We get messages every day from people begging us to tell them where they can find Italian films. So why can’t they?
Francesco Munzi’s ‘Anime Nere’ (Black Souls) opened in New York last week and has generated rave reviews from American critics. The upcoming Tribeca Film Festival has a strong Italian presence. Rumors are flying about the three Italian films that are strong candidates for the 2015 Cannes lineup. Our city’s (Cleveland, Ohio) Italian film festival sells out every year.
It’s clear that the Italian film industry is on the upswing and getting stronger every year, and we get messages every day from people begging us to tell them where they can find Italian films. So why can’t they?
Distribution is reason #1, and if it doesn’t have a distribution deal, you won’t find it on Netflix. Sometimes film festivals will arrange limited agreements, and that’s why many great films pop up here and there and then you never see them again, but tons of terrific movies never make it out of Italy.
And of course, Hollywood’s Godzilla-like world domination tends to crush everything in its path, but not as much anymore. Even in Italy, it used to be that you’d be hard pressed to find an Italian film on the list of top box office results. But the films are becoming more successful all the time, and this past weekend 8 of the top 20 films in Italy were Italian.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: SUBTITLES. We all SAY we want to watch films in their original language, but box office results haven’t always supported that. Even art house theaters aren’t showing as many foreign films as they used to 20 years ago, because, why should they? They have to make money.
So we need to put our money where our mouths are, and here’s how.
Get out there and see the films that are playing right now.
1) Italian Film Festival USA has 16 films showing in 12 cities and you don’t have to put your money anywhere for these ones; because of sponsors like us, I Love Italian Movies, the movies are FREE and all you have to do is SHOW UP.
2) See the movie that all the critics are raving about: Francesco Munzi’s ‘Black Souls’. It’s coming to a theater near you. Check the list below and watch for more cities to be added.
4/10 : NEW YORK, NY : Angelika Film Center : City Cinemas 123
4/17 : SAN FRANCISCO, CA : Opera Plaza
4/17 : BERKELEY, CA : Landmark Shattuck Berkeley
4/17 : SAN RAFAEL, CA : Christopher B Smith San Rafael Film Center
4/17 : PHILADELPHIA, PA : Landmark Ritz at the Bourse
4/17 : WASHINGTON DC : Angelika Film Center Pop Up
4/17 : FAIRFAX, VA : Angelika Film Center Mosiac
4/24 : LOS ANGELES, CA : Landmark’s Nuart Theatre
4/24 : AUSTIN, TX : Theatre TBD
4/24 : SEATTLE, WA : Sundance Cinemas Seattle
4/24 : SACRAMENTO, CA : Reading Tower Theatre Sacramento
5/1 : PORTLAND, OR : Cinema 21
5/1 : DALLAS, TX : Angelika Film Center
5/1 : PLANO, TX. : Angelika Film Center
5/8 : CHICAGO, IL : Facets Cinémathèque
5/8 : SAN DIEGO, CA : Reading San Diego Town Center 14 : Gas Lamp 15
5/8 : MIAMI , FL : Mos’ Art Theatre
5/8 : HONOLULU, HI : Kahala 8
5/22 : BOSTON, MA : Landmark’s Kendall Square Cinema
5/22 : GENEVA, NY : Smith Opera House
5/22 : LINCOLN, NE : Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center
3) When you see a movie on Netflix that is listed as something you can SAVE, save it, and show them that there is a demand. A couple that I have saved right now, Daniele Luchetti’s ‘Anni Felici‘ and Andrea Segre’s ‘La Prima Neve’.
4) Follow this blog. Follow us on Facebook. And on Twitter. And on Instagram. And on Pinterest.
We’ll try to keep you informed, but put your money where your mouth is. See the films.
I Love Italian Everything 