The Filming Italy Sardegna Festival, founded and directed by Tiziana Rocca, has laid out some of its plans for the upcoming 8th edition. The Sardinia-set fest, which combines cinema and television, runs from June 19-22 in Cagliari and at Forte Village.
The short film competition will be presided over by actress and director Micaela Ramazzotti. She will be joined by Heather Graham, Alec Baldwin, Rocío Muñoz Morales, Riccardo Milani, Aurora Giovinazzo and Giacomo Giorgio. Italian actress Martina Stella will act as the fest’s godmother.
Notable guests will include Simon Baker, who is due to receive the Filming Italy Excellence Award, and Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr., who will be honored with the Filming Italy Creativity Award. French actress Anouchka Delon will also attend, receiving an award in memory of her father Alain.
Steven Soderbergh‘s horror film Presence, which debuted at Sundance in 2024, is among the films confirmed to screen. Also due are Sony’s Karate Kids: Legends which is on a staggered overseas release, and Berlin premiere Reflection in a Dead Diamond by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani.
The opening film is comedy Poveri Noi, directed by Fabrizio Maria Cortese and starring Paolo Ruffini, Ricky Memphis, Ilaria Spada and Maria Grazia Cucinotta.
In total, the program will feature over 50 titles, including films, documentaries and television series from both in and outside Italy.
Rocca said, “This eighth edition marks an important milestone, confirming our commitment to promoting Italian and international cinema, supporting young talent, and creating an increasingly vibrant dialogue between culture, industry, and audiences.”
In other Italian fest news, the Taormina Film Festival revealed talent and titles for the 71st running, also headed by Rocca, as Artistic Director.
Taormina takes place ahead of Sardegna, running in the hilltop Sicilian town from June 10-14. Martin Scorsese is due to be honored there with a screening of his 1976 classic, Taxi Driver, which will be held in the Teatro Antico amphitheater that overlooks Mount Etna.
The international jury will be led by Oscar-winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, with panel support from British actor Rupert Everett, three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell and more.
Lionsgate’s John Wick spinoff Ballerina will open Taormina with director Len Wiseman and actor Norman Reedus presenting. The competition will include Alex Garland’s Warfare. In the out-of-competition section is Italian comedy Come Fratelli (Like Brothers), directed by Antonio Padovan.
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