ST. ALi Italian Film Festival 2021

Now in its 22nd year, the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace returns to cinema screens this Oct/Nov with the best new Italian films as well as classic gems of Italian cinema screening nationally in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Byron Bay. With a focus on contemporary cinema that tells the stories from today’s Italy, plus a selection of classics honouring the country’s filmmaking tradition, this edition features a sensational line-up of much-loved stars and exciting emerging talent.

Festival Trailer

Sample a taste of the Festival here! Start your Italian adventure from Oct 20 in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, Oct 22 in Byron, Oct 27 in Sydney then Nov 17 for Canberra and Nov 19 for Melbourne.

Roberto Rossellini Retrospective

Roberto Rossellini

One of the greatest directors in Italian film history, Rossellini's ground-breaking style influenced the development of important talents including Federico Fellini and Martin Scorsese. Presented in association with the Italian Cultural Institute Sydney.

Highlights

Opening Night

The Ties

Daniele Luchetti's stylish marriage-in-crisis drama set in Naples and Rome opened the Venice Film Festival and features an all-star cast including Alba Rohrwacher, Luigi Lo Cascio and Giovanna Mezzogiorno.

Closing Night

CLOSING NIGHT

Join us for a Limoncello di Capri cocktail and Connoisseur Gourmet ice cream as we say arrivederci to the festival with Roberto Rossellini’s stunningly restored classic Rome, Open City.

Centrepiece

To Chiara

Direct from Cannes 2021, this Directors' Fortnight-winning drama tells the gripping story of a 15-year-old girl from Calabria, whose family life starts to unravel when she discovers her beloved father may have criminal ties.

Young At Heart

Marriage Italian Style

Presented by Feros Care
Join us for a glass of prosecco and popcorn courtesy of Feros Care at selected screenings of Vittorio de Sica’s endlessly romantic 1964 classic, Marriage Italian Style, starring Sophia Loren.

Special Presentation

Three Floors

Featuring a tremendous ensemble cast, the new drama from Nanni Moretti (Mia Madre, The Son's Room) traces the disparate lives of three families who reside in the same apartment block in Rome's stylish Prati neighbourhood.

The Female Lens

The Istituto Italiano di Cultura Melbourne proudly presents The Female Lens - a spotlight on upcoming female directors with Elisa Amoruso's debut feature Sirley (Maledetta primavera) and Laura Muscardin's Giffoni winner Cam's War (La guerra di Cam).

Family Films

Glass Boy (All ages) A heartwarming tale of courage and adventure. An entertaining Christmas-themed sequel to the 2019 Festival hit 10 Days Without Mamma, the misadventures of the Rovelli family are back in When Mum is Away...with the Family (All ages).

Campari Presents

Direct from its Venice premiere, this pioneering project explores Federico Fellini’s creative genius using new technology to emulate the works of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time in a new and unique movie set in Rome.