Co-presented by the Hong Kong International Film
Festival Society (HKIFFS) with Istituto Luce Cinecittà, the Consulate General
of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong, “Cine Italiano! – Cinema Italian
Style in Hong Kong” is back for its third edition! Following the
success of the previous two years, the third Cine Italiano! is a highly anticipated event that gives Hong Kong
film lovers the chance to catch the best and latest in Italian cinema. Running
from 17 to 21 September 2014, this
year’s edition will once again be held at The Grand Cinema.
This year, the festival will open with the Asian
premiere of Ferzan OZPETEK’s Fasten Your Seatbelts (Allacciate le
cinture). Mr. OZPETEK, a Turkish director who lives in Italy, gained
widespread recognition with his debut production, Hamam which was acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival and other international festivals in 1997. Since
then OZPETEK has developed his unique career from Turkey to Italy. Fasten Your Seatbelts is an
opposite-attract romance of two people who despite their differences, are
brought together by a compelling physical attraction. Winner of both Best Actress and Best
Supporting Actress awards at the 2014 Italian Silver Ribbon Award, this is the
perfect opening film to kick off the Cine Italiano!
This year’s Cine
Italiano! programme also includes How Strange to be Named Federico (Che strano
chiamarsi Federico), director Ettore SCOLA’s moving story and
re-creation of his lifelong friendship with the great Italian filmmaker
Federico FELLINI, and legendary filmmaker
Giuseppe TORNATORE’s award-winning drama The
Best Offer (La migliore offerta), starring Geoffrey RUSH as a master auctioneer.
Three other films will have their Asian or
international premieres at Cine Italiano! – romantic comedy Blame
Freud (Tutta colpa di Freud,
Asian Premiere), A
Golden Boy (Un ragazzo d’oro,
International Premiere), starring Hollywood star Sharon STONE, and Quiet
Bliss (In grazia di dio, Asian
Premiere), a drama set in the beautiful coastline of Southern Italy.
Political satire The Mafia Only Kills in Summer (La
Mafia uccide solo d’estate) and Rome-based Nina round up the
programme line-up.
The full programme can be viewed at www.cine-italiano.hk. Synopses of the films are enclosed in the
Appendix. Tickets will be available at www.thegrandcinema.com.hk and the box office of The
Grand Cinema from 21 August.