Cinema Made In Italy Unveils It’s Stellar 16th edition Line-up

In less in 6 weeks time, the BFI Southbank will be the place to be if you are a fan of Italian cinema. When the 16th edition of CINEMA MADE IN ITALY takes place, today the festival unveiled it’s upcoming line-up.

The 2026 edition will showcase a stellar selection of ten new Italian films all taking place between 4th and 8th March. This will include a digital restoration of the 1959 classic title THE FACTS OF MURDER (Un Maledetto Imbroglio), directed by Pietro Germi and starring the late, great Claudia Cardinale.

The opening night film, will be Damiano Michieletto‘s PRIMAVERA, and stars Michele Riondino plus Tecla Insolia. Drawing on the real life of Antonio Vivaldi, coinciding with Vivaldi’s birthday, who was born on 4th March 1678. The screening will be preceded by Bruno Bozzetto’s transfixing GRASSHOPPERS (Cavallette), which in 1991 was an Oscar® Nominee for Best Animated Short.

Four of the titles in this year’s enthralling line-up are directed by female film-makers, including the closing night film THREE GOODBYES (Tre Ciotole) by Catalan film-maker Isabel Coixet. This stars Alba Rohrwacher and Elio Germano which is based on the best-selling novel by Michela Murgia.

CINEMA MADE IN ITALY other highlights includes Ludovica Rampoldi directorial debut A BRIEF AFFAIR (Breve Storia d’Amore), starring Valeria Golino who is also the lead in Mario Martone’s literary biopic FUORI, about noted Italian feminist writer and political activist Goliarda Sapienza (author of The Art of Joy). Nicolangelo Gelormini’s dark fable GIOIA (La Gioia), ELISA directed by Leonardo Di Costanzo, and Laura Samani’s well-received second film A YEAR OF SCHOOL (Un Anno di Scuola). Another debut feature in the line-up is Margherita Spampinato’s SWEETHEART (Gioia Mia).Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis bring us their delightfully playful Euro-western HEADS OR TAILS? (Testa o Croce?) starring John C. Reilly. Francesco Sossai’s soulful gem THE LAST ONE FOR THE ROAD (Le Città di Pianura), which will be released in the UK by Bulldog Film Distribution in spring.

PRIMAVERA (Dir:Damiano Michieletto)

UK release date: 24th April(Curzon Film)

A YEAR OF SCHOOL (Un Anno di Scuola, Dir:Laura Samani)



HEADS OR TAILS? (Testa o Croce?,Dirs: Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis)

A BRIEF AFFAIR (Breve Storia d’Amore, Dir: Ludovica Rampoldi)

THE LAST ONE FOR THE ROAD (Le Città di Pianura, Dir: Francesco Sossai)

ELISA (Dir: Leonardo Di Costanzo)

FUORI (Dir: Mario Martone)

GIOIA (La Gioia, Dir:Nicolangelo Gelormini)

THE FACTS OF MURDER (Un Maledetto Imbroglio, Dir: Pietro Germi)

SWEETHEART (Gioia Mia, Dir: Margherita Spampinato)

THREE GOODBYES (Tre Ciotole, Dir: Isabel Coixet)