# Ambassador Cortese Launches 21st Italian Film Festival in Brazil The annual cultural event brings Italian cinema to 88 Brazilian cities nationwide. - **Source:** [ANSA English](https://www.ansa.it/english) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/3fcf040b-4de0-498c-84ba-6e8732000218 ## Official Festival Inauguration Ambassador Alessandro Cortese officially opened the 21st edition of the Italian Film Festival in Brazil on November 4. The ceremony took place at the Auditório Ibirapuera in São Paulo, gathering local officials, business representatives, and the Italian-Brazilian community. This event marks a significant milestone for cultural diplomacy between the two nations. ## Cultural Bridge Building The festival aims to connect 32 million people of Italian descent living in Brazil through the universal language of cinema. Ambassador Cortese highlighted that promoting Italian art serves as a vital tool for mutual understanding. By sharing stories, the initiative seeks to foster deeper dialogue and emotional bonds between the two distinct societies. ## Broad National Reach The festival features an extensive program spanning 88 cities across Brazil. Organizers have arranged for 24 films to be screened in 122 theaters, ensuring wide accessibility for the public. Additionally, the festival utilizes an online platform to reach viewers who cannot attend physical screenings, maximizing the impact of the cultural exchange program. ## Opening Night Selection The inaugural evening featured the screening of 'Dov’è la Fiesta?', a comedy directed by Niccolò Gentili. The Tuscan director attended the event in person to present his work. The film explores complex themes of interpersonal communication and personal growth through a lens of irony, which was well-received by the diverse audience present. ## Diverse Film Programming The festival's curated selection includes a mix of recent cinematic productions and classic films from a special retrospective section. This variety allows audiences to experience both contemporary Italian storytelling and historical masterpieces. By offering these films free of charge, the organizers prioritize cultural accessibility and the broad dissemination of Italian artistic heritage. ## Institutional Collaborative Effort The event is organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo in close collaboration with the Italian Embassy and various Consulates. Major Italian corporate groups operating within Brazil provided the necessary financial support to realize the project. This partnership underscores the strong economic and cultural synergy between the two countries' institutions. ## Symbolic Investment Value Ambassador Cortese emphasized that investing in cinema is synonymous with investing in the future enrichment of society. He views the festival not merely as entertainment, but as a strategic commitment to artistic sensibility. This perspective highlights the importance of soft power and cultural initiatives in maintaining long-term international relations and friendship. ## Sustaining Bilateral Relations The 21st edition reaffirms the deep-rooted friendship between Italy and Brazil through shared artistic expression. By consolidating cinema as a bridge, the festival continues to play a pivotal role in cultural diplomacy. Future editions will likely continue to build upon this established framework to further integrate the two nations' cultural landscapes. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.ansa.it/english/news/news_from_embassies/2026/11/05/ambassador-cortese-opens-the-21st-edition-of-the-italian-film-festival_468e32f5-a74d-4d3e-8ac1-aa8faee0a3e2.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._