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Cleveland Italian Film Festival Marks 20th Anniversary with Three Italian Cinema Highlights
The Cleveland Italian Film Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, offering a concise slate of three Italian films that span comedy, drama and romance. The event will run from September 10 to September 24, 2026, with screenings in Cleveland Heights and Mentor and a special VIP dinner on September 23.
Founded in 2006 by Joyce Mariani, the festival has become the first independent event in Northeast Ohio to showcase award‑winning Italian films in local theaters for the general public. Mariani’s initiative was designed to bring authentic Italian cinema to a region where such offerings are scarce. The 20th edition continues that mission, presenting a curated selection that reflects the diversity of contemporary Italian filmmaking.
The opening film, La Vita Va Cosi! (Life Goes Like This!), is a 2025 comedy directed by Riccardo Milani. The story follows a shepherd in southern Sardinia who clashes with a real‑estate developer intent on converting his pastoral land into a mega‑resort. Milani, known for his work in Italian television and film, brings a light‑hearted yet socially conscious tone to the narrative. The film premiered at the 2025 Rome Film Festival and was released in Italian cinemas on October 23, 2025.
The second screening, Non Odiare (Do Not Hate), is a 2020 drama directed by Mauro Mancini. The plot centers on a doctor in Trieste who must confront his own capacity for hatred after an encounter with a neo‑Nazi. Alessandro Gassmann stars in the lead role, and the film received critical acclaim at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival and the Venice Biennale.
The festival’s finale is Manuale d’Amore (Manual of Love), a 2025 romantic comedy set against the backdrop of Rome and Tuscany. The film follows four couples at different stages of love and stars Carlo Verdone. The narrative blends humor with a reflection on modern relationships, a common theme in contemporary Italian romantic comedies.
All screenings will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be presented in Italian with English subtitles. Tickets are priced at $13 plus applicable fees and must be purchased in advance through Eventbrite. The first film will be shown at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights on September 10, while the remaining two films will be screened at Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes in Mentor, starting with Non Odiare on September 17.
In addition to the film program, the festival will host a VIP dinner on September 23 at the Dante Next Door restaurant in Tremont. The evening will feature a five‑course Sardinian‑inspired menu prepared by chef Dante Boccuzzi. Tickets for the dinner cost $140 and include gratuity, tax and wine pairings. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 440‑456‑8117.
The 20th edition of the Cleveland Italian Film Festival underscores the city’s growing appetite for international cinema and highlights the continued relevance of Italian film in a global context. With a lineup that showcases both new releases and critically acclaimed works, the festival offers audiences a compact yet comprehensive view of contemporary Italian storytelling.
As the festival concludes on September 24, attendees will have experienced a range of genres and narratives that reflect Italy’s rich cinematic tradition. The event’s success reaffirms the viability of niche film festivals in the United States and sets the stage for future editions that may expand the program’s geographic reach and film selection.
Founded in 2006 by Joyce Mariani, the festival has become the first independent event in Northeast Ohio to showcase award‑winning Italian films in local theaters for the general public. Mariani’s initiative was designed to bring authentic Italian cinema to a region where such offerings are scarce. The 20th edition continues that mission, presenting a curated selection that reflects the diversity of contemporary Italian filmmaking.
The opening film, La Vita Va Cosi! (Life Goes Like This!), is a 2025 comedy directed by Riccardo Milani. The story follows a shepherd in southern Sardinia who clashes with a real‑estate developer intent on converting his pastoral land into a mega‑resort. Milani, known for his work in Italian television and film, brings a light‑hearted yet socially conscious tone to the narrative. The film premiered at the 2025 Rome Film Festival and was released in Italian cinemas on October 23, 2025.
The second screening, Non Odiare (Do Not Hate), is a 2020 drama directed by Mauro Mancini. The plot centers on a doctor in Trieste who must confront his own capacity for hatred after an encounter with a neo‑Nazi. Alessandro Gassmann stars in the lead role, and the film received critical acclaim at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival and the Venice Biennale.
The festival’s finale is Manuale d’Amore (Manual of Love), a 2025 romantic comedy set against the backdrop of Rome and Tuscany. The film follows four couples at different stages of love and stars Carlo Verdone. The narrative blends humor with a reflection on modern relationships, a common theme in contemporary Italian romantic comedies.
All screenings will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be presented in Italian with English subtitles. Tickets are priced at $13 plus applicable fees and must be purchased in advance through Eventbrite. The first film will be shown at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights on September 10, while the remaining two films will be screened at Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes in Mentor, starting with Non Odiare on September 17.
In addition to the film program, the festival will host a VIP dinner on September 23 at the Dante Next Door restaurant in Tremont. The evening will feature a five‑course Sardinian‑inspired menu prepared by chef Dante Boccuzzi. Tickets for the dinner cost $140 and include gratuity, tax and wine pairings. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 440‑456‑8117.
The 20th edition of the Cleveland Italian Film Festival underscores the city’s growing appetite for international cinema and highlights the continued relevance of Italian film in a global context. With a lineup that showcases both new releases and critically acclaimed works, the festival offers audiences a compact yet comprehensive view of contemporary Italian storytelling.
As the festival concludes on September 24, attendees will have experienced a range of genres and narratives that reflect Italy’s rich cinematic tradition. The event’s success reaffirms the viability of niche film festivals in the United States and sets the stage for future editions that may expand the program’s geographic reach and film selection.
