CINEMA FORUM: weird talks June 8 @ CO.AS.It Sydney

A forum on documentary representations of Italian migration

Weird Talks forum day provides a little time and space for festival-goers, cinefiles, academics and filmmakers to come together, discuss and develop a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding Italian migrant and diasporic cinema.

This year the forum has a particular emphasis on the documentary which will be explored through screening, lecture and Q&A sessions. We’ll be taking a bite of the Big Apple with American-Italians, examining the history and contemporary experience of Italian-Australian immigrants and delving into German-Italian issues of nationalism and nationality.

Weird Talks documentaries will be screened in their original language with English subtitles. The forum will be held at Co.AS.It in Norton Street, the Italian suburb of Leichhardt, Friday 8 June from 10:30am - 5pm and is a free event. Italian pizza, music and wine provided. Ovviamente.

For program enquiries, or to register your interest in attending the forum day, please contact Alana

FORUM FILMS

CATENACCIO IN MANNHEIM (Germania 2001, 33 mins) directed by Mario di Carlo
Mario di Carlo’s film elucidates the sentiments of second generation Italian-Germans to their 'new' home. From deliberate and self-directed segregationist attitudes to a feeling of being ‘neither one, nor the other' this film attempts to portray a range of positions relating to the migrant experience using the patriotic fervour inspired by football matches as a framing device.

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE - ITALO-AUSTRALIAN STORIES (Australia 2005, 54 mins)
This project, initiated by Giovanni Sgrò, presents ten short films detailing the lives and experiences of Italians migrating to Australia in the 1950’s. The collection of short films goes beyond stereotypical cinematic representations of Italian people in order to articulate both the uncertainty and excitement of Italian-Australian migrancy.

LITTLE ITALY (USA 1995, 60 mins) directed by Will Parrinello
Little Italy takes a look at the history of Italian-Americans, focusing on how their public image has evolved over the years. The filmmakers interview prominent Italian-Americans such as actor/writer Chazz Palminteri, and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

THE BEAUTIFUL MISTAKES (Canada 2007, 37 mins) directed by Giovanni Princigalli
This short explores the relationship between Italian-Canadians and the mistakes they make when they write or speak in Italian. Many years after the arrival of the Italian migrants in Canada, the Italian language survives, with its inescapable and hilarious variations.