As the weather begins to turn and the leaves softly tumble from the branches, what could be more tempting than an evening at the cinema? This autumn/winter in Florence, you’re in luck! A world of film comes to the city each year, with hundreds of movies, shorts and documentaries from around the globe during the 50 Days of International Cinema festival.
The ‘Future’ is this year’s theme, spotlighting films from young people, ‘youth cinema’ and films centred around the new generation, environmental protection and the world’s resources, the promotion of culture and respect for diversity.
Opening this year’s festival, the Festival dei Popoli, International Documentary Festival will preview two documentary films, filmed 55 years apart from each other, marking the 55th edition of the 50 Days of Cinema festival. The first, from 2014, entitled Examen d’Etat, from Congolese director Dieudo Hamadi, portrays the stories of high school students in the Democratic Republic of Congo about to sit their leaving exams. The second, Moi, un noir, directed by great documentary-maker Jean Rouch in 1959, tells the story of three young Nigerians who have left their country to look for work on the Ivory Coast, confronting life’s problems with a smile. Tickets must be collected beforehand from the Odeon box office.
France Odeon (October 30– November 2) kicks of proceedings with a selection of the latest French films, highlighting works from Alain Resnais. Resnais’s latest work, Aimer, boire et chanter will welcome the leading actresses Sabine Azéma and Caroline Silhol, and producer Jean-Louis Livi, to discuss the film after the screening. At Florence’s Istituto Francese, on November 2, there will be a chance to meet and hear from the critic Jean-Luc Doulin, author of the biographic book, ‘Alain Resnais’. www.franceodeon.com
Next in the line-up is Immagini & Suoni del Mondo. Festival del Film Etnomusicale, from November 3 till 5. For the first time in Italy, Carlos Coelho da Silva’s film, Amalia, the biographical story of the FADO singer, Amalia Rodrigues. Rounding off the programme, some of the best ethno-musical documentaries will be screened, such as Mercedes Sosa: la voz de Latinoamerica from Rodrigo Vila and Song from the Forest by Michael Obert, about the extraordinary story of the ethno-musicologist Louis Sarno, during his time living amongst a Pygmy clan in the Central African Republic forest. A live music performance from the duo Goetze and Sissoko (trombone and kora) concludes the festival. www.multiculti.it
Filling the big screen from November 6– 11 is the Festival Internazionale di Cinema e Donne (International Festival of cinema and women). ‘Origins of the world’ is this year’s theme and all films will be shown in their original language with Italian subtitles. The programme includes two British films, Together and K, both from Florentine director Lorenza Mazzetti on November 10 and 11, who will also be present to introduce the films. www.laboratorioimmaginedonna.it
If international contemporary art is more your cup of tea, you’ll not want to miss the Schermo dell’Arte Film Festival from November 12 till 16. This is the only Italian festival centred around the links between modern art and cinema, including film debuts, international guests, workshops and more. Highlights of the English entries include Oscar candidate, Zachary Heinzerling’s film Cutie and the Boxer on November 12, followed by the artist film, Art4Space, in which French artist Invader was finally able to realize his most daring project: to send one of his mosaics, inspired by the aliens in the videogame Space Invaders, on an outer space mission. For a full programme of events and films see www.schermodellarte.org
From November 17– 20, journey to the Balkan Peninsula through a series of documentary and feature films during the Balkan Florence Express, organised by Oxfam Italia. As well as a full schedule of films, November 21 sees the return of the Balkan Night at Flog in Florence for a concert from one of the best groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Divanhana.
Then it’s the turn of LGBTIQ cinema to stand in the spotlight with the Florence Queer Festival (November 21– 27). Eytan Fox, director of the acclaimed Yossi and Jagger, will be a special guest at the festival and present for the screening of his most recent film Cupcakes. A special focus on human rights, with collaboration from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Europe, will see documentaries and films based on this theme.
Next in the line-up is the Documentary Festival, Festival Dei Popoli (November 28– December 5). Special events include a co-production workshop, with the presentation of projects and rough-cuts from international experts, as well as a chance to meet the directors.
Representing Indian film in Florence, the River to River Indian Film Festival takes place from December 6– 12. For the fourteenth edition of the festival, the young generation and their rapidly fast moving relationship with the internet as an instrument of empowerment in the world is at the centre of this year’s festival. Newly-established directors screen their works in the Online Stories section, as well as many films from other sections, including Bollywood and student films.
Last but not least, Finland and Florence coincide during Una Finestra Sul Nord, the Finish film festival. For two days (December 13– 14), the programme of films is perfect for the whole family to enjoy and a very Christmassy way to bring the film festival to a close. www.facebook.com/unafinestrasulnord
This year, the festival is partnered with MYmovies.it meaning that a special selection of the films from the festival will be available for online streaming on the MYMOVIESLIVE! platform. You can sample the festival without leaving the comfort of your own home.
By showing your cinema ticket of any of the 50 Days films, you can enjoy a 15% discount to the Picasso exhibition in Palazzo Strozzi. Simply show your cinema ticket when purchasing your exhibition ticket. The offer is also valid visa-versa: reduction on your cinema ticket when you display your Picasso one.
50 Days of International Cinema
October 29 to December 14
Most events and screenings take place at the Odeon Cinema, piazza Strozzi, Florence
