The eighth edition of Messina Film Festival – Cinema & Operawhich has the direction of Ninni Panzerawill be inaugurated Saturday 30 November at 6.30pm from the exhibition “Gerardo Sacco’s jewels for Franco Zeffirelli”, hosted until December 7th in the Crypt room of the Accascina Museum in Messina (free entry).
The Calabrian goldsmith created for films Othello, The young Toscanini And Hamlet the jewels that will be exhibited on this occasion together with some stage costumes created by Maurizio Millenotti, nominated for an Oscar in 1987.
During the evening the documentary will also be screened at the Museum Franco Zeffirelli, rebel conformist (2023) by Anselma Dell’Olio who will be present and introduce his latest work to the spectators.
The tribute to Franco Zeffirelli is created in collaboration with the Foundation that bears his name.
Friday 29 November at 8.30pm is scheduled to Palaculture a pre-opening of the MFF, during which the films will be screened Rustic cavalry Of Ugo Falena of 1916, a silent film that demonstrates the intimate link between cinema and opera since the birth of the seventh art and The Norm by Gerolamo Lo Savio from 1915. This special evening is organized in collaboration with theVincenzo Bellini Musical Association al Palace of Culturewith live accompanying music fromOrchestra of the Taormina Musical Association.
In the days to follow, from 1 to 7 Decemberthe Laudamo Hall of the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele, will be the heart of the screenings, with the “International short film competition”, and the section “Contemporary panorama” dedicated to international works with four national premiere films: the French Carmen by Benjamin Millepied, Karaoke by Stéphane Ben, Ténor by Claude Zidi jr and the German Orphea in Love by Axel Ranisch, which will be present at the Festival.
The events dedicated toopera in the silent era, on silent films based on operas, accompanied with live music by soloists or ensembles, such as that of Corelli Conservatory of Messina.
Expected Tuesday 3 December at 6.30pm a video conversation with Giuseppe Tornatore who will talk with the journalist Franco Cicero. Following the film “They’re all fine” with Marcello Mastroianni, in which the Sicilian director’s passion for opera is “revealed”. 2024 is the centenary of the death of Giacomo Puccini who will be remembered with “Puccini and the girl”, by the director Paolo Benvenuti That, Wednesday 4 December at 6.00pmwill meet the Festival audience.
Verga’s novella, “Cavalleria rusticana” transposed into music by Pietro Mascagni, accompanies the MFF with various film versions. A different narrative is found in the reading “Dangerous relationships” starring Stefania Sandrelli in the role of Santuzza, who will close the festival on the evening of Saturday 7 December at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele.