Lecce: from 13 to 15 September the ALFest returns, the festival of cinema, music, international cooperation and trends from the Far East.

It returns from 13 to 15 September at the Massimo multiplex in Lecce, the ALFest, the festival of cinema, music, international cooperation and trends from the Far East.

“It is no coincidence – Cristina Massaro, creator and organizer of ALFest 2024, underlined – that the Festival be celebrated here in Lecce, in the easternmost region of Italy. International guests will come to our territory to tell stories about what happens and what cannot be seen. We will present 15 works, 4 of which are European premieres. The goal is to integrate knowledge and art with everyday life and business. And in this sense AlFest can play a driving role in bringing Italy to Asia and Asia to Italy”.

The one who gave the “blessing” to the 2024 edition of ALFest was the Councilor for Economic Development of the Puglia Region, Alessandro Delli Noci: “Bringing together countries that are apparently distant but mutually united by an intense cultural, economic and commercial interest and exchange. Puglia welcomes the ALFest initiative and is preparing, on this very occasion, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the General Commissioner for Italy at Expo Osaka 2025, Ambassador Mario Vattani for the participation of our region and its excellences in this international initiative of great importance”.

“We supported this Festival – explains the Councilor for Culture of the Puglia Region, Viviana Matrangola – because through the cinematographic language, with its ability to excite and tell even very distant and different realities, it contributes to strengthen the idea of ​​Culture that helps to read the folds of a society in continuous evolution and contamination. And then it is important because through the intercultural dimension of cinema it generates a wealth of talent, knowledge, relationships, encounters with others, recognizing diversity as a value”.

“Vision, Energy, Cooperation”: the vice president of the Teatro Pubblico Pugliese, Marco Giannotta, lists the positive aspects of this project. "The key element of a region's development is culture. Therefore, events like this are very welcome, as they provide the opportunity to educate the public by broadening artistic knowledge and, at the same time, ensuring an incisive and effective cooperation process. Puglia is now known throughout the world, but the institutions must continue to do their part to raise awareness of the intangible value of our region."

Guests of honor of the second edition of ALFest will be the screenwriter of the Oscar-winning film “Departures”, Kundo Koyama – one of the greatest exponents of Japanese cinema and television, creator of the television program Iron Chef, to which MasterChef has been a nod since its inception – and the General Commissioner for Italy at Expo Osaka 2025, Ambassador Mario Vattani.

A very rich program of titles, including European and Italian premieres. Opening film will be “How to make millions before grandma dies” the highest-grossing Thai film ever in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. A very timely story, which sees a young graduate decide to take care of an elderly lady, after seeing his cousin inherit his grandfather's enormous house. A journey into the thoughts that grip both young and old today. A light-hearted reflection on the world of work and kinship, capable of making you cry nonstop and saving you at the same time.

Just seven days after its world premiere in Japan, it will be screened in Lecce, the movie “Natsume Arata’s Wedding” based on the manga Natsume Arata no Kekkon. An unmissable event for lovers of Japanese comics, cosplay, pop culture and even good cinema. The protagonist, in fact, is the immense Yuya Yagira. The Japanese actor who won the Best Actor Award at the 14 Cannes Film Festival at the age of 2004.

There will be no lack of it South Korea with the titles: “Concrete Utopia”, film with Park Seo-joon presented in Toronto, “A Normal Family”, the love film “unforgettable” and “The Battle of Hansan”, costume war film. Also in European premiere are the last three films of the Chinese saga “The Treasure Hunters” that can be seen in succession on the morning of September 14 and 15. A real journey inside the Japanese theater, instead, will be the film “Rose & Samurai 2” that satisfies the palates of even the most skeptical, opera lovers and children alike. An experience to be lived by letting yourself be transported to the island of Del Sol, thanks to the simultaneous shooting of 30 cameras pointed at the theatre actors who acted uncut in the film.

Also available for the first time is the latest animated film from the global blockbuster: “Detective Conan – The Million dollar Pentagram”. A cartoon that needs no introduction and that has continued to enchant viewers since the mid-nineties. It will be the scene of the signing of the agreements for the participation of the Puglia Region in Expo, the Gala and networking dinner on September 14, in the presence of journalists from Italy and Japan, entrepreneurs, artists, content creators.

The dinner was born for promote international cooperation, bring Apulian and Italian companies closer to Asian markets and present Puglia and Lecce as a tourist destination.

On September 15th, instead, there will be an in-depth study dedicated to Asian markets aimed at businesses during which the Councilor for Productive Activities of the Puglia Region Alessandro Delli Noci, the General Commissioner for Italy at Expo Osaka 2025, Mario Vattani and the General Director of the Hong Kong Office for Foreign Trade Gianluca Mirante will speak. It will also be presented during the festival the progress of the works for “The Cherry Orchard”, the green project launched in collaboration with Toyota Start Point.

ALFest has an agreement with the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Salento and enjoys the patronage of the Puglia Region, the Province of Lecce, the Municipality of Lecce and the Teatro Pubblico Pugliese.

The opening ceremony of the second edition of ALFest will be held on Friday 13 September at 19pm, at the Cinema Massimo in Lecce. Immediately afterwards, the curtain will rise with the screening of the film “How to make millions before grandma dies” by Pat Boonnitipat, with Putthipong Assaratanakul, Usha Seamkhum, Sanya Kunakorn.

Info & Reservations www.alfest.itwww.alfest.it Tickets: Vivaticket