillers.

A surreal and stylish giallo directed by Sergio Martino, blending psychological thriller, occult horror, and lysergic imagery. The film stars Edwige Fenech as Jane Harrison, a young woman living in London who is plagued by horrific nightmares following a traumatic car accident and a miscarriage. Her mental state deteriorates as she becomes convinced, she is being stalked by a mysterious, dark-eyed man with a knife. Desperate for relief, Jane attends a bizarre black magic ritual introduced to her by her neighbour Mary (Marina Malfatti). Instead of alleviating her fears, the initiation entangles her in a sinister cult whose members blur the lines between dream and reality. As Jane’s visions intensify, she can no longer distinguish between hallucinations, occult manipulation, and actual threats, leading to a suspenseful and shocking climax. The result is a hallucinatory experience, enhanced by Bruno Nicolai’s haunting score, which shifts from delicate melodies to dissonant, unsettling tones. Unlike more straightforward murder mysteries, All the Colours of the Dark leans heavily into surrealism and paranoia, making it one of the more unique gialli of the 1970s. It combines the genre’s familiar elements, gloved killers, eroticism, and suspense with occult themes, creating an atmosphere that is both nightmarish and hypnotic. Today, it is regarded as a cult classic and one of Sergio Martino’s finest works.

Written and directed by Gianni Amelio (Lord of the Ants IFF22), loosely based on the 2018 novel The Challenge by Carlo Patriarca, Battleground is a powerful story of sacrifice, nationalism, courage and compassion during wartime. As World War I draws to a close, two medical officers, childhood friends, work in the same military hospital where every day the most seriously wounded arrive from the front, many with self-inflicted wounds, doing anything to avoid returning to combat. With opposing views about their duties, Dr. Stefano Zorzi (Gabriel Montesi), is a patriotic, duty-bound medic, while Dr. Giulio Farradi (Alessandro Borghi, is more tolerant. Friends with them both since medical school but hampered from continuing her studies, nurse Anna (Federica Rosellini) volunteers alongside them with the Red Cross. But something strange begins to happen, with many patients mysteriously growing worse. As the great ‘Spanish’ flu epidemic arrives in 1918 and the outbreak contaminates the civilian population, soon love, politics and science become dangerously confused as another battle begins.

Set upon audiences in 1964 Mario Bava’s Blood & Black Lace is a landmark film in the evolution of the giallo genre and a major influence on later slasher cinema. Set in a glamorous Italian fashion house, the story begins when a model is brutally murdered on the premises. Soon, other models and staff members find themselves stalked by a mysterious masked killer. The murders appear connected to a diary that contains scandalous secrets, with suspicion falling on various members of the haute couture circle as the body count rises. What sets Blood & Black Lace apart is Bava’s masterful use of colour, lighting, and camera movement, with a visual style that is often described as painterly. Unlike traditional whodunits of the time, the violence here is shockingly graphic for its era, with elements that would become staples of giallo and later American slasher films. The film also features a haunting score by Carlo Rustichelli, blending jazz and suspenseful melodies that amplify the tension. While it was controversial at the time for its stylised violence, Blood & Black Lace is now celebrated as a pioneering work of Italian horror cinema, laying the groundwork for directors like Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Its combination of elegance, mystery, and brutality continues to influence horror aesthetics, making it one of the genre’s most enduring classics.

A uniquely Italian blend of mystery, psychological thriller, and graphic horror, and widely regarded as one of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento’s greatest films, Deep Red screens in a stunning new 4K restoration, celebrating 50 years of terror. Deep Red is seminal work in the giallo genre, a film that not only influenced later slasher films but also remains a cornerstone of Italian horror cinema, blending mystery, artistry, and psychological terror in unforgettable fashion. The film follows Marcus Daly (David Hemmings, best known for his work in Blow Up), a British jazz pianist living in Rome, who becomes entangled in a brutal murder mystery after witnessing the killing of a psychic, Helga Ulmann (Macha Méril), who had earlier sensed the presence of a dangerous killer during a public demonstration. Partnering with investigative journalist Gianna Brezzi (Daria Nicolodi), Marcus delves into a labyrinth of clues, eerie paintings, and cryptic childhood traumas, gradually uncovering a truth more shocking than he imagined. Renowned for stylish cinematography and elaborate set pieces, Deep Red pushes the boundaries of the giallo formula. Argento crafts tension through innovative camera work, striking use of colour, and intricate murder sequences, transforming violence into a form of nightmarish art. The film is also notable for its iconic progressive rock score by Goblin, which lends an unsettling, pulsating energy to the atmosphere. Its meticulously orchestrated visuals, such as the famous doll sequence and blood-red imagery, cemented Argento’s reputation as a master of stylish horror.

In 1980s-1990s Italy, with his agency Diva Futura, Riccardo Schicchi revolutionises mass culture by turning the hippie utopia of free love into a new phenomenon: porn. Under his guidance, “girls next door” Ilona Staller, Moana Pozzi, Eva Henger and many others suddenly become world-famous divas and enter Italian homes thanks to the television boom of private TVs and VHS. The expression "porn star" is coined, marking the beginning of a new era. The media impact is so overwhelming that it leads to the election to Parliament of Ilona Staller, known as “Cicciolina,” the birth of the Partito dell’Amore, and Moana Pozzi’s candidacy for mayor of Rome. Told though the eyes of Debora, a young secretary of the agency with a mortgage to worry about, the adventures of this big ‘family’ result in jealousies, ordeals and contradictions that leave the pornography industry in shambles. Written and directed by Guilia Louise Steigerwalt, based on the book "Non dite alla mamma che faccio la segretaria" by Debora Attanasio, Diva Futura is an intoxicating story of private and widespread desire.

This elegant and moving film from award-winning writer/director Mario Martone (Nostalgia, The King of Laughter) follows a decisive event in the life of renowned Italian feminist writer Goliarda Sapienza, brilliantly portrayed by Valeria Golino. Rome, 1980. Unable to get her novel The Art of Joy published, author Goliarda Sapienza finds herself briefly imprisoned after she steals some jewellery from a wealthy friend. The experience turns out to be life-changing, as Goliarda discovers a world without class barriers, and forms a deep bond with some of the younger inmates (played by Matilda De Angelis and Elodie). After their release and during a sweltering summer, the women continue to meet. Her friends’ stories and struggles for independence liberate Goliarda, who re-discovers the joy of living, and her drive to write. Inspired by Sapienza’s 1983 autobiography The University of Rebibbia, Fuori is an inspiring story of friendship, female solidarity and freedom, capturing the essence of a remarkable woman ahead of her time, whose aspiration for personal and collective freedom remains topical.

Cleverly intertwining past and present, fiction and documentary, with this biopic director/co-writer Mimmo Calopresti tells the story of the growth and success of Gianni Versace, a fashion designer of the future. Beginning with his youth in Reggio Calabria in the 1960s, spent observing his seamstress mother and studying the classics, he took his first steps in the world of fashion. While evading the judgment of his fellow townspeople about his never-hidden and proudly lived sexuality, he immersed himself in the remnants of ancient Greece in search of identity and eventually fled to Milan to unleash his genius. In 1970s Milan, the Versace brand began to rise, with forays into theater, music, cinema, and television. Then in the United States, Versace collaborated with great photographers like Mapplethorpe, forever changing the relationship between photography and fashion. Collecting a series of interviews with his friends, colleagues and models, including Carla Bruni, as well as archival images of fashion shows and interviews, Gianni Versace – Emperor of Dreams reconstructs the world, life and creativity of Versace.

When Isabella Ducrot (née Antonia Mosca) began to devote herself to art at the age of 55, no one – least of all herself – could have imagined that today, at the age of 90, she would be an artist sought after by leading galleries the world over. Born in Naples in 1931 and based in Rome, Ducrot’s œuvre has been admired in Italy for three decades, since a tapestry was included in the 1993 Venice Biennale. Typically made in series, she primarily produces fresh, intimate and joyous works of collage, using paint, textiles, and paper, but it wasn’t until 2019 that she gained international recognition. In this in-depth examination of a woman who traversed the 20th century, Ducrot reveals that in her opinion “a happy life begins at sixty!” More than a portrait of an artist who rose to the top despite being self-taught and an outsider, Hold Tight Missy! Isabella Ducrot Unlimited follows Ducrot’s activity over the course of two years, amid international successes and delivering private insights.

The ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is delighted to present Oscar-winning filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino’s highly anticipated new drama LA GRAZIA (“Grace”), direct from its world premiere at Venice. The iconic Toni Servillo stars as Mariano De Santis, President of the Italian Republic (with no connection to any real-life presidents; he is entirely a product of Sorrentino’s imagination). A widower and a Catholic, De Santis has a daughter, Dorotea (Anna Ferzetti), who is a legal scholar like himself. As his term draws to a close, amid seemingly uneventful days, two final duties arise: deciding on two delicate petitions for a presidential pardon. These are true moral dilemmas which become tangled, in ways that seem impossible to unravel, with his private life. Driven by doubt, De Santis will have to decide… and so with a deep sense of responsibility, that is exactly what this remarkable Italian President will do. When announcing LA GRAZIA’s prestigious selection as the Venice Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala, artistic director Alberto Barbera remarked “Sorrentino’s return comes with a film destined to leave its mark for its great originality and powerful relevance to the present time.” Australian audiences will have the pleasure of discovering this for themselves, within days of its international debut.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, all-star Australian classic coming-of-age drama Looking For Alibrandi is presented in a brand new 4K restoration. Critically acclaimed, director Kate Woods' adaptation of Melina Marchetta's coming-of-age novel won the AFI Award for Best Film in 2000, and resonated with audiences for its authentic portrayal of growing up in Australia and the second generation migrant experience. In her final year of school at an exclusive private school, intelligent and outspoken Australian-Italian teenager Josephine ‘Josie’ Alibrandi (Pia Miranda) faces a car-crash of social problems. She is seventeen, has the dreaded HSC coming up, her snobbish classmates mock her Sicilian heritage, her relationship with her single mother (Greta Scacchi) is on the rocks, her father is absent, and the boy of her dreams seems completely out of reach. When her life is turned upside down, fortunately her Nonna (Elena Cotta) is always by her side, as Josie navigates her complicated family life, friendships, self-identity and learning to belong.

Directed by Ivano DeMatteo (Mia IFF24) this compelling drama about forgiveness and parental love that is loosely based on Ciro Noja’s novel Whatever Happens (Qualunque cosa accada) tackles the aftermath of a serious crime committed by a teenager. Pietro (Stefano Accorsi) is a middle-aged man devastated by the loss of his wife, and has been left to raise their teenage daughter Sofia alone. In their shared grief, their bond becomes intense and all-encompassing—two souls healing each other’s wounds through unwavering love and mutual dependence. But when Pietro attempts to move forward and start a new life with a new partner, the fragile balance of their father/daughter relationship shatters and in a moment of uncontrollable rage, his teenage daughter commits an unthinkable act. As Sofia faces the consequences of her actions, Pietro is left to confront a devastating reality as his love for his daughter is put to the test. Caught between heartbreak, guilt, and his paternal instinct, Pietro must ask himself whether he can forgive her.

Starring Ludovica Martino (SKAM Italia) and Marco Leonardi (Cinema Paradiso) My Place Is Here is a compelling tale of a woman’s pursuit of happiness. Written and co-directed by Daniela Porto and Cristiano Bortone, based on the eponymous novel by Daniela Porto, this thoughtful drama is set in 1940s Southern Italy, at the time of the first feminist movement. In the impoverished confines of her parents' home, 17-year-old Marta awaits the return of her fiancé from war. As a single mother, she faces the scorn of her community, and in the aftermath of WWII, she finds herself promised to an older farmer. During the village's preparatory course for wives, she forges an unlikely friendship with Lorenzo, the village's wedding planner. In conservative, rural Southern Italy, Lorenzo introduces her to a hidden community, sparking Marta's courageous journey to challenge societal prejudices. Against the historical backdrop of the first year of women's suffrage in Italy, Marta navigates her evolving role as a woman, breaking barriers and finding her place in a changing world.

In 1949, the Italian city of Naples lies in ruins after the devastation of WWII. Amidst the poverty and rubble-strewn streets of the city, two children, Carmine and Celestina, try to survive as best they can by helping each other. Like so many others, they dream of going to America. After a chance encounter with a steamship’s chef, one night, they secretly stow themselves away on a ship bound for New York to reach Celestina’s sister, who emigrated to America several years earlier. On board, Carmine and Celestina join the many Italian emigrants seeking a new, better life in America. On the run from the Italian purser (Pierfrancesco Favino), the pair eventually arrive in an unknown metropolis, which, after several misadventures, they eventually learn to call home. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini and Tullio Pinelli from the 1980s, Napoli – New York is a compelling and hopeful coming-of-age story about the duality of dreams and disillusionment, the search for identity and the pursuit of a better life.

The directorial debut from actress Greta Scarano (The Perfect Dinner IFF22), fun dramedy Siblings is inspired by the true story of Margherita and Damiano Tercon, who in 2020 co-wrote the book Mia sorella mi rompe le balle. Irene (Matilda De Angelis) is trying to build a regular life in Rome when she is forced to return to her hometown Rimini, to take care of Omar (newcomer Yuri Tuci), her 40-year-old autistic brother. She will find out that Omar has very clear ideas about his future: he does not want to live with her at all when their parents are no longer around. Instead, he convinces Irene to give him an intensive course in adulthood to enable him to become independent. More importantly, he aims to fulfill his dreams, such as participating in the talent show that will make him a famous singer. A joyous tale about overcoming obstacles and daring to go beyond the limits imposed by society and others, Siblings explores the universal bond between siblings.

From Fabio Grassadoni and Antonio Piazza (Sicilian Ghost Story), this fictionalised mafia story features standout performances from Elio Germano and Toni Servillo. A dangerous liaisons crime drama with blackly comic elements, Sicilian Letters is loosely inspired by true events and real ‘pizzini’ messages by fugitive Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro. In early 2000s Sicily, after serving several years in prison for Mafia-related crimes, Catello (Servillo), a long-serving local councillor, has lost everything. When the Italian Secret Service persuades him to help capture Matteo (Germano), the son of his closest friend and the last major Mafia boss still on the run, Catello sees an opportunity. A shrewd man and a tireless illusionist who turns truth into falsehood and falsehood into truth, under their guidance Catello begins to correspond with the fugitive. Exploiting the younger man’s emotional state, Catello’s gamble involves a significant risk, as he plays a game of cat and mouse with one of the most wanted criminals in the world.

Narrated by Italian-Australian actress Greta Scacchi, this fascinating documentary written, directed and produced by the creators of LYGON ST - Si Parla Italiano, Angelo Pricolo, Jason McFadyen and Shannon Swan, Signorinella: Little Miss celebrates the tenacity and spirit of Italian women who helped shape the Italian-Australian community. In the wake of WWII, a new wave of Italian immigrants arrived in Australia, seeking to rebuild their lives far from the devastation they left behind. Among them were women who embodied resilience, determination and a sense of adventure. From raising families while running small businesses, to transforming Australia’s food, fashion, media and cultural landscape, these women did more than adapt - they thrived. Capturing a legacy that still echoes through the community today and featuring interviews with a range of influential women including Allegra Spender, Carla Zampatti and Tina Arena, they share their stories of hardship, resilience and triumph. Through personal narratives and historical insights, this documentary is a tribute to the power of determination, creativity, and the enduring spirit of women who dared to dream.

After the global success of 2016’s Perfect Strangers, writer/director Paolo Genovese has struck gold again with Somebody to Love, an hilarious, all-star romantic comedy that reveals the innermost thoughts and uncertainties of an Italian couple on their awkward first date in Rome. Recently separated philosophy professor and father-of-one Piero (Edoardo Leo) has arrived for dinner at the home of Lara (Pilar Fogliati), a talented furniture restorer, who has recently ended her relationship with a married man. As the two begin to get to know each other, they must also navigate their competing inner voices: the thoughts - whether instinctive, romantic, logical or impulsive - that guide their emotions and decisions. As the evening evolves, their hidden desires and quirks gradually come to light, along with their hearts’ unmistakeable desire to find a perfect match. Skilfully blending charm and comedic expertise, Somebody to Love has swept over 2.5 million moviegoers off their feet to become Italy’s #1 box office hit of 2025. This is fresh, uproarious and crowd-pleasing entertainment at its best.

A cultural phenomenon and box office sensation in Italy, this emotional drama set in a Rome high school explores the real story behind Italy’s first publicised case of online bullying. Loosely adapted from a book by Andrea’s mother Teresa Manes (played by Claudia Pandolfi), who has since become an anti-bullying advocate, this compelling film from Margherita Ferri portrays the tragic true story of 15-year-old Andrea Spezzacatene, featuring rising star Samuele Carrino in the lead role. Andrea is a gifted student and a talented singer who longs to make friends and fit in at his new school. But he soon falls prey to Christian, a charming student with a darker side. Then, when a laundry mishap causes his new red trousers, a gift from his mother, to turn pink in the wash, events take a turn for the worse as school bullying intensifies. Calling attention to the impact of bullying, homophobia and intolerance, The Boy with Pink Trousers is a moving and powerful film, honouring the memory of Andrea.

Elio Germano delivers a standout performance as Enrico Berlinguer in this meticulous, intelligent biopic of a man for whom life and politics, private and collective, were inextricably linked. Italy, 1970s. Enrico Berlinguer is the Secretary of the most important Communist party in the western world, with over one million seven hundred thousand card-holding members and more than twelve million voters, united by the great ambition of achieving socialism within a democracy. Challenging the dogmas of the Cold War and a world divided in two, Berlinguer and the Italian Communist Party (PCI) sought for five years to come to power, opening a season of dialogue with the Christian Democracy and almost changing history. Covering the period from 1973 when Berlinguer escapes an assassination attempt by the Bulgarian secret services in Sofia, makes it through election campaigns and trips to Moscow, onto the front pages of newspapers worldwide and holds a risky relationship with power, until 1978, The Great Ambition is a compelling portrait of the popular leader at his peak.

Celebrated for its slow-burn suspense and haunting atmosphere, this film throws viewers into a small rural Italian village, following Stefano (Lino Capolicchio), an art restorer hired to work on a mysterious fresco in the local church. The painting, created by a mysterious artist, depicts grotesque scenes of torture and suffering. As Stefano begins his restoration, he discovers unsettling clues about the artist’s life and the sinister history of the village. What begins as a routine assignment gradually spirals into a nightmare as Stefano receives anonymous phone calls and warnings, urging him to abandon the project. The townsfolk behave with secrecy, and a growing sense of menace permeates the sleepy village. The truth Stefano uncovers leads to a shocking and disturbing climax, one of the most unforgettable in Italian horror. Unlike the more flamboyant gialli of Dario Argento or Mario Bava, director Pupi Avati crafts a restrained, atmospheric thriller, relying less on violence and more on mood, paranoia, and psychological unease. With its eerie pacing, haunting visuals, and an ending that leaves viewers deeply unsettled, The House with Laughing Windows is often hailed as one of the most disturbing and artful giallo films of the 1970s.

Starring popular comic duo Salvatore Ficarra & Valentino Picone (Strangeness IFF23) and festival favourite Toni Servillo (also in La Grazia and Sicilian Letters), The Illusion is a fun re-imagining of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s 1860 campaign that unified Italy. 1860. Young idealists from all regions of Italy join Giuseppe Garibaldi (Tommaso Ragno) in Quarto, near Genoa, for the adventure of the “Mille.” With his faithful group of officers, including the loyal Colonel Vincenzo Giordano Orsini (Servillo), Garibaldi recruits volunteers for the expedition. Among the many soldiers recruited are two (fictitious) Sicilians, peasant farmer Domenico Tricò (Ficarra), and noble yet penniless trickster Rosario Spitale (Picone). Landing at Marsala, Sicily, the “Mille” begins fighting with Bourbon army, whose superior numbers are immediately evident, and it seems impossible to breach enemy lines. But when he is almost forced to retreat, Garibaldi devises an ingenious plan. Directed and co-written by Roberto Andò (Strangeness IFF23) this entertaining tale blends comedy and drama to illuminate a piece of history, exploring the paradoxes of Sicilian identity.

Directed by Marco Tullio Giodana, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Marco Bellochio and Gloria Malatesta, and inspired by the acclaimed novel by Mariapia Veladiano, A Life Apart is an absorbing drama that explores identity, beauty and the power of music. Featuring original music by acclaimed composer Dario Marianelli (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Pinocchio), it follows a wealthy and influential family in the beautiful Italian art city Vicenza, consisting of Maria, her husband Osvaldo, and his twin sister Erminia, a renowned concert pianist. In the early 1980s, after years of trying to conceive, Maria finally gives birth to a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated daughter, Rebecca. However, Rebecca is born with a prominent purple birthmark covering half her face. Despite being otherwise normal and beautiful, the mark becomes an obsession for Maria, leading her to reject her responsibilities as a mother. Rebecca’s adolescence is marred by shame and isolation until her aunt Erminia takes over her education and discovers her exceptional musical talent, offering her a means to escape her family’s obsessions and secrets.

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, The Mountain Bride – Vermiglio is an atmospheric, visually breathtaking portrait of a family in the final year of WWII. Written and directed by Maura Delpero, drawing from her own family’s past and collective memory, this rich, intimate drama follows a series of consequential events in a village caught between tradition and modernity. 1944. In Vermiglio, a small mountain village high up in the Italian Alps, war looms as a distant but constant threat. When reserved soldier Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico) arrives in the village, hiding out after deserting the army, he disrupts the dynamics of the family of local teacher schoolteacher Cesare Graziadei (Tommaso Ragno, also in The Illusion and Sicilian Letters). Pietro and Lucia (Martina Scrinzi), Cesare’s eldest daughter, are instantly drawn to each other leading to an unexpected fate. Over the course of four seasons, secrets swirl beneath the surface and as the world emerges from the tragedy of war, the family finds their lives transformed. Please note, not screening in Perth.

Inspired by real events, The Negotiator is a dramatic spy thriller starring Claudio Santamaria and Sonia Bergamasco that delivers a profound reflection on the meaning of heroism and sacrifice, exploring power relations that remain powerfully resonant 20 years on. The Negotiator follows the twenty-eight days leading up to the tragic events of March 4, 2005, when SISMI senior military intelligence officer Nicola Calipari (Santamaria) sacrificed his life in Baghdad during an operation to free the journalist Giuliana Sgrena of “il manifesto”, who had been kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq. As SISMI’s deputy director of operations and head of ops in Iraq in the early 2000s, Calipari played a crucial role in operations in Iraq, safeguarding human life and keeping the peace. A production made possible by the Calipari family, who approved the screenplay and participated in filming, and supported by the National Security Authority of the Prime Minister’s Office during development, The Negotiator pays tribute to his memory and the sacrifice that earned Calipari the Gold Medal for Military Valour.

Adapted from Rosella Postorino’s bestselling novel At The Wolf’s Table, this gripping historical drama from multi award-winning writer/director Silvio Soldini (Bread and Tulips) is inspired by the incredible true story of Margot Wölk, a woman who was conscripted to be one of Hitler’s food tasters. Autumn, 1943. Twenty-six-year-old Rosa (Elisa Schlott, Das Boot), having fled Berlin, reaches the small, isolated East Prussian village of Gross-Partsch where her in-laws live and where her husband, who is on the front, has written to her to take refuge while awaiting his return. Rosa soon discovers that the apparently peaceful village hides a secret: inside the neighbouring forest lies Hitler’s headquarters, known as Wolf's Lair. The Führer sees enemies everywhere, and the risk of his being poisoned is his obsession. One morning at dawn Rosa is taken, along with other young women from the village, to taste the food cooked for him. Torn between fear of death and hunger, the tasters form alliances, friendships and secret pacts among themselves, determined not to give up hope. Note: This film is in German language with English subtitles Proudly Presented by the Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney

In this personal tale, filmmaker Francesca Comencini reflects on her bond with and pays homage to her father Luigi Comencini, using cinema as a way of understanding life. An intimate account of shared moments between father and daughter, in her memories cinema is always a shared passion, and a way of being in the world that creates the space for imagination. A devoted father (Fabrizio Gifuni) working in the film industry shares a deep bond with his young daughter. The father tells his daughter about his work and listens to her, observes her, speaks to her with seriousness, composure and respect. Together, they discover the magical world of childhood through the daughter's eyes and the set of Pinocchio, the film he is currently working on, where life pulses and chaos meets fantasy. As the child grows older, the enchantment vanishes, and her idyllic childhood slips away. Later, after she falls into some bad situations, and her father takes her to Paris to save their bond.

Jasmine (Marilena Amato) is a hairdresser in her 40s and appears to have everything she ever wanted: a devoted husband, three loving sons, and a thriving salon just south of Naples. But after her father’s passing, she is haunted by a recurring dream in which a young girl runs into her arms, offering Jasmine a new sense of fulfilment and completeness she cannot ignore. Determined to make this dream a reality, she dives headfirst into the challenging world of international adoption – risking her marriage, her sons’ well-being, and forces her to confront her beliefs and deepest desires. Faced with numerous obstacles and a family in crisis, Jasmine remains steadfast and soon the family comes to realise that the only way out is together. Written and directed by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman, based on true events and featuring non-professional actors portraying their own lives, Vittoria is a powerful drama that delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics and the seemingly irrational desires of the human psyche.

In her debut feature, director and cowriter Sara Fgaier delivers a lyrical, sensitive and thoughtful drama about the power of memory, love and how to find someone you have lost. Gian (Andrea Renzi), a 65-years-old ethnomusicology professor, fights the darkness caused by a sudden amnesia. Flashes of the past, with the appearance of hazy archive footage, haunt his mind like a phantasmagoria of images. Miriam (Sara Serraiocco), the daughter he no longer recognises, moves into his apartment with her son Elyas. She gives him a diary written in his twenties that revolves around Leila, a girl with whom he discovered love in the space of one night. This exacerbates Gian’s pain but invites him to recover his memory and uncover who was this important woman in his past and what happened to her? As Gian’s unmoored present-day life is gradually replaced by the vivid images of the past, he comes to realise that only by searching for Leila will he be able to find himself again.

After the great success of the first two films in the series, 10 Days Without Mamma (IFF19) and When Mum is Away...with the Family (IFF21), the adventures of the Rovelli family continue in this Italian box office hit comedy directed by Alessandro Genovesi. Fabio De Luigi and Valentina Lodovini return as Carlo and Giulia Rovelli and this time, the family is heading to sunny Puglia, where their eldest daughter, eighteen-year-old Camilla, is moving to attend university with her boyfriend, Antonio Paradiso. However, Carlo is not ready to let go of his firstborn—especially if it means having her live with a young man he does not trust at all. Once the Rovellis arrive at the farmhouse of the Paradiso family, Carlo does not miss an opportunity to be the world’s most unwelcome guest. Amid theft, lies, culture clashes, romantic escapades, and a series of hilarious misunderstandings, only time will tell whether the Rovellis and the Paradisos will remain at odds or become one big family.

Four undertakers in financial trouble latch onto a one-off opportunity to change their lives and bid farewell to a profession they entered for a while but got stuck in for good. On the promise of a large fee, they fulfill the dying wish of a Greek who lived his life abroad: he wants them to take his body from Athens to a village in Boeotia for burial…on foot. Deciding to grant his bizarre request, they embark on an odyssey which soon becomes an unexpected voyage of discovery.

In 1987 the Giannakopoulos family, fans of the Panathinaikos Athletic Club, decided to take over management of the men's basketball department. The decision would launch them on a journey to the Stars. The film captures the team’s journey from the establishment of the men's basketball department in 1919, the inauguration of the women's team in 1937 and the resistance activities of its athletes during the Occupation, to the building of the Indoor Hall under the stands of the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium and the team’s reaching the Final Four of the Cup Winners' Cup, all leading up to the pivotal moment when the Giannakopoulos family took over the its administration, which led it to repeated successes in the European Basketball Championships.

On the night he turns fifty a seasoned late-night radio presenter realises, with unease, that his youth is gone forever. While he unravels his life on air and messages from a distant past are transmitted from a forgotten answering machine, an old love affair left in limbo comes back to haunt him. His army service in the Presidential Guard (Evzones), the silent nocturnal audience, a midnight marathon, the dimly lit Athenian antiquities and the nocturnal landscape, all mingle nostalgically and dreamily with the radio waves…

A Touch of Spice is a story about a Greek boy (Fanis) growing up in Istanbul, whose grandfather, a culinary philosopher and mentor, teaches him that both food and life require a touch of spice to give them flavour. Fanis grows up to become an astrophysicist and an excellent cook, using his cooking skills to spice up the lives of those around him. Many years later he leaves Athens, where he is now living, and travels back to his birthplace to reunite with his grandfather and his first love; he comes now to realise that he forgot to put a little bit of spice into his own life.

Set in 1922, Brides is the story of a mail-order bride – one of 700 from every corner of Greece, Turkey, Russia and Armenia – aboard the SS King Alexander bound for the USA. In her suitcase is a photograph of an unwelcome bridegroom and her wedding gown. Also on this vessel, but travelling in first class rather than third, is an American photographer on his way home to a failed marriage. She meets him and falls in love...

A mosaic of moments of Athenian life in the last summer of the twentieth century. A carefree and enigmatic walker collects the best moments of a city that the laziness of summer makes light and magical. Doomed loves and tragicomic encounters emerge to confront the harsh yet redemptive humour of everyday life. The central hero roams the landscape of night-time Athens looking for love, while at the same time wandering in his own inner landscape and questioning his existence.

Kostas is a policeman, divorced with a child and with his mother in a nursing home. He is having a hard time financially, so he often steals jewelry from the corpses he conveys to the morgue. His ex-wife, Andri, works as a cleaner but she too is struggling financially since Kostas doesn't always pay in full the alimony they agreed upon. At the same time, he maintains a relationship with Elena, who lives with her mother. One day, when he and his colleague Andreas are called upon to transport a deceased person, an elderly woman, Kostas steals a cross from the corpse and puts it with other stolen jewelry in a biscuit container that he hides in a kitchen cupboard. Things start to get complicated when Elena stays overnight at Kostas’ apartment, finds the container and makes a disturbing discovery.

A father, a mother and their three children live in a house in the outskirts of a city. The children have never left the house. They are being educated, entertained, bored and exercised in the manner that their parents deem appropriate, without any influence from the outside world. Rediscover Yorgos Lanthimos’ iconic feature film that defined his style and launched his career. Awarded the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Dogtooth was later nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

An estate agent interested in investing wanders around the area of Neos Kosmos in Athens, formerly known as Dourgouti. Through his eyes unfolds the past, present and uncertain future of this once run-down district. A district like a deserted island, right next to the Acropolis, sharing the fate of similar neighborhoods around the globe. A district that silently records the history of the city for the last 100 years, just before gentrification takes complete control of the area and radically changes its character.

This supernatural comedy begins in Greece: Ella is the only child of Jack, an American singer-songwriter, and Despina, the zany, overprotective Greek owner of a cooked meat shop. Nick, Ella’s only friend, is a shy, nerdy ten-year-old. As Ella and Nick grow older their friendship turns into love, but in 2010 the Greek economy collapses, Nick vanishes, Jack dies and Despina and Ella move to America and set up shop there. Ella is now a 27-year-old late-bloomer, dreaming of becoming a singer, but Despina wants her to take over the business. During their daily fight, Despina drops dead of a heart attack, only to return as a ghost, haunting Ella with unwanted advice and romantic guidance after Nick resurfaces as a handsome doctor and something of a playboy.

Three people head towards a turning point in their lives: at a dig in Philippi, an archaeologist discovers an unlooted tomb; at a bird sanctuary in Thrace, a game warden pays back a poacher in his own coin; a factory owner goes berserk when his wife leaves him, taking with her their two small children.

Our Opening Night Selection. Crete, 1889. Captain Michalis is an uncompromising Cretan whose sacred duty is the liberation of Crete. However, the moment he meets Emine, the wife of his blood brother, Nouribeys, he's possessed by a demon. Temptation won't leave him alone and distracts him from his duty. The decision of whether to follow his duty or succumb to his passion will have a catalytic effect on all involved. The novel Captain Michalis, upon which the film is based, has won international acclaim. It's been translated into 28 languages and is Nikos Kazantzakis' best-selling work worldwide. Inspired by the author’s childhood memories of his father in Crete, it delves into the Cretan people’s particular way of life and their fervent desire for freedom. The events in the story take place shortly before the Cretan Revolution, which aimed to liberate the island of Crete from the Ottoman Turks.

In 1930s Andros, the island known as “Little England” because of its maritime tradition, local women mostly marry seamen and spend lonely lives, with their menfolk absent for long periods and sometimes lost at sea. A captain’s daughter, Orsa, is passionately in love with a sailor, Spyros, but her mother, Mina, at the helm of the family during her husband’s long absences, turns down Spyros’ marriage proposal for Orsa because of his humble background. Obeying her mother’s wishes, Orsa marries Nikos, a captain and ship owner. Years later, Spyros returns to the island as an accomplished captain with excellent prospects. Mina decides that he is now eligible to marry Orsa’s younger sister Moscha. After the wedding, the two couples share the same house. Following World War II, suppressed feelings are rekindled...

Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie is Maria Callas, one of the most iconic performers of the 20th century, in acclaimed director Pablo Larrain's biographical drama Maria. The film follows the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. The film reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva comes face to face with her identity and her life.

Memento is a lyrical journey into the heart of Giromeri, a fading village nestled in the misty mountains of Epirus, northern Greece. Each Easter Monday, among weathered tombstones and blooming spring, villagers gather in the cemetery where local musicians perform the favorite songs of the departed – an intimate ritual of remembrance echoing through generations. This unique tradition becomes a timeless bridge between the living and the dead, between melody and memory. The documentary reveals the fragile beauty of rural life, where tradition clings to the edges of modernity. It is a gentle hymn to a way of life slowly fading, yet still fiercely sung.

After an accident Maria Aliki (or Alice), a failed actress in search of big roles, gets thrust into a reality where she is called on to play all the parts that life could have given her if she had made different choices. Where exactly is she? Has she passed out, has she died or is she dreaming? Trying to understand what is happening to her and trying to find her way out to real life, Maria Aliki tries to fit into roles that others seem to have designed for her. How can she get back to life? Does she really want to go back? In a journey of self-discovery, Maria Aliki is confronted with herself and is asked to answer the essential question: “To be or not to be?” Ultimately, who is the real Maria Aliki, and how can she find her way back to life?

Unable to make ends meet, aspiring filmmaker Eirinaios still dreams about making the ideal independent sci-fi movie. He can't secure funding until shady entrepreneur and former adult-movie producer Tolis takes a shine to him. Tolis seems to believe in Eirinaios, but his new protégé must do something in return.

The highly acclaimed Rembetiko (1983, director’s cut 2024) is a poignant musical drama that chronicles the life of Marika, a gifted singer whose journey mirrors the turbulence of 20th-century Greece. Born in Smyrna in 1917, Marika is forced to flee to Greece by the 1922 Catastrophe. Her early life is marred by personal tragedy. Despite these hardships, she rises to prominence in the rembetiko music scene—a genre often described as the Greek blues, known for expressing the struggles of the marginalised. Marika's story unfolds against a backdrop of significant historical events, including World War II and the Greek Civil War, highlighting themes of displacement, resilience, and the enduring power of music. Her passionate performances and tumultuous relationships underscore the personal costs of artistic dedication. The film culminates in Marika's tragic death, cementing her legacy as a symbol of cultural perseverance.

A mysterious stain appears on the wall in one of the rooms of a guest house on the Athenian Riviera, which young Alkistis manages together with her mother, Anna. In her spare time Alkistis tries to communicate with a dying tree, which she calls Jerry. Their only guests are Petros, a failed writer, who can no longer afford to live there, and a couple who are threatening to leave because of the growing mould in their room. Anna is about to sell out. Alkistis falls out with her best friend and gets involved in a doomed romance with a local engineer. As she desperately tries to cling onto the past, she spirals down into a frenzy of denial. Yet maybe the end of her world is not quite so tragic after all…

The enigmatic old woman, Rosa from Izmir (Smyrna), and the powerful Ismael have lived for decades with the weight of a well-kept secret. Dimitris, an avid collector of Greek objects in Asia Minor, is preparing an exhibition in a renowned museum in Athens on the culture of the nationalities who cohabited in Izmir before the genocide. During a trip to Izmir with the museum's curator and his girlfriend, Rita, he accidentally finds a bloodstained Greek wedding dress in a small antique shop. An old photograph, a bloodstained wedding dress, and a letter become the reasons to retell their story from the past.

Safe Sex is a vibrant Greek comedy satire that weaves together multiple vignettes about the romantic and sexual entanglements of modern Athenians. Directed by the creative duo Michalis Reppas and Thanasis Papathanasiou, the film adopts a mosaic structure to humorously explore diverse aspects of intimacy – from dating misadventures and marital misunderstandings to experimental relationships and social taboos.

In a stunning mountain village, a quirky pastry chef named Mr. Panagiotis (Alexandros Antonopoulos) is forced by circumstance to hide a little girl, Fani (Ariadni Velli), in his house. It doesn't take long for his two grandkids (Spyros Douyias and Stella Mouriki) and their mate (Stratis Zacharis) to find the hidden Fani, and just like that, the "gang of five" is formed. The four kids and Mr. Panagiotis embark on a fantastic adventure that blurs the lines between reality and fairytale. But first, they have to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. They need to trick Mr. Panagiotis's daughter (Katerina Geronikolou), the local doctor (Meletis Ilias), and pretty much everyone in the small community. They face a heap of obstacles, and after a thousand and one twists and turns, their secret is revealed, and they're forced to face the music. Will they live happily ever after? The whole crew gets mixed up in a comedy full of icing sugar, childhood dreams, and sweet tunes by Themis Karamouratidis. The film's song is performed by Eleonora Zouganeli.

A middle-aged woman, Smaragda, moves into her late mother's house in Ayia Napa, a tourist town in Cyprus, taking on the care of Bella, her mother's guide dog. Concerned about the environment, but with problems in her relationships, single and professionally stagnant, she ponders on the heritage she will leave. As a former children's TV show host yearning to return to the industry and facing rejection, she explores social media, encountering both fame and backlash. Financially strained, she takes a job as a kids' entertainer at a tourist resort, a far cry from her previous aspirations. And yet…

The touching story of the singer Stelios Kazantzidis, a child of a refugee family from Pontus, who managed to create a brilliant career thanks to his enormous talent and against all social and personal difficulties. Music, love, family, friends, fishing, creativity, night bouncers, fanatics, and great conflicts, create the mosaic of his life. A tribute film to a great singer, whose voice spoke to the hearts of all Greeks around the world. A film for those who loved him, and those who would like to get to know him.

Over the past 70 years, Mykonos has experienced transformations that test the limits of imagination: once it was dirt cheap, today it’s unaffordable; once it was “off the beaten track”, today it’s a top destination; once it was inclusive, today it’s exclusive. So, what happened? How did a tiny island become a melting pot for such radically divergent experiences? Was it once α paradise? Is it still? In this documentary the cinematic material is intercut with exclusive interviews, a mosaic of people of all ages from different walks of life – locals, internationals, intellectuals, artists, farmers, bar owners -– all offering their unique perspective on the Mykonos experience and providing a behind-the-scenes, intimate view of a complicated and fascinating island.

Elias lives in a village in the mountains near Olympia and is about to finish primary school. But nobody calls him by his real name; he’s mostly known as “The Flea”, the name of the handwritten newspaper he edits and publishes by himself. His fellow-villagers make fun of Elias and yet he dreams of travel. “The Flea” helps him escape his village’s boundaries and gives him the wings he needs to fly away.

His advanced studies in philosophy have caused Stephanos to view all people as his inferiors. When he is discharged from army service (which is obligatory in Greece), he thinks the world belongs to him. In reality all that belongs to him are debts left by his mother, who has just died, and rejection by his formerly devoted girlfriend. Then Nikos, an old high school classmate, reappears in his life...

After twenty years away Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognisable. The king has finally returned home but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is now a prisoner in her own home, hounded by her many ambitious suitors to choose a new husband, a new king. Their son Telemachus (Charles Plummer), who has grown up fatherless, is in danger of death at the hands of the suitors, who see him as an obstacle in their relentless pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus has changed too. Scarred by his experience of war, he is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember. But he is forced to face his past in order to rediscover the strength needed to save his family and win back the love he has lost.

The Taverna follows one utterly chaotic evening in a family run Greek restaurant. Taverna owner, Kostas gets more than he bargained for when his popular belly dancer refuses to work to avoid her ex-husband and his new girlfriend and is replaced at the last minute by one of his eager waitresses. Matters are further complicated by a kidnapping, a scooter accident involving Kostas’ son, a well-meaning chef who cooks up rare treat and a sleazy customer who doesn’t know his limits. It all adds up to a darkly comic ride into the wild side of life, love, food and cultural differences. Q&A with Alkinos Tsilimidos and Tottie Goldsmith- Cinema Como only- Monday October 20!

Anna and Philippos meet on an island after a year of separation in order to finalise their divorce and negotiate the future of their two children. Anna seems confident in her decision to separate, while Philippos seems unable to accept that their marriage is over. Their heated arguments bring deeper feelings to the surface. Their love and attraction are rekindled. The island, beautiful but dangerous, becomes a reflection of their marriage.

Two Homelands is both a commemoration of war and a celebration of community. 2024 marked 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Six elderly Australian Greek Cypriots – aged 70 to 102 – reflect on their war-torn island, life in Australia and their desire to see unification with their Turkish Cypriot compatriots. Filmed in Greek, the documentary offers a powerful perspective on migration, displacement, identity, resilience and cultural legacy.

World Premiere - Closing Night Film. Collaborators for the last 30 years, with films such as Everynight...Everynight, Silent Partner, Tom White, and The Taverna, Alkinos Tsilimidos and David Field come together again for a riotous comedy, The Kink. Written and produced by Alkinos Tsilimidos, and directed by David Field, Andrew Petropoulos debuts his first feature as the cinematographer. The Kink is the suburban story of a past-his-use-by-date, sex obsessed conman (Mirko Grillini) who is blackmailed by his lawyer’s over protective mother (Sally-Anne Upton) to do the unthinkable. With only two days to plan everything, he employs his lover’s husband to assist. But as the inexperienced duo attempt to execute the plan, they soon discover in the world of swingers, swindlers, gold diggers and mummy’s boys, it’s all about... The Kink!