The first part of the 5th edition of the Italian Film Festival Ireland concluded last night with a strong public turnout. From 23 to 26 April, the Festival brought life to cinemas in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. It will continue in Limerick from 30 April to 1 May.
The opening evenings in the various locations were inaugurated by the Ambassador of Italy to Ireland, Nicola Faganello, and the Director of the Italian Institute of Culture , Michela Linda Magri, with the participation of local authorities, including Galway City Councillor Helen Ogbu and Cork City Councillor Dan Boyle.
Organised by the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Institute of Culture in Dublin, in collaboration with N.I.C.E., the Festival features 12 films across 20 screenings, including works selected at major international festivals such as Venice, Cannes, and Rome.
The Dublin programme opened with the film “Chiara” by Susanna Nicchiarelli, presented alongside a well-attended Q&A session with actress Carlotta Natoli. The screening also marked the first inaugural event in a series of initiatives in Ireland celebrating the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. In Cork, the opening film was “Il rapimento di Arabella” by Carolina Cavalli, introduced with a message from the director; in Galway, “La valle dei sorrisi” was accompanied by a discussion with director Paolo Strippoli. The programme also included titles such as Un anno di scuola, Il Maestro, Duse, Orfeo, Elvira Notari, Anna, Fuori, Primavera, and Città di Pianura.
The Festival now prepares for its final stage in Limerick (30 April – 1 May, TUS Millennium Theatre), where “Un anno di scuola”, “Chiara”, and “Elvira Notari: Oltre il silenzio” — a documentary dedicated to Italy’s first female film director — will be screened, followed by a Q&A with director Valerio Ciriaci.
