I-Fest, the International Film Festival, which runs until September 15 in Castrovillari and the territories of the Pollino National Park, celebrates in this 2024 edition the ninetieth birthday of the all-Italian Diva Sophia Loren. The official poster, in fact, tells her story through an iconic shot by the great American photographer Richard Avedon from 1966, revisited in a pop key through the unmistakable and innovative style of the Festival. There are also numerous activities scheduled dedicated to Loren, including screenings of the masterpiece Matrimonio all’italiana and the intense opera Voce umana, directed by her son Edoardo. And also masterclasses, dedicated meetings, photographic and digital exhibitions and the tribute that three young Italian actors will dedicate to Loren through the interpretation of three original monologues.
The official selection is very rich, presenting 160 works, of which, for the first time ever, 100 are in competition. There are six international competitions that bring together the best of international production and numerous works previewed and winners of the most important festivals in the world, including Venice, Cannes, Locarno and Clermont-Ferrand. The competitions Doc, Short, Animazione, Feature Young, Short Young are organized in Media partnership with Rai Cinema channel, Siae and Italian Film Institute and represent over 45 countries and approximately 70 national and international distributions, including Premiere Film, Miyu, Shortcut, Pathos. Numerous national and international guests participate in the event, as well as young users, for a series of educational activities, including masterclasses, workshops and dedicated panels.
Treading the prestigious stage of i-Fest 24, designed by set designer Mario Garrambone, on the evenings of September 12 and 13, will be the Italian director and Oscar nominee Matteo Garrone, the director who won the Palme d’Or at Cannes Cristian Mungiu, the popular actor Michele Placido, Italy’s most beloved showman Nino Frassica, the director of great comedies and TV series Luca Miniero and Stefano Reali, author of numerous television successes, who will present his latest book Shakespeare AEnigma.
Also receiving awards will be Attilio Sabato, journalist and writer, Carlo Rodomonti, marketing manager of Rai Cinema and Marco De Angelis, sales director of Ntv – Italo.
On Saturday 14th September, the Gala evening and awards ceremony will be attended by Raoul Bova. On Sunday 15th September, as part of the innovative special project Cultural Bridge, a cultural bridge between Calabria and Sicily (the two regions where i-Fest International Film Festival takes place annually), the director and cinematographer Daniele Ciprì will preview his two latest cinematic works, Enif Al and The Grim Reaper. Joining the artistic director Giuseppe Panebianco on stage will be the Venezuelan actress and show girl Aida Yespica.