Newcastle Italian Film Festival Is More Than Movies

 

By Helen Gregory - 11 November 2014

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD 

 

ANDREW Licata vividly remembers the day he and friend Dino Cesta hoisted an Italian flag after the 1982 World Cup final and ran through the grounds of Merewether High.

 

‘‘We see ourselves as Australian, but a part of us will always be tied to our Italian heritage,’’ Mr Licata said of their childhood.

 

Mr Licata and friends, Mr Cesta and Nick Moretti,  will pay tribute to their parents’ homeland when they stage the fifth annual Newcastle Italian Film Festival, from November 15 to 23.

 

Mr Moretti said the popular festival had built up a firm following among film lovers of all ages, with this year’s seven films with English subtitles including 2014 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winner The Wonders in addition to the much-loved classic Roman Holiday.

 

Mr Licata said most European films did not follow a traditional Hollywood formula. ‘‘These films tell their stories in a completely different way – sometimes when you read between the lines you’ll see there is a story within a story or a surprise that you didn’t expect.’’

 

Mr Cesta said the event also aimed to provide attendees with ways  outside of the cinema to learn more about and celebrate Italian culture.

 

The festival plans to close Crown Street on Saturday for the Combined Italian Auto Organisation (CIAO) to display cars, motorcycles, bicycles and scooters, while guests on Friday and Saturday nights will enjoy complimentary Angove wine, cheeses from Pina Deli, pizzas from Napoli Centrale and traditional sweets made by Mr Cesta’s mother.

 

Guitarist Jack Dawson and opera singer Sophie Aked will each perform before the Friday and Saturday night sessions.

 

Students learning Italian at St Pius X, Hunter School of Performing Arts, Maitland Grossman High and Morriset High will attend a private screening of Red Like  the Sky on November 21.

 

 

As Mr Cesta is living with motor neurone disease, all proceeds will go to The Motor Neurone Disease Association NSW. All women will be given a blue silk cornflower – the international flower of hope for motor neurone disease – on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

Program 

 

Saturday November 15, Sunday November 16: Marina.

 

Friday, November 21: I Can Quit Whenever I Want.

 

Saturday, November 22:Zoran, My Nephew the Idiot; The Wonders; The Mafia Kills Only in Summer.

 

Sunday, November 23:Scampia’s Gold; The First Snowfall; Roman Holiday.