The University of Rhode Island’s Italian studies program hosted the fourth and final film screening for this year’s New England Italian Contemporary Film Festival this past Tuesday.
“Thank you for coming to the fourth and final film of the 2016 New England Italian Contemporary Film Festival,” said Professor Catherine M. Sama, the head of the Italian department at URI, when she addressed the dozens of students in attendance. Sama gave a brief synopsis of the film being shown, “L’intervallo” or “The Interval.”
“The Interval” was directed by Leonardo Di Costanzo in 2012, and was presented at the 69th International Exhibition of the Venice Film Festival. It won awards in 2013 for Best New Director and Best Cinematography.
The Italian studies program screens films ever year in celebration of Italian October Heritage Month. The films are meant to reflect various timely and controversial aspects of contemporary Italian society and culture. It is a free event that is open to everyone, and all of the movies are shown with English subtitles.
The Italian Consulate in Boston provides the program at URI with films that have been approved by the Italian Government. The festival is held in conjunction with the Italian Consulate of Boston, Dartmouth College, Assumption College, UMass Amherst, University of Vermont, UMass Boston and Northeastern University.
While Tuesday evening’s screening was the final film associated with the Italian film festival, there will be a screening of another international film on Nov. 7 in Swan Hall auditorium at 7 p.m.
“We hope you can join us for the screening of “Oro Macht Frei” translated as “Gold Will Set You Free,”’ Sama said. “There will be a 30 minute reception before the screening with snacks. The film will be followed by a discussion with the writer and producer Catherine Campbell.” Campbell will be joined for the discussion by Holocaust scholar and retired URI History Professor, Dr. Robert Weisbord.
The other films screened throughout October were “Primo Incarico,” “L’ex,” and “Le Masserie Delle Allodol.”
Sama organized the events along with Giovanni Grande, Katie Owens, and students Mike Crispino and Zachary Crowley-Barnos, both Italian Studies Majors.