The cultural association Levante International Film Festival has organized a festival with 6 Apulian films, including “Bluerose” in absolute world premiere, which will be screened at the US public. An event supported by the Puglia Region and A.Re.T. Pugliapromozione with resources from the European Regional Development Fund. Partners are the regional office of Pugliesi nel Mondo and the associations United Pugliesi, We are Puglia and Turesi nel Mondo.
First day on May 9 with the unpublished documentary “Notepads – Stories of Pugliesi in New York”, by Mimmo Mongelli. A stream of interviews with expats in the Big Apple, with stories of families from the late 1800s to the present day. A notebook in video format. This will be followed by the world premiere presentation of the film “Blue Rose” played by Antonella Maddalena. Characterized by a heated linguistic originality, it is the story of a woman, of her multiple moods, between loneliness and isolation forced by the pandemic.
On May 10, space for “I eat your heart” by the talented Pippo Mezzapesa, and the popular “A classic Horror Story” by Roberto De Feo and Paolo Strippoli. On 11 May “Il grande male”, long-awaited first work by Mario Tani, and the remarkable “The Great Spirit” by Sergio Rubini with the same director and Rocco Papaleo. All the films were made with the support of the Apulia Film Commission, while the documentary from the regional office Pugliesi nel Mondo.
Among the guests present at the screenings: Anthony Julian Tamburri, Dean and Distinguished Professor and Prof. Eugenia Paulicelli of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College CUNY, the actress Antonella Maddalena of “Bluerose”, the protagonists of the documentary “Block Notes” John Mustaro, Maria Galetta , the brothers Nick and Mike Spano, James Mitaritonda and Antonio Rutigliano. In addition, leading exponents of cinematography and culture of the seventh art between Italy and the United States will be present during the three days.
The comment of the artistic director of Levante International Film Festival Mimmo Mongelli: “The goal is to make part of our cinematography known in such a special land, full of opportunities, cradle for many Apulians, who have lived far away for generations. For our compatriots who are in New York it is an opportunity to get to know their homeland better, to understand how it is today: sooner or later, the roots claim their place. And there is nothing better than cinema to make the world known to the world”.
For information, updates and trivia on the New York festival, visit the website www.levantefilmfest.com and the Facebook “Levante International Film Festival”, Instagram “liffbari” and Twitter “LIFF Bari” pages.
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