Cinema Made In Italy Unveils Its Stellar 16th Festival Line-up

In less than six weeks, BFI Southbank will be the place to be if you’re a fan of Italian cinema, because that’s when the 16th CINEMA MADE IN ITALY festival takes place. And today it’s unveiled the line-up.

The 2026 edition will showcase a stellar programme of ten new Italian films, all screening between 4th and 8th March. This will include a digital restoration of the 1959 classic title THE FACTS OF MURDER (Un Maledetto Imbroglio), directed by Pietro Germi and starring the late, great Claudia Cardinale.

The opening night film will be Damiano Michieletto‘s PRIMAVERA, starring Michele Riondino and Tecla Insolia, which draws on the life of Antonio Vivaldi and coincides with the composer’s birthday. He was born on 4th March 1678. The screening will be preceded by Bruno Bozzetto’s transfixing GRASSHOPPERS (Cavallette), an Oscar® Nominee for Best Animated Short in 1991.

Four of the titles in this year’s enthralling line-up are directed by women, including the closing night film THREE GOODBYES (Tre Ciotole) from Catalan film-maker Isabel Coixet. This stars Alba Rohrwacher and Elio Germano and is based on the best-selling novel by Michela Murgia.

Other highlights at this year’s CINEMA MADE IN ITALY include Ludovica Rampoldi‘s directorial debut A BRIEF AFFAIR (Breve Storia d’Amore), starring Valeria Golino. She is also the lead in Mario Martone’s literary biopic FUORI, about noted Italian feminist writer and political activist Goliarda Sapienza (author of The Art of Joy). Nicolangelo Gelormini’s dark fable GIOIA (La Gioia), ELISA directed by Leonardo Di Costanzo, and Laura Samani’s second film A YEAR OF SCHOOL (Un Anno di Scuola) are all in the programme. Another debut feature is Margherita Spampinato’s SWEETHEART (Gioia Mia), while Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis bring their delightfully playful Euro-western HEADS OR TAILS? (Testa o Croce?) starring John C. Reilly. Francesco Sossai’s soulful gem THE LAST ONE FOR THE ROAD (Le Città di Pianura), set for a spring release in the UK by Bulldog Film Distribution. And many of the filmmakers will be at the festival in person to present and discuss their work.

PRIMAVERA (Dir:Damiano Michieletto)

UK release date: April 24th(Curzon Film)

A YEAR OF SCHOOL (Un Anno di Scuola, Dir:Laura Samani)

HEADS OR TAILS? (Testa o Croce?,Dirs: Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis)

A BRIEF AFFAIR (Breve Storia d’Amore, Dir: Ludovica Rampoldi)

THE LAST ONE FOR THE ROAD (Le Città di Pianura, Dir: Francesco Sossai)

ELISA (Dir: Leonardo Di Costanzo)

FUORI (Dir: Mario Martone)

GIOIA (La Gioia, Dir:Nicolangelo Gelormini)

THE FACTS OF MURDER (Un Maledetto Imbroglio, Dir: Pietro Germi)

SWEETHEART (Gioia Mia, Dir: Margherita Spampinato)

THREE GOODBYES (Tre Ciotole, Dir: Isabel Coixet)

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The founder of The People's Movies, started the site 20th November 2008.The site has excelled past all expectations with many only giving the site months and it's still going strong. A lover of French Thrillers, Post Apocalyptic films, Asian cinema. 2009 started Cinehouse to start his 'cinema education' learning their is life outside mainstream cinema. Outside of film, love to travel with Sorrento, Guangzhou and Manchester all favourite destinations.Musically loves David Bowie, Fishbone, Radiohead.

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