A discussion with the audience after the screening of the Italian film “Perfect Strangers” at the Italian Film Festival in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

HCM CITY — Around 500 visitors were excited to explore Italian culture, lifestyle, arts and history through six Italian movies screened during the Italian Film Festival 2020 in HCM City from December 18 to 20.

In addition to Consul General of Italy Dante Brandi, the festival also saw the participation of special guests such as director Phan Đăng Di, founder of Autumn Meeting, and creator of films shown at major film festivals (Cannes 2010, Venice 2018).

Also attending were director Trần Thanh Huy (with Ròm, the first Vietnamese film to win the top award in the 'New Currents' section in the 24th Busan International Film Festival), Dr. Đào Lê Na, Lê Hồng Lam, and Lucas Luân Nguyễn. 

Young directors Nguyễn Minh Nghĩa and Phạm Hoàng Minh Thy, who created Live In Cloud Cuckoo Land, nominated for the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, also attended.

After the ending of the screening of each film, discussions took place between industry guests, directors and screenwriters and the audience.

Organised by the Consulate General of Italy in HCM City in collaboration with COLAB Vietnam, the film festival was part of Italy’s Culture Days in Saigon being held from December 18 to 27.

It aims to attract attention from the public to Italian cinema and promote the arts and cultures of the two countries, and offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian film production.

Six movies screened at the Italian Film Festival 2020 are Perfect Strangers, Ginger and Fred, Sole, Bangla, Magari, and Dafne that deal with some of the most relevant themes in today’s Italian society, such as immigration, urban living conditions, family relationships, and resilience in the face of difficulties.

Additionally, each film promises to be an Italian cultural ‘feast’, depicting Italian architecture, fashion, art, and history.

Italy holds a very special place in the history of cinema. It is the birthplace of film genres that redefined the art of cinema in the following decades.

Italian directors like Vittorio De Sica, Roberto Rossellini, Mario Monicelli and Federico Fellini are widely recognised among the most influential directors of all time.

Italy has won the highest number of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards (Oscars) in the category of Best International Feature Film. — VNS