TORONTO, Canada – The Lavazza IncluCity Festival, organized by ICFF, proudly unveils its full lineup of events from June 27th to July 21st at the Distillery Historic District, featuring a special celebration dedicated to Federico Fellini with the never-before-seen “Fellini Forever: A Journey into Fellini’s Studio” and the Canadian Premiere of “Finally Dawn” by Saverio Costanzo.
The festival is thrilled to honour past poignant legacies and present outstanding contributions with an extensive lineup which will include over 40 International, North American and Canadian Premieres. The lineup will also present a tailored retrospective on the world-renowned Canadian director, Norman Jewison, who passed away earlier this year. Amongst the guests in attendance hailing from Italy, the festival will welcome Rocco Papaleo, Claudia Gerini, Neri Marcorè, and Fabio Mollo.
“I’m proud to see the festival grow with every edition, and I’m particularly happy to announce that this year we will be dedicating a special focus to the theme of sustainability,” said Cristiano de Florentiis, ICFF Artistic Director. “The festival’s iconic Lavazza lounge and red-carpeted stage will now include a special structure made from the original 500-year-old wood of the Distillery District, which had been taken away during the site’s renovation many years ago. I’m excited to bring back a piece of history while creating a sustainable and impact-free building that will enhance both the site and the festival.”
With 25 days of screenings and events on the iconic couches set on the historic cobblestones of the Distillery District, the festival will represent over 15 communities featuring astounding titles and epic tales from around the world. Among the titles presented, the festival will showcase a Special Screening of “Space Cadet” (USA) by Liz W. Garcia, starring Emma Roberts ahead of the films’ platform release on Amazon Prime, the International Premiere of “Everything’s Fifty Fifty” (Germany) by Alireza Golafshan, the North American Premiere of “Jorge of Cappadocia” (Brazil) by Alexandre Machafer, the Canadian Premiere of “The War Machine” (Italy) by Edoardo De Angelis and starring Pierfrancesco Favino, and the Canadian festival premiere of “Citizen of a Kind” (South Korea) by Park Young-Ju.
“Beyond showcasing the contemporary filmmakers who are currently making cinematic history, we are proud to celebrate the maestros who have indelibly shaped the industry’s very essence,” said Paul Golini, Chair of the ICFF Board. “The ‘Fellini Forever’ exhibition opening on June 27th during the launch of the ICFF Festival at the Distillery District, will feature over 25 pieces from the maestro’s most famous films and sets including “Fellini’s Casanova” and “The Voice of the Moon,” as well as iconic elements from his life.”
The Grand Opening of the exhibit will culminate with the presentation of “Finally Dawn,” the latest work by Saverio Costanzo (“My Brilliant Friend”) featuring a star-studded Hollywood cast with Lily James (“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”), Joe Keery (“Stranger Things”), and William Dafoe (“Poor Things”).
A staple theme of the festival remains “inclusivity” with a lineup that not only celebrates multiculturalism but also sheds a special spotlight to diversity and disability with its “Breaking Barriers” focus. Among the films that will be presented, the IncluCity is proud to feature the premieres of “The Shadow of the Sun” (Venezuela), “Born for You” (Italy), “The Weekend Rebels” (Germany), “A Little Something Extra” (France), and “Hamlet is My Brother” (Italy) and “97 Minuten” (Türkiye).
“At Lavazza Group, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment because we believe in the power of diversity,” said Andrea Chiaramello, Senior Vice President of North America Retail Sales. “We’re thrilled to continue presenting a unique event that celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures in Toronto and its people.”
For its 13th edition, ICFF is proud to bring to Canada the Italian star actor and director Rocco Papaleo to present some of his most beloved films, among them “Basilicata Coast to Coast” and “A Small Southern Enterprise” starring Riccardo Scamarcio. Papaleo will be awarded with the ICFF 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Italian cinema and culture on international scale. Also in attendance will be Neri Marcorè, renowned Italian director and actor, who will present his latest film “Zamora,” in partnership with the Dante Alighieri Academy in Toronto.
Another director the festival will celebrate is Atom Egoyan, whose works have been greatly inspired by Fellini. The renowned Canadian director will present the special advanced screening of “Seven Veils” ahead of its theatrical release in the fall.
Following the electrifying success of its pilot edition, the festival is excitedly announcing its second edition of “The Dark Side” program, the section dedicated to iconic and contemporary horror and thriller films. Kicking off the genre section is a special “In Conversation” on June 28th lead by Academy Award Winning Producer for “The Shape of Water”, Miles Dale on the topic of “Distillery as a Cinematographic Set.” The evening will discuss all the great films and series featuring Distillery through times and will culminate with the presentation of “The Shape of Water” from the eerie midnight setting of the site.
Part of “the Dark Side” will also be the Canadian Premiere of “Home Education” (UK, Italy), a Special Presentation of “Breathing In” (South Africa), the Canadian Premiere of “Spirit in the Blood” (Canada, Germany), a Special Advanced Screening of “Cuckoo” (United States, Germany), the Canadian Premiere of “The Well” (Italy), the Ontario premiere of “The Vourdalak.” The program and movie will be presented by the Curator, Chris Alexander, author of Delirium Magazine, film journalist, and producer.
The horror genre will also be one of the focus topics of the ICFF Industry Days 2024, the series of conferences dedicated to the experts of the craft that have the goal of discussing the contemporary filmmaking and cinema landscape. During the industry horror conference, the festival will host several international players and key figures in the genre, among them Andrea Niada, the director of “Home Education”.
The IncluCity will pay homage to Norman Jewison, one of the great Canadian cinema pioneers who passed away earlier this year. Jewison not only entertained audiences worldwide but also elevated Canadian storytelling to global prominence, tackling important social issues and complicated subjects on the big screen. The festival will honour his legacy with a tailored retrospective, “Jewison’s Compass. Navigating Humany Through Cinema,” featuring some of his most acclaimed works: “Moonstruck,” “The Thomas Crown Affair,” and “In the Heat of the Night.” The retrospective is presented by 3C Lakeshore Inc.
This year, the festival proudly announces its collaboration with RAI to showcase a selection of outstanding contemporary Italian works, spanning both cinema and television series. ICFF is excited to present a curated collection of titles that exemplify the exceptional quality of Italian television, featuring new films and shows that have captivated audiences in Italy and are sure to resonate with international viewers.
A staple in the ICFF programming, this year the festival proudly presents a new focus on “Architettura & Design” and Design, sponsored by Great Gulf. This year’s theme is sustainability, highlighted by the feature “Green Over Gray: Emilio Ambasz,” with director Francesca Molteni in attendance.
The festival includes two more unique special events and conferences on this topic. In partnership with NORRed, ICFF will host a high-level conference on Carlo Mollino, featuring renowned expert Michelangelo Sabatino and other prominent architects who will discuss the legacy of the late architect and innovator.
Additionally, ICFF introduces “Archiwine,” an evening celebrating visionary winery architecture along with a unique wine-tasting experience at Distillery District. This event will highlight sustainable practices, tourism, and exceptional wine production, featuring renowned Italian wineries and Ontario’s finest producers.
Beyond cinema, the festival will recreate a multicultural village, featuring unique activations, culinary experiences, and over 30 complimentary concerts showcasing artists from diverse locales such as the Ivory Coast, Italy, and Toronto.
The festival is proud to have the support of the Federal Government, the Ontario Government, OCAF, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, the City of Toronto, the City of Vaughan, the Italian Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Embassy of Italy in Canada, and the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto and Montreal.
