About

Cinema Italia San Francisco presents the best of classic Italian cinema in San Francisco.

Our 10th series – FELLINI 100: HOMAGE TO FEDERICO FELLINI – was held on March 7, 2020 at San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre. Presented by Istituto Luce Cinecittà and Istituto Italiano di Cultura SF, director Annamaria Di Giorgio, under the auspices of Consul General of Italy Lorenzo Ortona and organized by Cinema Italia San Francisco as its 10th program. The one-day marathon with four films selected by program director Amelia Antonucci was part of the Federico Fellini 100 Tour, a series of centennial tributes to Federico Fellini (1920–1993), which travels to major museums and film institutions worldwide, coordinated by Paola Ruggiero and Camilla Cormanni of Luce Cinecittà. All films (unless noted) were digitally restored by Luce Cinecittà, Cineteca di Bologna and Cineteca Nazionale.

FELLINI 100: HOMAGE TO FEDERICO FELLINI followed the success of the tributes to UGO TOGNAZZI (2019), MARCELLO MASTROIANNI (Autumn 2018), MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI (Spring 2018), LINA WERTMÜLLER (Autumn 2017), DINO RISI (Spring 2017), ANNA MAGANI (2016), VITTORIO DE SICA (2015), BERNARDO BERTOLUCCI (2014), PIER PAOLO PASOLINI (2013), all playing at the iconic Castro Theatre.

UGO TOGNAZZI: A Film Series on April 27, 2019, brought back to the big screen in brilliant 35 mm five of Tognazzi's greatest performances, including "Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man," "Property is Not a Theft," and the sensational "La Cage aux Folles."

CIAO, MARCELLO! THE HOMAGE TO MARCELLO MASTROIANNI was held on Saturday, September 22nd, 2018. It was an overdue homage to a great star 60 years after the making of "La Dolce Vita" with the projection of restored digital and rare 35 mm films back on the big screen. Nicknamed the "Latin Lover", this quintessential leading man was truly a a giant of the golden age of Italian cinema – talented, transformative, and chameleonic.

THE HOMAGE TO MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI took place on April 28, 2018. This successful series was attended by over 2,000 people. The first three films of this series featured Antonioni's legendary collaboration with Monica Vitti in acclaimed roles that made her one of the leading Italian acting figures of the 20th century. The two evening films highlighted the international success of Antonioni with sensational films of pop culture and social politics. The day-long cinematic celebration highlighted the auteur's indelible influence on architecture, design, fashion, literature, and philosophy on postwar cinema, with the projection of restored 4K digital and new 35 mm films.

The homage to LINA WERTMÜLLER took place on September 23, 2017, with over 1,300 people in attendance. The series celebrated the groundbreaking and visionary first woman ever nominated for the Academy Award, whose fearless, polemical and provocative films have left indelible marks and influence on the international entertainment field. Four narrative films were presented in 2K Restoration DCP and one documentary film, "Behind the White Glasses" was shown in the presence of Italian filmmaker, Valerio Ruiz.

A recap of DINO RISI: On April 22, 2017, a few months after the 100th anniversary of his birth, we celebrated the genius, the irony, the disenchantment, the quick and amazing inventions that Dino Risi had created behind the camera. This special homage to the Master of the Italian Comedy Style showcased the regional premieres of new 4K restorations of Il Sorpasso (The Easy Life) and Profumo di donna (Scent of a Woman), and new 35 mm prints of Il mattatore (Love and Larceny) and I mostri (15 from Rome–  Opiate ’67). All four films featured renowned Italian actor Vittorio Gassman in his shooting star roles. Over 1,300 people flocked to San Francisco’s iconic Castro Theatre for this cinematic celebration. The sensational Commedia all’Italiana Party in the theatre’s mezzanine level featured Tuscan food. In front of the theatre at the Il Sorpasso special presentation was the “guest of honor” – the dazzling, finely restored Lancia Aurelia B24, courtesy of Larry Solomon and Gary Smith.

ANNA MAGNANI – An All Celluloid Tribute to the Diva of the Italian Cinema – took place on September 24, 2016.  The special presentation featured rare 35 mm screenings of her most acclaimed movies: “Rome Open City”, “Bellissima”, “The Rose Tattoo”, and “The Passionate Thief”. 

VITTORIO DE SICA took place on September 26, 2015. Highlights include the Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni’s classic "Marriage Italian Style" and the Academy Award-winning "The Garden of the Finzi-Continis" with lead actor Lino Capolicchio in person. 

BERNARDO BERTOLUCCI took place on October 18th, 2014, and was highlighted with the Northern California Premiere of newly restored 3D version of the 9-time Academy Award-winning film THE LAST EMPEROR along with the presence of celebrated actress Joan Chen in person. 

PIER PAOLO PASOLINI took place September 14, 2013 at the Castro Theatre and September 15, 2013 at the Roxie Theatre, showcasing six daring films across three periods from the legacy of the Italian film master, with actor Ninetto Davoli in person. These past five special series have become a part of the cultural calendar of San Francisco, and each year have garnered publicity in the major news agencies of the region, including the San Francisco Chronicle, the Bay Guardian, SF Weekly, L’Italo Americano, SF Examiner, the Bay Area Reporter, etc.

Cinema Italia SF Core Team: 
Amelia Antonucci, Founder & Program Director
Nancy Fishman, Program Advisor
Rickey Lee Baumann, Operations Manager
Colpa Press, Graphic & Website Designer
Larsen Associates, Publicity
Alex Williams, Social Media Consultant
Enrica Cavalli, Photography

For inquiries on working with us or volunteering, please email cinemaitaliasf@gmail.com.