The NM Italian Film & Culture Festival has been delighting audiences and gathering fans since 2007 when its founder, Ronaldo Patrizio-Steiner, first staged a four day celebration of film and culture as a benefit for the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital. That first festival featured 12 films and a buffet. It was declared a huge success as both an artistic and a fundraising endeavor. It became Ronaldo’s passion and his gift to the community. He spent the next 5 years nearly singlehandedly growing and diversifying the NM Italian Film & Culture Festival to run for an entire week and to feature music as well as more food and wine tastings.

When Ronaldo moved out of state after the 2012 festival, he left it in the hands of New Mexico Italian Festivals - the non-profit organization that he had established a year before. Members of that organization, all dedicated to the cause of the UNM Children’s Hospital and to promoting Italian culture in New Mexico, stepped forward to produce a festival in February 2014. Dates have been set. Plans are underway and we’re working toward a full roster of great films and exciting events.  Over the next several months we’ll keep you informed by posting our progress on this page and on our Facebook page.

Visit often! Stay tuned as we put together a great program of films and events, shining the spotlight on a culture that's rich in its cinema, music, food, traditions ... That's Italian!

Do you know about the Italy In New Mexico Newsletter that reports not only on the festival but also on news and events from all around the New Mexico Italian community? If you do not receive an email copy and you would like to be on the list, just send your name and email address to [email protected].

7/11/2013:

Partnering with Keshet . . .

The NM Italian Film & Culture Festival is pleased to announce that Keshet Dance Company will perform at the festival’s gala opening concert at the KiMo Theater on the evening of Feb. 8, 2014.  The concert, “Musical Traditions of Italy – Live and on Film!” will be headlined by the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Roger Melone and will include Italian folk dance performed by members of Keshet.  The award-winning, internationally acclaimed dance company has enthusiastically welcomed this first-ever opportunity, not only to do Italian folk dance, but also to be a part of New Mexico’s largest and longest-running Italian festival.  Founded in 1996, Keshet is a unique nonprofit company whose mission is to strengthen the community through the power of dance.  Learn more about Keshet at www.keshetdance.org.

7/5/2013: Santa Fe has joined our efforts in a big way. Click "santa fe" on the sidebar to check out their new website and see what they are planning for the festival in The City Different.

5/11/2013: The 2014 NM Italian Film & Culture Festival is pleased to announce that, headlining its opening gala at the KiMo Theater will be the nationally acclaimed New Mexico Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Roger Melone. Maestro Melone, who enjoys a worldwide reputation as a choral director, will lead members of the chorus that he has directed since 1983 in choral selections from Italian opera, and perhaps in a folk song or two. Entitled “Musical Traditions of Italy – Live and on Film!” the KiMo performance that features Melone and the chorus will be part of an evening of festivities kicking off the 7th edition of the popular week-long celebration of Italian cinema and culture. http://www.facebook.com/roger.melone http://www.nmschorus.org/

4/1/2013: A message from Maria Arancio Berry, Managing Director: The NM Italian Film & Culture Festival is now able to take your donations on line with PayPal. Why donations?  Isn’t the festival funded through sponsorships and ticket sales?  Donations throughout the year, however small, help to cover the festival’s up-front costs like film rights and deposits on venues - expenses that must be paid months in advance of the event.  Your gifts ensure a successful festival for our primary beneficiary, the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital.

I’ve just made my first $10 donation through PayPal using a credit card.  It was easy, secure and tax deductible.  Will you consider a matching gift?  Follow the link and partner with us in making the 2014 festival un successo clamoroso – a resounding success!

Grazie!

3/18/2013: In recognition and celebration of 2013 The Year of Italian Culture in the US, Italian Festivals of New Mexico (the organization that produces the NM Italian Film & Culture Festival) has partnered with The Guild Cinema to show a series of Italian film classics at a special box office price.  We’re most grateful to The Guild for their offer to obtain these films and to fit them into their pre-determined schedule, as they are able, from now until the end of the year.

The newly remodeled Guild offers the perfect small and comfortable art house atmosphere for viewing iconic Italian films.  Mention Italian Festivals of New Mexico or the NM Italian Film & Culture Festival  and get in for only $4 to see the first in our series:

2/14/2013: Back by popular demand! - the two most popular events of past festivals: the Sunday food and film event at the South Broadway Cultural Center and the final film and dinner event at the Guild and Scalo. The SBCC event on Sunday, February 9th (the 2014 Sunday Festa) will feature a great film, Italian street food, entertainment and other surprises. We welcome back our generous catering partners: Pizzeria Luca, Saggio's, Fastino's, Scalo, Trombino's, Saratori's, Tully's and Zinc. Stand by . . . there may be others! The final Sunday event, February 16 (the 2014 Gran Finale Film & Intermezzo Pranzo) always sells out early. Thanks to the generosity of the Guild Theater and Scalo Northern Italian Grill, that great film and food experience will once again close out the week's festivities.

1/24/2013: The name is changed (but only slightly) to reflect the reality that Italian culture is comprised of more than just films, but the emphasis and goals remain the same. Raising money for The UNM Children's Hospital remains our purpose, and providing access to quality Italian films remains our primary vehicle. But look for food, music, dance, Ialian celebrities, and other features to enhance the experience.

1/17/2013: We're pleased to announce that the official photographer for the 2014 festival will be Donatella Davanzo(  www.anthrophoto.net)  Donatella is the senior government photographer for the City of Trieste, Italy, a published author, and currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of New Mexico.  Her work has been exhibited throughout Italy.  We're fortunate to have her enthusiastic participation in our event.

1/9/2013: Please visit our sponsors page to see the businesses that have already committed to participate in 2014 to make our festival the best yet. We’ll continue to add sponsors, so check back often and stop in to their businesses to say “thanks!”