Lights, Camera, Azione! San Diego Italian Film Festival Returns

This October, you can get a slice of Italia right here in America’s Finest City as our beloved San Diego Italian Film Festival (SDIFF) returns for its 18th year.

SDIFF

From Dramatic Depths to Comic Heights

This year’s festival theme, “Core,” cleverly plays on both the English word and the Southern Italian term for heart—and these films will definitely speak to yours. The lineup is a feast for the senses, serving up everything from tear-jerking dramas and side-splitting comedies to eye-opening documentaries.

The internationally acclaimed Ristretto Awards are also making a triumphant return, showcasing short films that dive deep into Italian culture and identity. These bite-sized cinematic treats pack all the flavor of a full-length feature into a compact package.

Festa Finale: A Night to Remember

They’re capping off the festival on October 12 with a celebration that would make any Italian proud. Get ready for a night of award-winning cuisine that’ll whisk your taste buds away to the hills of Tuscany, wines that capture the essence of sun-drenched vineyards, and live music that’ll have you dancing like you’re at a village festa.

They’ll also be paying tribute to Victor Laruccia, the visionary founder of SDIFF who passed away in 2021. His dream of creating a cinematic piazza where film lovers could connect lives on through every screening and every conversation sparked by these incredible films.

See you there!

The San Diego Italian Film Festival runs from October 1 to 12. Catch all the action at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park and the Digital Gym at UC San Diego’s Park & Market.

From die-hard cinephiles to casual moviegoers, there’s something for everyone at this year’s SDIFF. We’ll see you at the movies—or as they say in Italy, “Ci vediamo al cinema!”

Get your tickets here

For more info, visit the website here. Follow along on Instagram, X, and Facebook for updates.

See you there, San Diego!

Share This Post
The Latest
Kerry Irish Productions An Irish Christmas
Do not miss An Irish Christmas at Balboa Theatre, showcasing the best of Irish dance from talented local dancers.
Friendly Feast Sweet & Savory Bake Sale
Savor the Friendly Feast Bake Sale at Cardellino, where each box presents a delicious journey through artisan baked treats.
things to do in san diego this weekend
Check out this week’s Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend and make your plans! Get competitive at the OMBAC on Third Pickleball and...
top concerts in san diego this week
Here are the top concerts in San Diego this week! Día De Los Deftones brings heavy riffs and atmospheric intensity, HUGEL delivers Afro-Latin house grooves...
Friends lace up and run side by side at Fit Run Club East Village
Lace up and head to the pavement. Fit Run Club meets in front of Fit East Village for a guided run led by one of...
Fit Athletic Yoga
Skip the gym this weekend and roll out your mat on the bay instead. Fit is hosting a free yoga class at The Rady Shell...
Recently Featured Restaurants
If you’ve spent any time in the Cedros Design District, you know there’s always been a gap between the galleries and Belly Up. Chef James...
Pamela Peraza and Erik Hobbie have been selling sourdough at the Little Italy Mercato for a while now, and if you’ve crossed paths with their...
goop kitchen del mar
Yes, that goop. Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand just opened its first-ever dine-in restaurant at One Paseo in Del Mar, and it’s a 92-seat space she personally...
City Tacos has been a San Diego staple since 2014. What Gerry Torres is building next makes it look like a warm-up. El Punto at...
Zuma has spent nearly 25 years taking over the world – Hong Kong, Istanbul, Rome, Miami, Madrid, and more. Now they’re open in San Diego,...
Doug and Lara Hamm spent years traveling through the French Riviera, Greek Isles, and Amalfi Coast. By The Sea is what happened when they decided...