HOW A GATHERING OF FRIENDS BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON
From a small group of friends yearning for camaraderie and a taste of Italy, emerged a Canadian film festival that would captivate and unite an entire nation. ICFF Co-Founder and Managing Director Maurizio Magnifico shares the remarkable journey of Canada’s Italian Contemporary Film Festival.
BY GIOVANNA G. BONOMO
October, 2024
In the heart of Italian culture lies an art form as revered as its Renaissance paintings or operatic masterpieces: the art of socializing. This quintessential aspect of Italian life, known as "la dolce vita" or "the sweet life," is more than mere casual interaction. It's a celebration of life, friendship, and shared experiences that forms the very fabric of Italian society.
This art of coming together, of turning simple gatherings into unforgettable moments, is not just confined to the streets of Rome or the piazzas of Florence. It travels with Italians wherever they go, a cherished tradition that keeps their heritage alive even thousands of miles from home. It's this very spirit of unity that Maurizio Magnifico, together with his team, gave life to one of Canada's most beloved cultural events: the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF).
Against the backdrop of Fasano’s rolling hills, centenarian olive groves, and iconic trulli, Maurizio Magnifico, aptly named for his wonderful vision, shares the remarkable journey of ICFF’s evolution. The Co-Founder and Managing Director, who immigrated to Canada from Bari, Puglia, in ‘88, settles into his chair after shooing mamma Angela’s Jack Russell away from the taralli on the coffee table. With a reflective smile, he muses, “Looking back, it’s amazing to see how we’ve grown. From a small cultural association to what the ICFF is today - it’s all because a group of friends came together to celebrate friendship and ‘la super dolce Vita’ in Canada.”
From these humble beginnings emerged a festival that would captivate and unite an entire nation, growing into the cultural phenomenon it is today. “It all started in the late ‘90s with a simple desire for communion,” Magnifico reminisces, as we sit on the terrace overlooking the Adriatic Sea. “We were just a group of friends trying to celebrate our heritage and keep the Italian spirit alive in Canada. Back then, inviting 30 couples felt like a grand affair.” This need for camaraderie, deeply rooted in the Italian tradition of social gatherings, led to the formation of a cultural association called L’Altra Italia in 2002. As Magnifico explains, sipping on a glass of local Primitivo, “We looked at each other and said, ‘Hey guys, we’re getting older, and our kids are around 10 now.
We need to give them an opportunity to learn about their heritage.’ That’s when we decided to create monthly get-togethers.” These gatherings, initially focused on the simple joy of stare insieme (being together), soon evolved into something more. With the involvement of the late Angela Baldassarre, a film critic for Corriere Canadese, and Cristiano de Florentiis, now Co-Founder and Artistic Director, who was responsible for RAI in Canada, the group began to focus on contemporary Italian cinema. “We didn’t want to be an Amarcord group stuck in the past with Totò films,” Magnifico states, gesturing expressively in true Italian fashion. “We wanted to showcase contemporary Italy, what was happening there now. The Internet was making it easier to stay connected with current Italian culture.”
“I remember screening Le Fate Ignoranti by Özpetek at the Italian Cultural Institute. We sat on hard plastic chairs for a three-hour film. We weren’t sophisticated, but we were happy to be together, celebrating our culture.” He then continues, “ In 2003, thanks to the late Angela Baldassarre, vice president of the Toronto Film Critics Association, we gained access to the National Film Board. Suddenly, we had a proper screening room with a mega screen. We went from casual gatherings to hosting cocktail parties and separate screenings for kids. It felt like we were really evolving.”
These intimate screenings culminated in the official launch of ICFF in 2012 as a grassroots non-profit film festival. But what started as a modest celebration of Italian cinema quickly blossomed into something much more ambitious and far-reaching. “In just over a decade, ICFF has grown from a small film festival to the ICFF Lavazza IncluCity Festival a multidisciplinary and multicultural month-long festival that embraces all cultures. We now celebrate over 15 different local communities and attract more than 52,000 attendees annually.”
But ask anyone on the ICFF team, and they will tell you, it’s not just about the numbers, but about the community they are making, and the multicultural bridges they are building.
While Magnifico’s vision has been the North Star, he’s quick to credit the dedicated team that brings the festival to life each year. Mara Cataldi, ICFF Director of Operations, emphasizes the collaborative spirit that drives the festival: “At ICFF Canada, our strength lies in our dedicated and passionate team.
Each member brings a unique expertise and unwavering commitment to celebrating Canadian and international cinema. From curating compelling programs and managing intricate logistics to fostering
meaningful community connections, our team works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure every aspect of the festival shines. It’s their collaborative spirit and shared vision that make ICFF and the Lavazza IncluCity Festival not just a festival, but a vibrant celebration of storytelling and culture.”
Over the years, ICFF has transformed Toronto into a hub of Italian cinema, bringing a constellation of stars to the city’s red carpets. The festival has hosted an impressive array of Italian talent, from comedy legends to dramatic powerhouses. Roberto Benigni, Rocco Papaleo, Christian De Sica, son of the legendary Vittorio De Sica, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Anna Fendi, Michele Placido, Paola Cortellesi, Alessandro Gassmann and Pierfrancesco Favino have also been part of the ICFF experience. The presence of these stars not only elevates the festival’s profile but also provides Toronto audiences with a direct connection to the vibrant world of contemporary Italian cinema.
The 2024 edition of ICFF confounded all expectations, taking this cultural celebration to new heights by turning Toronto’s Distillery District into a lively festival village that recorded an astounding 240,000 visitors. This phenomenal turnout culminated in a spectacular Closing Gala at The Hearn, a transformed power plant that hosted over 450 guests.
The event which was graced by the presence of fashion icon Anna Fendi, honored the legendary Isabella Rossellini with a Lifetime Achievement Award and featured her first-ever masterclass for an international audience. Cristiano de Florentiis, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of ICFF, shares his thoughts on the 2024 Closing Gala:
“Transforming The Hearn for this gala was a monumental task, but it was worth every effort. The evening was one for the books, and having Isabella Rossellini as our guest of honour made it unforgettable; her influence in the arts and dedication to her craft have left an indelible mark on the world and we have been proud to showcase that during our gala.”
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