It continues at full speed the eighth edition of the Messina Film Festival – Cinema & Opera, which is taking place at the Sala Laudamo of the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele in Messina. Particularly significant were two events that saw the director Giuseppe Tornatore as protagonist, who, via video link, spoke with the journalist Franco Cicero before the screening of the film “Stanno tutti bene” with Marcello Mastroianni and Paolo Benvenuti's meeting with the public, together with the musician and actor Riccardo Moretti, for the presentation of the film "Puccini e la fanciulla".

On Thursday 5 December, at 16.00 pm, as part of the section on silent opera, The Marriage of Figaro (1913) from the opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Luigi Maggi, with an ensemble from the Corelli Conservatory of Messina who performed during the screening. The music was specially composed by a student of the same Conservatory, in agreement with the composition department.

Among the various screenings at 20.30:XNUMX pm was the Italian premiere of the film-opera “Twelve Years Later. The sequel to Cavalleria rusticana” by Valerio Groppa with music by Mario Menicagli. Yesterday, Friday 6 December, was scheduled for 10.30:XNUMX am with the significant meeting on the theme “Violence, from opera to news”, with speeches by Maria Andaloro, creator of Posto occupato, Franca Olivo Fusco, author of the book “Il femminicidio nell'opera lirica” and Leti Dafne, rap performer and director of the video “Corvi e lupi”.

As part of the “Panorama contemporaneo” section, the Italian premiere of the German film “Orphea in Love” by director Axel Ranisch was scheduled for 17:30 pm who presented his work to the public together with cinematographer Dennis Pauls.

The Messina Film Festival – Cinema & Opera, which has the artistic direction of Ninni Panzera, will end on Saturday 7 December. The awards ceremony of the “International Short Film Competition” is scheduled for 19.00:XNUMX pm at the Sala Laudamo: The Emi Mammoliti Award for Best Short Film, a Special Jury Award and a recognition for best performance will be awarded. The Jury is composed of President Fabio Mollo, (director), Anne-Riitta Ciccone (director) and Leti Dafne (Opera and rap singer).

The event that will officially close the MFF at 21.00 pm at the Vittorio Emanuele Theatre will feature one of the icons of Italian cinema, Stefania Sandrelli who, in a suggestive reading, will interpret Santuzza from Cavalleria Rusticana. The show entitled “Dangerous Relations” by Debora Pioli combines the music of Pietro Mascagni in the mise-en-scéne by Marco Voleri. Together with Sandrelli, the protagonists on stage will be Rocco Roca Rey (pianist) and Daria Masiero (soprano).

Furthermore, the exhibition “Gerardo Sacco's Jewels for Franco Zeffirelli”, which inaugurated the MFF, will be open to visitors until December 7th in the Sala Cripta of the Accascina Museum in Messina (free admission). The Calabrian goldsmith created for the films Othello, Young Toscanini and Hamlet the jewels that will be exhibited on this occasion together with some stage costumes made by Maurizio Millenotti, nominated for an Oscar in 1987.

Messina Film Festival – Cinema&Opera It is made possible thanks to the contribution of the Teatro di Messina, the Regional Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment of the Sicilian Film Commission, of the Municipality of Messina, of Unioncamere Sicilia, of the Presidency of ARS and CNA Sicilia. Media partners: Rai News 24, Rainews.it, Rai Italia, TGR Sicilia, MYmovies, Sicilia Spettacoli, Radio Taormina.

For the show “Dangerous Liaisons” advance sales are open and tickets can be purchased at the box office of the Teatro Vittorio Emanuela (090 2408836 – from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 18:40) or online on the Vivaticket website at link:

Ticket prices range from €10,00 to €25,00.

Friday December 6

Laudamo Hall

10:30 Violence, from opera to news. Contributions by Maria Andaloro, Franca Olivo Fusco and Leti Dafne

16:00 pm Cavalleria rusticana: today (1965) episode of I kill, you kill by Gianni Puccini with Franco Franchi, Ciccio Ingrassia (9′)

16pm Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni at the cinema and in commercials

Raging Bull by Martin Scorsese. Opening credits (4′)

The Godfather III by Francis Ford Coppola. Final scene (2′)

Tim (2020) Use technology to travel with imagination (60”)

Enel (2011) Enel for the 150th of Italians (60″)

16:30 pm Zeffirelli's Pagliacci, a step into the future (2023) by Eduardo Zucchetti (52′)

Introducing Producer Lorenzo D'Amico de Carvalho

17pm Orphea in Love (Ger 30) by Axel Ranisch with Mirjam Mesak, Guido Badalamenti (2023′) (Italian premiere)

Director Axel Ranisch and cinematographer Dennis Pauls introduce

19:30 pm Short film competition

Chaste Whatever the Cost (Italy, 2024) by Michelangelo Gregori (13′)

Le fantôme du Palais Longchamp (France, 2024) by Gelena Baranovskaya (2′) world premiere

Paraules d'un somriure (Spain, 2024) by Albert Muns (5′) Italian premiere

Brianland (UK, 2024) by Chiara D'Anna (13′)

Josefine (UK, 2024) by Antonia Bain (14′) Italian premiere

Posing for America (Italy, 2024) by Luciangela Gatto (15′) Italian premiere

21pm Cavalleria rusticana (15) by Franco Zeffirelli with Elena Obrazcova, Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson (1982′)

Saturday December 7

Laudamo Hall

16.00 pm Carmen (2023) by Benjamin Millepied with Melissa Barerra, Paul Mescal (116′) (Italian premiere)

18:00 pm The Spanish Hour by Maurice Ravel. Opera in animation by Vincenzo Tripodo, Orchestra Teatro Vittorio Emanuele (46′)

18pm Opera (50) by Bruno Bozzetto and Guido Manuli (1972′)

19:00 pm Competition awards ceremony and screening of winning short films

Teatro Vittorio Emanuele

21.00 pm Dangerous Liaisons by Debora Pioli with Stefania Sandrelli narrator, Rocco Roca Rey pianist

Daria Masiero soprano staged by Marco Voleri, Music by Pietro Mascagni

Sunday 8 December (unscheduled)

Palazzo della Cultura

Laudamo Philharmonic

19:00 pm Concert Notes from Oscar Chroma Ensemble