San Diego Italian Film Festival

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San Diego Italian Film Festival

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SDIFF is a non-profit organization offering monthly film screenings and events in both North County a

10/29/2026

🎬🇮🇹 4 Italian Directors. 4 Films. 1 Special Night!

Join the San Diego Italian Film Festival and Noci Film Fest for From Puglia with Love, a special evening celebrating Italian cinema, culture, and community!

We're welcoming four talented directors from Italy for screenings of their short films, followed by a live Q&A exploring their work, stories, and creative process. The organizers of Noci Film Fest will also be joining us!

🍷 Enjoy Italian w**e and delicious appetizers by Zafferano Catering, beginning at 6:30 PM.

📅 Saturday, November 7 | 7:00 PM
📍 Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA)

🎟️ Tickets are available now! Don't miss this special evening!
https://sdiff-monthly-series.eventive.org/schedule/6ac42f277722d5662d918a48

This project was made possible thanks to funding from the 2021–2027 Development and Cohesion Fund through , with the support of and as part of the “Per Chi Crea” program.

10/20/2026

🎬🇮🇹 Our 20th feStivale may be over, but the Italian cinema continues!

We have more exciting screenings coming to La Paloma Theatre, starting with Elena del Ghetto (Elena’s War) on November 19!

Set in Rome during WWII, this powerful historical drama tells the true story of Elena Di Porto, a fearless Jewish woman who defied fascism, joined the resistance, and risked everything to protect her community.

✨ Join us after the screening for a special Q&A with Dr. Shira Klein, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Chapman University, whose research focuses on Italian Jewry and the Holocaust.

📅 Thursday, Nov. 19 | 7:00 PM
📍 La Paloma Theatre

Presented in partnership with the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival.

🎟️ Get your tickets today!
https://sdiff-monthly-series.eventive.org/schedule

10/17/2026

🎬🇮🇹 FROM PUGLIA WITH LOVE! ❤️

Four Italian directors. Four short films. One special night!

The San Diego Italian Film Festival and Noci Film Fest are coming together for a special evening celebrating Italian cinema, creativity, and the talented filmmakers of Puglia!

✨ Enjoy four captivating short films, followed by a live Q&A with the visiting Italian directors, offering a unique opportunity to hear about their stories and creative journeys.

🍷 Italian w**e
🍴 Delicious appetizers by Zafferano Catering
🎬 Four short films & live filmmaker Q&A

📅 Saturday, Nov. 7 | 7:00 PM
🚪 Reception begins at 6:30 PM
📍 Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art

Join us for an unforgettable evening of film, food, and Italian culture!

🎟️ Get your tickets today!
https://sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com/from-puglia-with-love

This project was made possible thanks to funding from the 2021–2027 Development and Cohesion Fund through , with the support of and as part of the “Per Chi Crea” program.

10/15/2026

🎬🇮🇹 GRAZIE MILLE for an unforgettable 20th feStivale! ❤️

What an incredible celebration of Italian cinema, culture, and community! This year's LEGACY was especially meaningful as we honored our founder, Victor Laruccia, and the vision that continues to bring us together.

To our attendees, volunteers, sponsors, filmmakers, and supporters, THANK YOU for making this milestone edition so special! 🥂

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 Golden Ristretto winners, directors Edoardo Maione and Alice Gnech! A special thank you to Edoardo for joining us at feSta!

🎥 There's still time to experience the Ristretto shorts!

All of this year's finalists are available to watch online through Sunday, October 18!

✨ Don't forget about our Audience Award! Watch the shorts and cast your vote for your favorite film before voting closes!

🔗 Watch online: https://watch.eventive.org/sandiegoitalianfilmfestival2026

Here's to 20 incredible years and many more to come. We can't wait to welcome you back for our 21st feStivale! 🇮🇹❤️

10/15/2026

Again, congratulations to Edoardo Maione and Alice Gnech, young talented directors of the short film “Finché morte non ci separi”, that won the Golden Ristretto Award! And thank you Edoardo for coming to San Diego during our final night of feStivale to get your award on stage. We can’t wait to see your next work!

10/11/2026

Yesterday night we closed this milestone 20th feStivale at the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art. At SDIFF our hearts are full of joy and gratitude for all the friends that have joined us during the past two weeks and yesterday at the feSta to celebrate SDIFF’s last 20 years and that helped us imagine the next 20! A big thank you to our guests Beth Accomando, Beatrice Basso, and Edoardo Maiano, Director of the short film “Finché morte non ci separi”, winner of the Golden Ristretto Award.

See you on October 2027 for the 21 feStivale!

Valentina Cartareggia Antonio Iannotta Fabrizio Scippa Stefania Bruschi Rosamaria Carrara Ruggeri Carolynn Crooks-Mueller Gail Baldi Mackler Ron Miriello Paola Richard Zafferano Catering Massimiliano Farina Elisa Romeo GelatoLove S. T. Cats

10/10/2026

🎉🇮🇹 TONIGHT! Let's celebrate 20 years of Italian cinema at feSta!

The grand finale of feStivale 2026: LEGACY is here! Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate two decades of Italian cinema, culture, and community in San Diego!

🏆 2026 Ristretto Awards & winning short film screenings
🎶 Live music by the S.T. Cats
🍴 Delicious food by Zafferano Catering
🍨 Gelato by Gelatolove
🎨 Silent Auction

📅 TONIGHT, Oct. 10 | 5:30 PM
📍 Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art

Let's close out our milestone 20th edition together with an evening of film, food, music, and celebration! 🥂

🎟️ There's still time to get your feSta tickets!
https://sandiegoitalianfilmfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/6a4fd3eaa86f967040fd9a8e

10/10/2026

Tonight for our last feature screening of this feStivale at Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art we watched together La Grazia by Paolo Sorrentino. Thanks to Beth Accomando for the beautiful Q&A session and to House of Italy for sponsoring the night! As always, Zafferano Catering was a big part of the success of this evening, providing pasticcini to treat our guests. What a night!! And tomorrow: FESTA!!! Buy one of the last tickets available here and come to celebrate with us our 20 years: https://sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com/festa-2026

Valentina Cartareggia Antonio Iannotta Stefania Bruschi Fabrizio Scippa

10/09/2026

Tonight we were back at the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art to start the second week of the 20th feStivale with the movie Fuori, about the amazing life of Goliarda Sapienza. We were spoiled with an introduction and Q&A session by our friend Clarissa Clo, thank you so much Clarissa!! As usual Zafferano Catering was there and tonight it was the turn of their famous arancini! Add some w**e, many old and new friends, wonderful volunteers and good discussions, and you’ll describe our night!
A special thank you to our sponsors for tonight, Rosetta and Michael Volkov.

Valentina Cartareggia Antonio Iannotta Fabrizio Scippa Stefania Bruschi Lamia Khorshid Carolynn Crooks-Mueller Ron Miriello Rosamaria Carrara Ruggeri Massimiliano Farina

10/08/2026

🎬 TONIGHT at feStivale 2026! 🇮🇹

Join us for "Fuori," a moving drama inspired by the life of celebrated Italian author Goliarda Sapienza.

Set in 1980s Rome, the film explores friendship, female solidarity, and the unexpected connections that transform our lives. Through an unlikely bond formed in prison, Goliarda rediscovers her passion for life and writing.

✨ Plus, a special introduction and post-screening Q&A with Professor Clarissa Clò (San Diego State University).

📅 Tonight, Oct. 8 | 7:00 PM
📍 Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art

❤️ Special thanks to our screening partners, Rosetta and Michael Volkov.

🎟️ Get your tickets and join us tonight!
https://sandiegoitalianfilmfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/6a5011cde5515774d44efbae

Address

San Diego, CA
92101

Website

http://www.sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com/

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