Alida Pantone’s Italian London Short Film Festival Announces its Selection for the Inaugural Edition at The Underdog Gallery this April

IL Film Festival - Italian London Short Film Festival - is opening the doors to its first edition on the 30th of April. It will be a great opportunity for the general public to experience Italian language and culture first hand.

It will show some great Italian shorts that deal with important subjects like creativity and life and its many challenges.
The evening will be presented by young actress Sara Laratro, one of the founders of NIAL (Native Italian Actors in London) which IL Film Festival collaborates with.

IL Film Festival is excited to announce that the evening will open with a screening of the teaser of the recital-concert “La Strada” by international artist Jacqueline Maria Ferry; a show that pays homage to the rich history of Italian cinema. Jacqueline, a French-Italian artist, has worked with many great Italian artists such as Giorgio Albertazzi, Gigi Proietti, Saverio Marconi, Francesco Tavassi and Fabrizio Angelini.

IL Film Festival is also delighted to announce that the Jury will be composed by:
• Director and producer Enrico Tessarin;
• Director and producer Stefania Bochicchio, founder of Infallible Productions Ltd;
• Award-winning producer and director Aurelio Laino;
• Writer, director and producer Luisa Pretolani, founder of Pahni Productions and the Draper Film Academy;
• Veteran assistant director and producer Enrico Mastracchi Manes.

Official Selection:
• Cercavo Qualcos’Altro (Looking For Something Else) by Alessio Rupalti
• Carne e Polvere (Flesh and Dust) by Antonio La Camera
• Come Dio Comanda (As God Commands) by Marta Gervasutti
• Panda Cartoon by Claudio Falconi
• Perché un Documentario sull’Hip Hop a Napoli (Why a Hip Hop Documentary in Naples) by Fabio Aprea
• Matchstick Man (Do no harm to anyone, and do not be afraid) by Lorenzo Ambrosino
• An Extraordinary Place by Valentina D'Annunzio

After screening the shorts in competition, we will show the trailer for the feature film “Il Labirinto Dell’Anima” (“The Maze of the Soul”), followed by Q&A with director Claudio Gargano, producer and writer Laura Miriello and actress Livia Bertè.

At the end of the evening the best short will receive a prize awarded by the Jury.

The festival is produced by Alida Pantone, a very active personality of London's independent artistic scene.

Co-founders and Artistic Directors are Alessandro Ananasso and Alessandro Marchese.

These three actors excel in their career, marrying English professionalism with the Italian capacity to improvise and think on your feet.

Alida Pantone, already Festival Director of the renewed London Rolling Film Festival, is also the founder of Pro-Actors London, a community of professional, proactive actors which grows bigger every year.
Alessandro Ananasso has been working steadily in the industry, featuring in international projects like the forthcoming Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Alessandro Marchese has worked in theatre and film, he studied under important practitioners like Nobel prize winner Dario Fo.

IL Film Festival will take place on the 30th April at The Underdog Gallery, nearest tube London Bridge. The evening will start at 5pm.

Cercavo Qualcos’Altro
(Looking for Something Else)
by Alessio Rupalti

What if an inanimate object could reveal secrets able to change the life of the recipient? A man will turn pride into humility, a loving woman will be rewarded for her patience. They were both looking for something else.

Carne e Polvere
(Flesh and Dust)
by Antonio La Camera

Flesh and dust are mixed in the life of a farmer who, in the carnal relations with his environment, has to face the unpredictability of nature.

Come Dio Comanda
(As God Commands)
by Marta Gervasutti

God sends a message addressed to all living beings, telling us about his job interview to become the Creator of the Earth.

Panda Cartoon
by Claudio Falconi

Animation commissioned by Italian car brand Fiat to advertise the new “Panda”.

Perché un Documentario sull’Hip Hop a Napoli
(Why a Hip Hop Documentary in Naples)
by Fabio Aprea

Neapolitan hip hop culture sung by the 'pioneers' who have led the movement since the 80s. A short journey through music, memories and feelings spawned by a unique blending: the American hip hop culture and the Neapolitan one.

Fiammifero (Male non fare, paura non avere)
Matchstick Man (Do no harm to anyone, and do not be afraid)
by Lorenzo Ambrosino

Enzo is an old man. He fights against poverty with creative solutions and by recycling what the consumers usually throw away. Despite his difficult situation, Enzo does not renounce to his biggest source of happiness: feeding the abandoned animals of the city. Apparently without powers, Enzo is a real superhero of modern times, and his story reminds us the importance of tolerance and generosity.

An Extraordinary Place
by Valentina D'Annunzio

Knowing a person who sees the world in a different way, 
helps us to perceive details about reality that often pass us by.