Back for another year of prestige cinema, the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival returns to Australia from September 18 to October 23.
Highlighting the best and brightest of Italian filmmaking, this immaculate festival has a treat in store for audiences to indulge in.
Take a journey through the dark and atmospheric recesses of World War II, explore the hilarious and earnest bonds between family, or even escape into the magical world of love and happiness in the glamorous Italian region.
Hosted by Palace Cinemas, the heart of this year’s ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is an unmissable look into the many facets of the human experience.
ST. ALi Italian Film Festival
- Sydney: 18 September – 16 October
- Brisbane: 19 September – 16 October
- Canberra: 19 September – 16 October
- Melbourne: 20 September – 17 October
- Byron Bay: 26 September – 16 October
- Adelaide: 2 October – 22 October
- Perth: 3 October – 23 October
Find Melbourne’s latest film, TV, literature and gaming news here.
Gloria opens the festival, with a visit from Margherita Vicario
The 2024 St. Ali Italian Film Festival presented by Palace opens with Gloria, the directorial debut of dynamic Italian singer, songwriter, and actor Margherita Vicario, who also co-wrote the film. It depicts the ebullient, music-filled story of a maid at a Venetian refuge whose hidden talent helps inspire an uprising.
Margherita will visit Australia as a special guest of the festival to introduce the film at opening night gala events in Sydney and Melbourne. Joining her will be festival ambassador Silvia Colloca, a multi-talented Italian-Australian food writer, TV producer, and host who is about to release her latest book, The Italian Homecook.
Conclave closes, starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci
Closing the 2024 festival is the papal thriller Conclave. Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci lead a brilliant ensemble cast including Sergio Castellitto in director Edward Berger’s stunning adaptation of Robert Harris’ high-stakes drama, in which cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new Pope.
Other festival highlights
Daniele Luchetti’s award-winning psychological thriller Trust (Confidenza), scored by Thom Yorke of Radiohead, follows a fiery love affair and a dark secret, featuring an all-star cast including Elio Germano, Federica Rosellini, and Vittoria Puccini.
Blending elements of film noir, legal drama, and investigative mystery, A Dark Story (Una storia nera) sees a separated family reunite for a child’s birthday, but secrets come to light when the father disappears, and an investigation commences. Also set to thrill audiences is the neo-noir drama We Were Children (Eravamo bambini), a captivating combination of revenge thriller and coming-of-age tale featuring a stellar ensemble cast.
Celebrating 25 years of IFF with Bread and Tulips
In celebration of 25 years of the festival, there will be special screenings of the much-loved inaugural opening night festival film, Bread and Tulips (Pane e Tulipani). Enjoying an extended run during its original release in 2000, the film tells the heartwarming story of Rosalba, a neglected housewife who starts a new life in Venice and finds romance and self-discovery against the city’s charming backdrop.
The 50th anniversary of The Godfather Part II
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic, Academy-Award winning The Godfather Part II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film continues the Corleone family’s saga, exploring Michael Corleone’s consolidation of power and moral struggles, alongside Vito Corleone’s rise from immigrant to crime lord. It will be shown in a lavish 4K restoration, including intermission.
A massive selection of new Italian dramas
The 2024 lineup features a strong selection of new Italian dramas, including the gripping and emotionally charged Mia, starring Edoardo Leo as the protective father of fifteen-year-old Mia, whose world is forever altered when she crosses paths with an enigmatic older boy. The ensemble drama Family Matters (Sei fratelli), led by Riccardo Scamarcio, explores the relationships in an extended and dysfunctional family. The Italo-French co-production Maria Montessori (La Nouvelle Femme), starring Jasmine Trinca as the famed Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, whose revolutionary methods are still used across the globe today, and Gospel According to Mary (Vangelo secondo Maria), a fascinating tale of love, destiny, duty, and rebellion, starring Benedetta Porcaroli and Alessandro Gassmann as the biblical couple Mary and Joseph.
Alba Rohrwacher delivers a transformative performance in the compelling new drama In the Mirror (Mi fanno male i capelli). An elegant homage to the legendary actress Monica Vitti, it explores the power of dreams, set to music by Japanese composer Shigeru Umebayashi.
Starring in The Beautiful Summer (La bella estate) is Deva Cassel, daughter of actors Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel. Written and directed by Laura Luchetti and inspired by Cesare Pavese’s novel, the lyrical coming-of-age story captures the intricacies of friendship and love as it follows a young seamstress in the artistic world of 1938 Turin.
A bountiful selection of Italian comedies
Lovers of Italian comedies will delight in the box office hit A World Apart (Un mondo a parte), starring Antonio Albanese as a teacher who relocates to a tiny school in a remote village in Abruzzo and faces amusing challenges in his quest to adapt to small-town life. Life’s a Beach (Come può uno scoglio), starring comedy duo Pio and Amedeo, reunites them with Belli Ciao director Gennaro Nunziante in a laugh-out-loud adventure through Italy. Ensemble comedy Volare, from Margherita Buy in her directorial debut, features an actress with a severe phobia of flying who decides to take the plunge and join a course to face her fears.
For bambini and nonni alike, The War of the Nonni (La guerra dei nonni) offers a fun family comedy starring Vincenzo Salemme and Max Tortora as competing grandfathers.
Bad Conscience (Cattiva coscienza) is a playful and fantastical romantic comedy about the divide between passion and reason, in which a man’s conscience must descend to Earth to bring him to his senses, starring Beatrice Grannò.
A focus on Naples and the global coffee market
Naples is at the heart of Caracas, starring Marco D’Amore and Toni Servillo. The nocturnal drama and enthralling portrait of Naples follows a Neapolitan writer who returns to his hometown after a long absence and finds himself drawn into the city’s dark underbelly.
The famous city is also the focus of the documentary An Ode to Naples (Posso entrare? An Ode to Naples), from Trudie Styler. A fascinating journey into the soul of Naples, it tells the story of the city and its people, its music, and the challenges it faces.
Showing with a special event screening in Sydney and Melbourne is The Rise of Espresso, a documentary charting the expansion and evolution of the coffee market through a collection of personal stories.
Beat Magazine’s top picks
Parthenope (2024) – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
An international co-production between Italy and France, Parthenope is a colourful search for love amongst the backdrop of the deep blue sea. Director Paolo Sorrentino’s love letter to the city of Naples, this epic tale stars newcomer Celeste Dalla Porta as the titular character on a decade’s spanning quest for happiness and fulfilment. A magical romance that’ll leave audiences enthralled, this film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (2024) where it was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or.
Maria Montessori (2023) – Directed by Léa Todorov
A heartfelt exploration of one of history’s leading physicians, this film explores the bonds between women and their resilience in a male-dominated society. Starring Jasmine Trinca as the legendary Maria Montessori, Lea Todorov’s compelling script delves into the historical educator’s life and the incredible teaching methods she created that are still used today. Interpolating women’s issues at the turn of the 20th century with an in-depth view into motherhood and female relationships, Maria Montessori is a gem that’ll withstand time.
The War of Nonni (2023) – Directed by Paolo Genovese
For a family comedy unlike anything else, The War of Nonni finds two grandfathers tasked with taking care of their grandchildren while their parents are on holiday. Veteran performers Vincenzo Salemme and Max Tortora light up the screen as duelling grandfathers fighting through a mash-up of hilarious challenges and comedic errors to win their grandchildren’s affection. A light twist to your film festival viewing, this film promises a heartfelt and relatable exploration of family dynamics and the importance of generational bonds.
Comandante (2023) – Directed by Edoardo De Angelis
From the incredible mind of director Edoardo De Angelis, Comandante is a visceral view into the horrors of World War II. Striking in its exploration of leadership, humanism, and loss, the film follows Salvatore Todaro, the enigmatic leader of the Royal Italian Navy submarine, the Cappellini. When a merchant ship attacks, the crew are pushed to the brink in order to survive, forcing Todaro to make a selfless choice that defies orders. After opening the 80th Venice Film Festival, Comandante has made waves with audiences across the globe.
There’s Still Tomorrow (2023) – Directed by Paola Cortellesi
Set against the backdrop of post-second world war Rome, There’s Still Tomorrow is the story of one woman’s journey through domestic abuse and poverty. Paola Cortellesi’s directorial debut weaves emotional subtext within a tragicomic lens to breathe new life into a story of survival. Exploring one woman’s desire to break tradition, this rich and atmospheric film was Italy’s highest-grossing film of last year. There’s no doubt this film won’t weave the same spell on Australian hearts.
Marcello Mio (2024) – Directed by Christophe Honoré
Living in the shadow of a legend is no ordinary task. From director Christophe Honoré, Marcello Mio is a comedic exploration of family and creative legacy. As Chiara Mastroianni, the daughter of stars Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve, struggles to navigate a disastrous film audition, she decides to then follow in her father’s footsteps. A hilarious journey ensues as Chiara dons the moniker Marcello Mio and embodies her late father’s signature look and voice. An awards contender in both Cannes and Sydney Film Festivals, Marcello Mio is a warm and exuberant ride to self-discovery.
The Italian Film Festival is one you won’t want to miss! Book your tickets now to indulge in an array of Italy’s finest cinema.
The Italian Film Festival will be screening in Palace Cinemas across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth, and Byron Bay.
For more information on the films, session times and to book tickets, head to the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival website here.
This article was made in partnership with Palace Cinemas.
