A 20 page oversized Italian-style newspaper featuring the the 2009 films of the SD Italian Film Festival. Designed by Miriello Grafico, San Diego, CA.

1. san diego italian film
festivale
Not just Italian films – an Italian perspective.
October 16
09
November 7
design: Miriello Grafico
sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com
san Diego Exclusive Film 2009 Film Series ExclusivE REviEws Ongoing sDiFF Film Screenings
Retrospective of viRzÌ Films Screened at MoPA and The Birch
PREmiEREs 2009 Festival GAlA Invitation North Park Theatre

2. san diego italian film festival 2009 Sharing Italian Culture through Cinema October 16 to November 7 3
Creativity flows even when commerce is blocked. When business slows – ideas grow, rethinking new purposes for the old,
Design è
una bella
stimulating new connections between strangers, giving form to new dreams.
SALVE
lingua.
Design is a powerful language, a mighty generator of the new and the next.
Why we love the Piazza.
The San Diego Italian Film Festival
(SDIFF) has an ambitious goal: To
make San Diego a high spot for Ital-
ian culture.
Italy gives the world culture, and we
at my table in our piazza, all the Italians pass by with their
beth accomando
want to share that culture through stories: old, young, sweet, angry, lovers arm in arm or arguing, the happy or depressed, seek-
the movies we bring directly from ing or relaxing. Here past and future meet, here history lives and also has a place at the table,
Italy – great, award-winning, recent and here we see and hear conversations from all over, from past and future, all speaking of
design is a beautiful language. (with English subtitles), all with inter- passion and hope and despair. And with a good dose of laughter.
esting stories of relationships, love, This year our piazza has the past especially in a genre, commedia all’italiana. And there is
hate, work, food, identity, all the pas- also the director who, in his forays into many genres, carries on a long conversation with
sions of life. his predecessors, Pupi Avati known for his deft touch in every story type, and the current
acknowledged heir of commedia all’italiana, Paolo Virzì, a master and yet young enough to KPBS Film Critic
The SDIFF shows films throughout be the new guy. We have these two speaking to each other and to us across the festival, Excerpt from Beth Accomando’s 2008 review
the year to a continually growing au- retrospective for Virzì, gala celebration for Avati.
of the San Diego Italian Film Festival
dience, last year filling over 5,000 The San Diego Italian Film Festival,
And there’s always room for more in the piazza. Importantly, all our films are San Diego now in its second year, "invites you
seats. Almost all films are San Diego premieres. They show up here only in our piazza, and you’ll see these only by spending some to celebrate life in the social piazza
premieres, and the SDIFF is practical- of cinema with recent films that de-
time with us. And several of these films have wonderful directors making their debut appear-
pict life in Italy."
ly the only movie bridge between our ance on the big screen: Giuseppe Gagliardi, Daniele Gangemi, Ivan Polidoro, Pietro Reggiani,
by
Although just in its sophomore year,
local scene and Italian culture every- Massimo Andrei, Giulio Manfredonia. Come, sit with these guys, all have great stories. Visit
the festival has a maturity about it.
where. And SDIFF also works at devel- our piazza, taste italianità. Maybe you get that feeling from the
level of conversation at the panel
oping story-telling abilities, especially Thank you for joining us for the 2009 San Diego Italian Film Festival. discussions. The first year I had the
among the young, who will continue honor of being part of a panel fol-
lowing a screening of I'm Not Scared
to create the culture we admire.
and the authors and academics,
For a little while we can all be Italian; along with the audience members
provided a very lively, lengthy, and
when we see an Italian film presented in depth conversation about the
by the San Diego Italian Film Festival, victor laruccia film. The willingness of the festi-
Executive Director SDIFF val organizers to set aside a good
we can join in a great moment of cul-
photography: Ken West
chunk of time for discussion reflects
tural creation all over the world, and SDIFF Board of Directors: a different attitude than most of the
at the same time know that all the Roberto Ruocco, Don Stadelli, Clarissa Clò, Pasquale Verdicchio, Giuseppe Annino, other festivals that are usually more
Don Santamaria, Janice Laruccia, Anthea Beletsis pressed for time with a greater num-
world is contained in this one story ber of films packed into fewer days.
we share right here, right now. SDIFF Branding / Publication: The only event that's not free is the
Design Firm: Miriello Grafico Gala… If last year is any indication
Creative Director: Ron Miriello of what this year's Gala will be like
then be prepared for some incredible
Designers: Lauren English, Chiara Occhipinti, Jose Alonso
food and film.
Follow us on twitter
@sditalianfilm –Beth Accomando
MG
sdiff partners: Istituto
Italiano
di Cultura
L o s A n g e l e s
/ brand expression
Istituto Italiano Di Cultura, Museum Of Photographic Arts Alonso Creative Italian Cultural Center Miriello Grafico
Los Angeles www.mopa.org www.alonsocreative.com www.icc-sd.org www.miriellografico.com
www.iiclosangeles.esteri.it/IIC_Losangeles
/ brand expression
sdiff sponsors: Linnie Cooper Foundation / The June & Mark Fabiani Family / The Janice & Victor Laruccia Family / UCSD / SDSU / The Miriello Family
Villa Capri – Caterer To The Festival www.villacapriristorante.com/ / House Of Italy www.houseofitaly.net/ / Don & Maria Santamaria
Miriello Grafico is a marketing communications
firm that uses the language of design to affect media sponsors: Art Rocks! / Union-Tribune / Joe Annino / Radicondoli (Siena) ProLoco / Riviera Magazine
change. We provide our expertise in brand
development, marketing and print / web design,
friends of sdiff: SD Jewish Film Festival / Italo Scanga Foundation / Mary Robinson / Tullio Cerciello Imports / Giffoni International Film Festival / Athenaeum Music and Art Library La Jolla
so global communities like the San Diego Italian
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego / San Diego Latino Film Festival / North Park Main Street / City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency
Film Festival can expand and new bridges can form.
World of Words
amici degli amici:
Ron Miriello, 2008
PL ASTICARTA S.R.L.
steel, aluminum, paper
WWW.miriellografico.com
sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com

3. 4 October 16 to November 7 Sharing Italian Culture through Cinema san diego italian film festival 2009 san diego italian film festival 2009 Sharing Italian Culture through Cinema October 16 to November 7 5
Alien invAsions thE
sdiff OctObER 16–NOvEmbER 7
voices of the festivale
The “voice” of the SDIFF is
[san Diego italian Film Festival meets Giffoni Film Festival]
enriched by the combined
60 years of study of Italian
2009 All to be screened at 7pm at the Museum of Photographic Arts in
culture, history, film and art Film schEDulE Balboa Park, except November 6 at the Birch North Park Theatre.
that our three professors
OCTOBER
22
OCTOBER
paolo virzì, 100 min., 1997
bring to the festival. Their
discussions and reviews of
the films make them more
Ferie d’agosto ovosodo
16
than entertainment – but (August Vacation) (Hardboiled Egg)
really an invitation to see Political and cultural
paolo virzì, 110 min., 1996
differences divide two A young, shy man deals with disillusions and
through the window of families during their compromises while finding his place in life.
summer holiday on the
these Italian films into the island of Ventotene, off
paolo virzì, 97 min., 1994
life and culture of Italy. the Naples coast.
la bella vita
23
october
paolo virzì, 124 min., 2002
17
october
(Living It Up)
Not just Italian films, an Italian perspective. The story of a working class family,
My name is Tanino
in Piombino, Tuscany, dealing with
review by a depressed economy and their
The SDIFF sponsored four San Diego teens to travel
victOR lARucciA Ph.D., Executive Director SDIFF to Italy in the summer of 2009 where they partici- own anxieties. A young Sicilian goes to America to return
pated in the Giffoni Film Festival as Film Jurors. victOR lARucciA Ph.D. a camera left behind by a tourist friend and
Executive Director SDIFF
S
finds that dreams don’t always match reality.
OCTOBER
daniele gangemi, 80 min., 2008
outhern Italy, for centuries the Days were jammed, early rising to watch mov-
2
Born in Santiago, Chile. Learned reading/writ-
ies, run around in lunch time packs, then back for ing as an Italian Catholic, western Pennsylvania.
scene of alien invasions, once more movies at the Cittadella del Cinema, build- Escaped to Culver Military Academy high school
nOvEmBER
1
ings and park spaces for theaters, offices and play
-Cum Laude, 1959. On to Yale (twice!), found
hAllOwEEN sPEciAl
31
west coast better. Three years US Marine Corps,
again played out the ancient november
eugenio cappuccio,
Uno su due
areas. Young people tumbled out of every space, administrator. First graduate of UCSD Muir In-
and when a movie finished, jurors inundated the dependent Studies (Music Art Drama). Ph.D. at
game of conquest and plunder. This piazza in tidal waves, wearing the T-shirts of their
UCSD. Taught film studies Brown University
Una notte blu cobalto
100 min., 2006
and UCSD. Left for City of Pasadena, Telecom-
(One out of two)
ivan polidoro, 95 min., 2008
particular group, blue, yellow or purple. Only a mi-
time invaders arrived in the guise Basta un niente
munications Administrator & Director KPAS,
crophone in the face made a juror still. TV. Telecom Consultant through ’95. Retired. (Cobalt Blue Night)
Started SDIFF with three other crazy Italians at
of children, celebrities, and media, Cameras and microphones stalked the jurors every- House of Italy in ’04.
A whimsical tale that follows a first time A 33 year old attorney, following (Before you know it)
where. National, local, and international reporters pizza deliverer as he realizes that his a devastating medical diagnosis,
and the plunder was mainly stolen transmuted the peaceful valley into an electrifying deliveries involve more than just pizza. experiences a rebirth. Three neopolitan
spectacle. Roby handled her TV interview like a
hearts. The Giffoni Film Festival, for pro; we even got calls and emails from the States -
friends, determined
to make a living,
3
four decades educating children with she looked good! improvise as thieves
giulio manfredonia, 101 min., 2001
roberto dordit, 85 min., 2005
november
with the help of one
Though Joe didn’t eat that much food, he filled up
international films, stages this invasion of their grandfathers.
every year. In the end everyone is
on his movie-making dreams, enthusing about his
own film and plans for working on it. “I’m a great
editor,” he said, “I’m ready right now. I see just how
PROF. clARissA clò, sDsu Apnea
Program Director SDIFF When a former fellow fencing champion dies
victorious and everyone is conquered. I want to start.” His opinion of the movies he saw
Clarissa Clò is Assistant Professor of Italian mysteriously of a heart attack, Paolo decides
suggested his movies would be optimistic; when
4
se fossi in te
and Director of the Italian Language Program to investigate—and discovers that his friend
asked what his thoughts of movies there, he said, in the Dept. of European Studies at San Diego
5
Thanks to a generous grant from the Linnie Cooper Foundation, the was not the person he thought he was.
“They’re depressing! Everyone dies in them.” State University. She teaches Italian language,
San Diego Italian Film Festival sent four teens to be jurors at Giffoni, literature, culture and cinema. She received her
which is also a town in an emerald valley about 15 miles northeast of Fabrizio agreed, “Yeah, they’re pretty much all like Ph.D. in Literature from UCSD. She specializes (If I were you)
pietro reggiani, 82 min., 2005
in contemporary Italian Cultural Studies. Her
Salerno, Italy. Towns in this valley provide the host families for jurors that, everyone dies.” But Fabrizio, oldest in the research interests include feminist, migration, Three discontent men magically switch
nOvEmBER
from over 40 countries, selected to pick winning films at the festival. group, was not concerned about people dying; he and postcolonial studies, film, music, and popu-
identities, each with the person most envied,
always had admiring Italian beauties around him,
6
lar culture. She has published on Italian cinema,
Giffoni offered a special way to attract younger people to SDIFF. Our regional documentary filmmaking, music sub- but things do not turn out as expected.
several of whom gave his chaperones the evil eye
teens all fell into the Generator + 13 group, and the young people who cultures, circum-Atlantic performances, Italian
for taking his time. The yellow in his T shirt almost American women writers, postcolonial literature
spearheaded our part of the invasion were Fabrizio Ellis, Joe Fabiani, Roby
disappeared under the love notes: I love you, Fab-
nOvEmBER
and Mediterranean studies. She is a native of
Ruocco and Giuliano Verdicchio, ages 13 to 15, all proud representatives
rizio. Ti voglio bene, Fabrizio. Modena, Italy.
of San Diego. Their Italian roots also opened hearts wide for them.
giuseppe gagliardi, 93 min., 2006
Movies in the morning, lunch, soccer or chat-
Each group of jurors had one series of tasks: watch all films in competi-
ting in the park, movies in the afternoon, celebri-
tion, discuss them, meet celebrities, and ultimately vote for their favor-
ites. Our group was split three to one for the main winner, Broken Hill,
ties to discuss filmmaking, then home for dinner. november GALA * l'estate di
la vera leggenda
What next? Parties, of course. Every night the kids
mio fratello
an American/Australian production.
danced in the park, bands and performers blaring.
The travel was exhausting, of course, but when we met a child actor from Giffoni being a small town, kids freely wandered, Film Festival Gala Reception – Tickets required,
di Tony vilar
India or a juror from Korea, who endured even worse travel conditions, it packs of yellow and purple teens flowing through $100, can be purchased on website.
was clear that the exhaustion, like boot camp, simply softens up the kids every store and food joint. Beginning at 5 pm at the MoPA in Balboa Park (My Brother’s Summer)
for a new way of life. And while all our teens came from families with Ital- Italian dinner and music followed by the film:
When the Festival ended with a boisterous party, (The True Legend of Tony Vilar)
la seconda
ian roots, the roots didn’t look or feel much like the Italian host families. PROF. PAsquAlE When Sergio learns that he will soon have a
the San Diegans stayed in Giffoni for a beach day, baby brother, his imagination kicks into gear
vERDicchiO, ucsD
Most of our teens had some familiarity with Italian, but only enough a ferry trip to Positano and, basta. Monday night
notte di nozze
Program Director SDIFF in devious and alarming ways—and then life
the families brought the teens to the chaperones’ Tony Vilar, an Italian in Argentina, was a singing
to whet appetites. Giuliano listened to his family’s nonno describing takes a devastating turn.
hotel. With tears they tore themselves away. The
Born in Naples, Pasquale Verdicchio moved to superstar in the 1960’s, but suddenly disappeared.
Salerno during the 1943 Allied invasion; Giuliano understood some but Canada as a teen. Since 1986 he has taught lit- Peppe’s quest, to find Tony, needs help from some
wanted it all. He laughed as he told us of another story: the paparazzi teens and chaperones settled in for a long trip, erature, film and writing in the Dept. of Litera-
(The Second Wedding Night)
pupi avati, 103 min., 2005
unforgettable characters.
flew around in hordes. One group cornered Giuliano. Thinking they which ended with a fatigued sigh back home where ture at the University of California, San Diego.
* 7:00pm
Considered a leading translator of major Italian
were asking him what he thought of Italy, he said, “Beautiful and hot.” families greeted their treasures, returned to them Kind hearted Giordano was left with half a deck
writers, he has englished the work of Pasolini,
Later he learned they were asking what he thought of Eva Mendes, who richer than they departed. as the result of electric shock treatments. A
Merini, Caproni, Porta, and Gramsci among oth- For up-to-date information,
in fact is beautiful and hot. ers. His poetry, reviews, criticism and photog- at The Birch north Park Theatre, letter from his sister-in-law changes his outlook.
please check the SDIFF website:
7
raphy have been published in journals around
2891 University Ave., sD 92104
*
Some misunderstandings, however, would be familiar to any Italian par- the world. As an author his books include Devils
www.sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com
in Paradise: Writings on Post-Emigrant Cultures
ent. For example, one morning the San Diego chaperones got a frantic
Bound by Distance: Rethinking Nationalism
call: “You must come quick, speak with Signora De Cristofaro, emer- through the Italian Diaspora and the poetry col-
gency with your juror Joe Fabiani.” Hustling to Giffoni from Salerno is
not easy; this had to be critical. Chaperones Janice and Victor Laruccia
stumbled breathless into the Jury Office. “How bad is the wound?” The
lection This Nothing’s Place (2008).
Working with Joseph Annino and Victor Laruccia,
he began presenting Italian films at the House
november For other questions about the festival,
volunteering, or the Gala, please email
vlaruccia@sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com
“wound?” The host mother’s worry that Joe was not eating, a catastrophe of Italy, a series that has transformed into the
SDIFF in its current format.
for an Italian mother! Joe’s response was “What?!? I eat what I always
eat, what’s the problem?” Tranquility reigned when Signora De Cris-
Victor and Janine Laruccia with
tofaro, a great cook, hit upon carpaccio; Joe devoured a dish meant for Chiara Occhipinti in Giffoni Italy.
the whole table.
sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com