ICFF brings Italian films, design and Michelin Chefs from Italy to Canada

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival returns to Canada for it's 7th year.

ICFF isn't just a film festival it brings the culture of Italy to Canada along with it's Contemporary Films, Italian clothing and car design and of course the food.  This year they will fly in 2 Michelin Chefs from Italy for their Parties.  I look forward to this festival because it's a class act.  From the hilarious comedies to the glamorous parties, you feel like you have travelled to Italy and experience being immersed in the Italian Culture. This is a well run festival for being relatively young and is one of the most fun festivals in Toronto.

TORONTO, May 16, 2018 – The Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF), presented by IC Savings, announced its lineup at The Ritz-Carlton, in Toronto, of 107 diverse and acclaimed films; features include shorts and documentaries with a total of 180 screenings - its largest and most ambitious program to date.

The 7th edition of the ICFF will run from June 14-22, 2018 and take place in Toronto, Vaughan, Hamilton, Niagara, Ottawa, Montreal, Québec City and Vancouver.

Artistic Director, Cristiano de Florentiis, declared that this edition will feature a record breaking number of Italian Canadian co-productions, a reflection of the strong bond that exists between the two countries and their shared artistic vision. The seven selected cinematic co-productions will celebrate this, starting with the world premiere of Road To The Lemon Grove, a delightful comedy based on a family history in Sicily and directed by Dale Hildebrand.

Andrea Iervolino, producer, founder and president of AMBI, will introduce Music of Silence, a film that traces the childhood and early days of Andrea Bocelli's musical career. This co-production will be the closing film of the ICFF’s 2018 program on June 22nd.

ICFF will showcase the best films produced in Italy this year such as: Manetti Bros’ Ammore e Malavita / Love and Bullet, the latest movie by Gabriele Muccino A casa tutti bene / Neverland and The Place directed by Paolo Genovese.

Claudio Bisio, renowned actor and comedian, will present the film classic Mediterraneo, winner of an Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film in 1992. Bisio will also be presenting the North American premiere of his Gli sdraiati / Couch Potatoes, the new bittersweet comedy by Francesca Archibugi.

Acclaimed actor and director Antonio Albanese will showcase his box office success, the hit comedy Come un gatto in tangenziale / Like a Cat on a Highway that will open the Festival on June 14 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. Albanese will also be presenting his new comedy Contromano / Against the Flow, which he not only starred in, but also directed.

Two food related films to check out are Il Vegetale and The Last Prosecco.

Italian rapper, singer and actor Fabio Rovazzi who is bringing to Canada his first feature film Il Vegetale / The Vegetable, directed by Gennaro Nunziante.

Genre: Comedy | Language: English

Il Vegetale

Fabio Rovazzi is a 24’year’old graduate in Communication Sciences who lives in Milan “with a view of the future”. Fabio is looking for a job, dealing with a cumbersome father and a spoiled little sister, both of whom consider him to be a useless “vegetable”. He is searching for a career that respects his ethical criteria, but he knows that his weak spot is trust, both in himself and in others. An unexpected event will suddenly change everything. Between comical situations and paradoxical finds, our protagonist will have to reinvent his life.

The Last Prosecco

Genre: Comedy-Mystery | Language: Italian | Subtitles: English/French   2017  101 min

The story unravels on the rolling hills where Prosecco grapes are grown; a winemaker Count, fighting to protect his territory, a stubborn half Italian half Persian police inspector; the manager of a cement plant, killed by three gunshots; and a crazy man who scrapes the rust from the tombs in the cemetery. A story about the inheritance of beauty and the value of quality. In 2010, north-east Italy began to feel a recession which nobody had expected. Only one productive sector resisted: Prosecco. This film forces us to remember that anyone who destroys the land destroys the future for everyone.

ICFF Film Festival - Italian glamour to the max

Giacamo Gianniotti - ICFF HOST

This post is long past due because I knew it would take a long time to put together.  I was finally able to attend the ICFF Film Festival.  Italian Contemporary Film Festival.  Last year I attended another festival and was only able to attend Industry day and the party after that but this year I was able to attend both the Opening Night and Closing Night and I was able to see a few screener films from the festival.  The host of the festival was the very handsome Grey's Anatomy Star Giacamo Gianniotti. I haven't watched the show in a while so I didn't know who he was but he was very popular.  I will post about the films on my Film Food Stuff Blog.

Checco Zalone and Director Gennaro Nunziate of Quo Vado?

I am posting about this on this blog because the Opening and Closing Night parties were spectacular and I can honestly say the best film festival food I have ever seen.  I have attended various film festivals in Toronto for the past 15 years including Tiff and a few others, but I can honestly say that Italians really know how to throw a party.  The opening night film was Quo Vado starring Checco Zalone.  Zalone has made a few films and is very popular and he was in attendance for the film and after party. The film is about a guy that has a permanent government job, who does everything he can not to lose it.  It was a hilarious film and a great start to the film festival. The after party was held down the street at Roy Thompson Hall.  The interior had the main food with pastas, my favourite gnocchi, salumi, cheese, and everything you could think of that is native to Italy.  The food made everyone very happy.  Outside on the patio was the longest dessert table you could imagine.  It was like an expensive Italian wedding.  Everything from Cannoli to Tiramisu and even Italian flag colored Macarons.  There was a blue and white colored candy table with candy floss and suckers and candies that you could even take home.  I took some candy floss and a sucker home.  The colors were the festivals colors and I thought that was a really nice detailed touch.  Yes the event planner in me was very impressed.  There were also dancers that did a water dance in the pond. I should have run over to take photos but trust me, it was spectacular.

CLOSING NIGHT

Not to be outdone the Closing Night was just as fantastic with the film The Correspondence, a film starring Jeremy Irons.  A romantic mystery if you will about Irons who arranges plans before his death for his lover to never feel alone.  Although Irons wasn't in attendance the legendary Claudia Cardinale was there to receive an award.  Her film All Roads Lead to Rome was screened at the festival the day before. I think it would have been a great closing night film.  It's a romantic comedy starring Cardinale, Sarah Jessica Parker and Raoul Bova who is Italy's George Clooney.  The film was super cute and funny, very hollywood though.

Claudia Cardinale

The closing night party was held at the Uber fancy Ritz Carlton Hotel on Wellington Street.
With Celebrity Chef Massimo Capra at the entrance with film crew in tow, serving up some Italian cheese and other products.  The sound guy from a film I worked on was there for a cheese commercial set up that you could be a part of.  I did it for fun because i don't think people knew what it was. I also saw TV Host/Chef David Rocco there enjoying himself and said a quick hello before I left.

Chef Massimo Capra

And the food was just as impressive as the Opening night with the best Ravioli, meat, a huge table of antipasto and of course more beautiful desserts. I was so full from the great pasta that I only tried one of the desserts, the chocolate bombolone.  It was creamy and delicious.

My Italian and not so Italian friends got dolled up for the party and really enjoyed themselves.

What a spectacular festival. It wasn't just about the films it was about the food and the fashion and the culture of Italy and they really did showcase it all together in one place.  There were models in Italian fashion at the closing night party and there were Italian cars and everyone was really dolled up in their best Italian Inspired wear.  I am glad I finally had the time to go to see a couple of the films and attend the parties.  I hope to have the time to be there again next year.

If you want more info on the festival and how you can attend next year check their site:  http://icff.ca/