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Francesco Esposito, director of the Montreal Italian Contemporary Film Festival, is seen before the festival\u2019s first screening on July 8, 2026. (Genevieve Sylvestre, CityNews)<\/p>\nReturning for another year, Montreal\u2019s Italian Contemporary Film Festival invites attendees to partake in Italian culture through free concerts, shows and outdoor movie screenings all summer long in the heart of Little Italy.<\/p>\n
Every Wednesday until Aug. 26, Montrealers can head to Park Dante in the Rosemont\u2013La Petite-Patrie borough at 9 p.m. to catch a screening of a contemporary Italian film with French or English subtitles, free of charge.<\/p>\n
The program, which spans a variety of different genres, also includes two Thursday representations, one at the Centre Leonardo Da Vinci on Aug. 13 and one at Parc Saint-Viateur in Outremont on Aug. 20.<\/p>\n
For festival director Francesco Esposito, the festival goes beyond a simple meeting between cinephiles; it serves to help Montrealers experience a small taste of Italian culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0reason why\u00a0we are here is to\u00a0live\u00a0an experience.\u00a0So,\u00a0when people come at\u00a0Parc Dante, the idea is to be in an Italian piazza.\u201d<\/p>\n
Notable projections include the sports drama Il Maestro (My Tennis Maestro) on Aug. 5 and 20, the comedy U.S. Palmese on Aug. 12 and the latest project by BAFTA-Award winning director Paolo Sorrentino La Grazia (Grace) on Aug. 19. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of people,\u201d said Esposito. \u201cWe\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know all of them. Some of them\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0even know the movie, they just come\u00a0at\u00a0Parc Dante\u00a0because they love the experience, and so\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0why we have\u00a0a large selection\u00a0of different movies and different genres of movies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Francesco Esposito, director of the Montreal Italian Contemporary Film Festival, is seen before the festival\u2019s first screening on July 8, 2026. (Genevieve Sylvestre, CityNews)<\/p>\n
With stands serving pasta, ice cream and wine, organizers hope to create a sense of community between attendees of all cultures who gather to celebrate the members of the Italian community in Montreal. <\/p>\n
\u201cMontreal is the most European city in North America,\u201d said attendee Joe Iuculano. \u201cAnd the number of Italians that are here, especially the number of Italians that\u00a0actually speak\u00a0the language, you cannot have Montreal without an Italian film festival.\u201d<\/p>\n
The festival was meant to kick off with a representation of Paolo Virz\u00ec\u2019s Cinque secondi (Five Seconds) on July 1, but the screening was cancelled due to rain. Instead, the first screening took place on July 8, with attendees gathering early to catch a performance by multilingual singer-songwriter Daniela Fiorentino.<\/p>\n
\u201cMusic or movies, they really gather people together,\u201d said Fiorentino. \u201cPeople\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0wait for this event to happen every year, so I\u2019m happy to\u00a0open up\u00a0and\u00a0kick off\u00a0the\u00a0whole\u00a0season.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Singer-songwriter Daniela Fiorentino is seen before her performance at the Montreal Contemporary Italian Film Festival on July 8, 2026. (Genevieve Sylvestre, CityNews)<\/p>\n
Fiorentino says performing her music at the festival is a way for her to connect with others and build bonds in Montreal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like a little part of the cultural mosaic of this world, this Montreal, this beautiful town, and it\u2019s very meaningful to me because it means creating bridges between cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n
With attendees laughing, dancing and eating while waiting for the projection to begin, Deputy Consul General Of Italy In Montreal Fortunato Mangiola says the atmosphere is the best part of the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most exciting part of the festival is the atmosphere that the organizers create in Little Italy, so not only cinema but real taste of Italy through food,\u00a0music\u00a0and culture,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
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Deputy Consul General Of Italy In Montreal Fortunato Mangiola is seen before the first screening of the Montreal Contemporary Italian film festival on July 8, 2026. (Genevieve Sylvestre, CityNews)<\/p>\n
Festival goers can come to the screenings early to try and catch a good seat, as well and to attend one of the festival\u2019s many free performances. Namely, Cathy Fuoco will perform her latest comedy show \u201cMy Italian Family\u201d on July 29, a set she says everyone can connect to. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll communities, that\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0Greek, Spanish, Italian, French, Canadian, you will find yourself and your family through me. I can assure that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Those interested can find the film lineup on the organization\u2019s website <\/a>as well as updates on last-minute additions or weather-related cancellations on the festival\u2019s Instagram or Facebook pages.<\/p>\n \t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n
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