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

Get ready to dive into the heart of Italian culture, San Diego! Our beloved San Diego Italian Film Festival (SDIFF) is back for its 18th year, and we couldn’t be more excited.

This October, we’re bringing you a slice of Italia right here in America’s Finest City, with a lineup that’ll have you saying “Mamma mia!” faster than you can twirl your spaghetti.

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

We’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.

As we revel in the joy of Italian cinema, we’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.

For tickets to the feSta and 6th Annual Ristretto Awards, visit here.

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.

Tickets are going faster than gelato on a hot summer day, so snag yours now here. 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!”

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

See you there, San Diego!