Filming Italy Sardegna: Tiziana Rocca in Cannes: “We create opportunities for dialogue between artists, the public, and new generations"

The 9th edition of the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival, conceived and directed by Tiziana Rocca, was presented at Cannes. The festival will take place from June 25 to 28 in Cagliari and at Forte Village. This year, there will also be a special section of films screened for students starting June 18 at Notorious Cinemas Cagliari.

The event has established itself as one of a kind because, for the first time, it brings together cinema and television through screenings, discussions, and presentations of films and TV series, involving the most important distributors and producers from both the big and small screens, alongside the giants of VOD and television entertainment. Once again this year, the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival will take place in collaboration with APA - Association of Audiovisual Producers, under the patronage of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the City of Cagliari, and the Costa Smeralda Consortium, and in collaboration with Forte Village.

“Filming Italy Sardegna Festival is by now an event that over the years has grown to become a major international meeting point for cinema, television, culture, and music - said Rocca - Once again this year, the festival will bring major figures from the global arts scene to Sardinia, along with many new initiatives that demonstrate our commitment to continuing to innovate and create opportunities for dialogue between artists, the public, and new generations. We are delighted to announce Clara as the patroness of this edition - an artist beloved by the public and a symbol of a new generation of talent - while actress and director Micaela Ramazzotti will serve as the festival’s ambassador, bringing her talent, sensitivity, and artistic experience to the forefront of this edition. Among our international guests, we will also have the honor of welcoming a true legend of world cinema, Harvey Keitel, whose presence is a source of great prestige and pride for us”.

Tiziana Rocca and the Festival direction. Tiziana Rocca is one of the rare female film festival directors in the world. She founded Filming Italy Los Angeles and Filming Italy Special Venice, and will direct the Taormina Film Festival. “The path for women is certainly uphill. I’ve been doing this work for many years – 9 years with Filming Italy Sardegna, 11 years with Filming Italy Los Angeles – and within my festivals, I’ve always tried to support women in the film world.” Rocca believes “we need many more female directors who tell beautiful and interesting stories that highlight women’s roles. This year we renew our collaboration with Women in Film, Television & Media Italia, which will present three debut works by emerging female directors to the Festival audience. I think the path is now underway, so we hope that many women will choose other women. A woman must work twice as hard to prove her worth – this is a rule in all professions – so it takes a lot of determination, tenacity, and willpower.” 

The guests will engage in masterclasses with young students from schools and universities of the Cinema Academy: “We want to bring young people closer to this art form and – why not – encourage them to choose careers in cinema. This year, the Filming Italy Sardegna poster is linked to the importance of movie theaters, which absolutely must not close, as they represent fundamental cultural centers where young people meet.” More than 50 titles will be screened, including films, documentaries, and television series, both international and Italian, many as absolute premieres.

The jury for the short film section will be chaired by the Elsa Zylberstein and composed of Samuel Arnold, Rosa Diletta Rossi, and Ilenia Pastorelli, “diverse personalities united by great artistic quality and a focus on contemporary cinema and new talent. Among the first names already confirmed and present today at the press conference, we are pleased to announce Sveva Alviti and James Franco, but there will be many guests attending the festival who will engage in masterclasses with young students from the schools and universities of the Academy Cinema, just as there will be a vast number of titles - more than 50 still being finalized - that we will present, including films, documentaries, and television series, both international and Italian, many of which will be world premieres. Among these is a massive and highly anticipated international blockbuster that will make this edition even more special”.

Special events featuring Chiara Galiazzo, Nina Zilli, and Jalisse.  One of the most influential and charismatic figures in international cinema, Harvey Keitel will serve as the Festival’s honorary president. Throughout his career, he has brought unforgettable characters to life, collaborating with some of the world’s greatest directors and leaving a profound mark on the history of contemporary cinema.

Micaela Ramazzotti will serve as the Festival’s ambassador. Among the guests, american actress Katherine McNamara, star of numerous hit television series such as Shadowhunters and Arrow; and actress Sveva Alviti, who will present her latest film, Other Side of Fame, at the festival. 

The guests of Filming Italy Sardegna. In past years, Filming Italy Sardegna has hosted personalities such as Laura Dern, Richard Gere, Harvey Keitel, Elizabeth Olsen, Heather Graham, Valeria Golino, Vanessa Hudgens, Winston Duke, Édgar Ramírez, Justin Hartley, Matt Dillon, Isabelle Huppert, Eva Longoria, Lola Ponce, Christopher Walken, Dennis Quaid, Dominic West, Alessandro Nivola, Julie Taymor, Josh Hartnett, Dante Ferretti, Regina King, Justin Hartley, Annabelle Belmondo, Brie Larson, Colman Domingo, Bo Derek, Rosario Dawson, Matt Bomer, Alexandra Daddario, Gemma Arterton, Carla Gugino, Iain Glen, Joe Manganiello, Ezra Miller, Cheryl Hines, Tati Gabrielle, Olivia Holt, Pom Klementieff.