Cleveland, Ohio Italian Film Festival director Joyce Mariani explains the secret to her success.

Though I’ve seen her in the middle of some of the behind the scenes drama and film distribution nightmares, festival director Joyce Mariani makes it look easy, bringing top contemporary Italian films to sold-out audiences in Cleveland, Ohio since 2006; what drove her to start?

“I was living in Europe and seeing all these great films, then I moved to the United States and realized that Cleveland was the only major US city of our size that didn’t have an Italian Film Festival”, Joyce told me. “I gave it a try and thought I might lose my shirt, but it’s all worked out pretty well.”

In a short period of time Joyce got to know her Cleveland audiences and in choosing films for them it became more of what didn’t work than what did.

“Nothing kinky”, says Joyce. “No ‘in your face’ violence, and nothing extremely depressing. A lot of festivals want only first run and or world premieres, and we’ve had some of those, but our criteria is what we think the audience will enjoy.”

I had noticed that Joyce shied away from Mafia movies for her sometimes heavily Italian American audiences. “I just don’t want movies that are exploitative”, says Joyce. And with all the great new movies to choose from, it’s true that there are plenty these days that show a more positive side of Italy.

“Our audiences just want to be entertained”, Joyce told me, and though comedies do very well in Cleveland, “dramatic films like Paolo Virzì’s Il Capitale Umano (Human Capital) go over big”.

“Nothing matched the success of Roberto Benigni’s Il Mostro,” Joyce said. “People were crying.”

So what has Joyce come up with for 2016?

September 22 – October 13, 2016 Cedar Lee Theater, Atlas Cinema Eastgate & Capitol Theater Showcasing award-winning films from Italy Helpful tips to remember:    All  Films are Thursdays at 7:30 pm      All  Pre-film parties 5:30-7:00 pm $20        (Dinner/beverage, tax & tip included!)  .    All   Tickets are sold in advance.    Each year film tickets and pre-film parties sell out early.    Many of you are familiar with our Wait Lists. In this instance the early birds gets the tickets to the films they wish to see! Tickets on sale now! NEW this year! For your convenience we’re offering online ticket ordering with a credit card. Convenient and fast! After purchasing your tickets you have the option of having your tickets mailed to you directly, or you may print them out yourself, or send your ticket order to your mobile phone and show us your order at the theater.                      New this year! To order your film or pre-film dinner tickets:         FOR TICKETS CALL : 1.800.838.3006.             *** Cleveland Italian Film Fest Kickoff Dinner Sunday – Sept. 11   – 2:00 pm Chef Dante Boccuzzi creates a special menu of Italian delicacies             $110 pp includes all wines, tax & gratuity. Phone Reservations Only: 216-456-8117   Here are the great films coming this year!         And yes, once again, we’ll welcome you with a  nice plump  Perugina chocolate to munch on!

God Willing “ Se Dio Vuole “                Thursday, Sept. 22 – 7:30 pm Cedar Lee Theatre   READ THE I LOVE ITALIAN MOVIES REVIEW   3 Wins, 3 Nominations. David di Donatello, Italy’s Oscar – Best New Director, Best Actor – Silver Ribbon Italian Syndicate Film Journalists. Edoardo Marian Falcone. Starring Alessandro Gassman, Marco Giallini, Laura Morane, Edoardo Pesce, Ilaria Spada.     Remember Me My Love                     “Ricordati di me”                     Thursday Sept. 29 – 7:30 pm Cedar Lee Theater Great acting and direction frame this story about passion, dreams, and the need to fulfill them. “Ricordati di me” is a beautifully written story about a normal, middle class family. Married executive Carlo Ristuccia realizes one day that his life has become mundane and empty and not at all like his dream of being a writer. Meanwhile, his wife Giulia long to return to the acting career she abandoned for marriage. Each of them escape: Carlo happens to meet his former lover at a class reunion, while Giulia is asked to audition for a part in a play whose director makes her feel desirable again. An intriguing story of longing for love and being loved. 5 wins and 19 nominations. Nominated for Italy’s Oscar David di Donatello, Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress. Golden Globes nomination for Best Actor, Best Director. Director: Gabriele Muccino. Starring: Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Laura Morante, Monica Bellucci, Nicoletta Romanoff, Silvio Muccino.

Napoli Jungle “Bagnoli Jungle”   Thursday Oct. 6 – 7:30 pm Capitol Theater   Pre-film dinner:  Local West 7400   Detroit Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102 5:00-7:30 pm   Naples born, Italian Oscar-winning director Antonio Capuano brings to the screen this poignant story film in Bagnoli, a poor suburb of Naples left behind with the broken promises of politicians for a better life. It’s a story of three generations; Giggino, a restaurant poet and petty thief, his father Antonio, and Marco, a deli shop boy chasing his future. Receiving a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival and starring the great Italian actor, Antonio Casagrande, it’s a look into the whimsical, tragicomedy that is Naples. Special Event: Venice International Film Critic’s Week.  Director, Antonio Capuano. Starring Luigi Attrice, Antonio Casagrande, Marco Grieco, Olena Kravtskova, Angela Pagano, Gea Martire.   The Chair of Happiness “La sedia della felicita” Thursday, October 13 – 7:30 pm Atlas Cinemas Eastgate    Pre-film dinner: Piccolo Italian Restaurant 5:30 -7:00 pm READ THE I LOVE ITALIAN MOVIES REVIEW             1 Win, 6 Nominations. Nominated David di Donatello, Italy’s Oscar for Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress. Golden Globes Italy nominated for Best Comedy. Directed by Carlo Mazzacurati. Starring Valerio Mastandrea, Isabella Ragonese, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Katia Ricciarelli, Giuseppe Battiston, Raul Cremona, Antonio Albanese.