Friday, 13 July 2018 15:30

THE GREAT PREVIEWS AND SPECIAL EVENTS OF THE 48TH EDITION

THE BIG PREMIERES

‘HEREDITARY’: GOOSEBUMPS FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT ON THE EVE OF #GIFFONI2018

The eve of the Festival will be and hair-raising experience! Thursday, July 19th, among the premieres that will kick off the long and exciting programme of the festival, there is also 'Hereditary'. Ari Aster - here in a double role as director and screenwriter - makes his debut with this film, which is produced Palm Stree Media and distributed by Lucky Red. In the stellar cast of Hereditary: Toni Collette (“Little Miss Sunshine” and “United States of Tara”), Gabriel Byrne (“In Treatment”, “The Usual Suspects”), Alex Wolff (“Jumanji: welcome to the jungle”), Milly Shapiro (“Matilda the Musical”) e Emmy Award winner Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid's Tale”). Hereditary 'is based on a series of critically acclaimed short films about family traumas and tells the terrifying struggle of an American family against the evil forces that try to colonize its bloodline. Freely inspired by the tragic experiences experienced by the Aster, with a series of misfortunes that resemble a curse, the work transforms domestic and family dramas into a horror that brings to mind the classics of the '60s and' 70s.

THANKS TO THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY ITALIA ON JULY 20th #GIFFONI2018 STARTS WITH ANT-MAN AND THE WASP WITH PAUL RUDD AND EVANGELINE LILLY

The two great little superheroes Marvel arrive in Italy to meet the public of the 48th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival: Ant-Man and The Wasp is among the most acclaimed previews dedicated to jurors and giffoners. A must for lovers of the saga that, Friday, July 20, can attend the screening presented directly by the protagonists we are eagerly waiting for Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man) and Evangeline Lilly (Hope van Dyne/Wasp). An inaugural event strongly desired in 2015, in fact, the first chapter of the cine-comic had been previewed to the jurors, receiving lots of applauses and acclaim. Now we are preparing to replicate the same warmth that, three years ago, had welcomed the beginning of this film adventure. Ant-Man and The Wasp – coming to Italian cinemas the next August 14th and distributed by the Walt Disney Company Italia– is, once again, directed by Peyton Reed, produced by Kevin Feige, while Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Charles Newirth and Stan Lee, historical illustrator, writer and publisher of Marvel , are the executive producers. After Ant-Man, in fact, the director returns to direct this new film full of action and adventure by Marvel Studios, based on a screenplay written by Chris McKenna& Erik Sommers, Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari, and Paul Rudd. The film has an amazing cast: alongside Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, also Michael Peña and Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, who resume the roles interpreted for the first time in the great success of 2015. The cine-comic sees the return of Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson, Tip T.I. Harris and David Dastmalchian. They are joined by Academy Award nominees Michelle Pfeiffer and Laurence Fishburne, along with Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins and Randall Park. After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang must face the consequences of his choices both as a superhero and as a father. While he is busy managing his family life and his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he is assigned a new and urgent mission by Hope van Dyne. Scott will have to wear his suit again and learn to fight alongside Wasp, while the team will try to shed light on the secrets of their past.

‘THE INCREDIBLES 2’: ON JULY 21st THE NEW ADVENTURE OF THE FAMOUS  DISNEY • PIXAR SUPER FAMILY

On September 19th, the beloved Disney • Pixar super family returns to Italian theaters with the new animated feature film The Incredibles 2. The animated film will be among the protagonists of the Festival with a special screening in the original language scheduled for Saturday, July 21st.

Back in the director’s chair is Brad Bird,  who also directed and wrote the screenplay of the  precious chapter 'The Incredibles' that won the Academy Award. Helen Parr is chosen to campaign for the return of the superheroes, while her husband Bob has to deal with the daily problems of a 'normal' life at home with Violet, Flash and little Jack-Jack... whose powers are about to be discovered. Their mission is jeopardized when a new enemy devises a brilliant and dangerous plan that threatens to destroy everything. But the Parrs never turn down a challenge, especially when they have Siberius on their side.  That’s why this family is so ‘incredible’.

‘PLOEY – YOU NEVER FLY ALONE’: ON JULY 22nd WITH MINERVA PICTURES

Made by the Icelandic animation studio GunHil, a subsidiary of Sagafilm, and by the Belgian animation studio Cyborn, 'Ploey - You Never Fly Alone' is ready to conquer the youngest jurors of the Festival with an appointment you can't miss on Sunday, July 22nd. It is the first animated feature film by GunHil since its foundation in 2012 by Gunnar Karlsson and Hilmar Sigurdsson. In Italy it is distributed by Minerva Pictures Group. The film is directed by Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson and co-directed by Gunnar Karlsson and Ives Agemans.  Every year countless migratory birds return to their country after having traveled for thousands of kilometers over the sea. Among them there is a flock of plovers led by Dad. This year Mum and Dad have had a curious and energetic chick that they named Ploey. One day, while the little plovers attend the flying school, Shadow, a perpetually hungry hawk, catches Ploey. Dad attacks Shadow and, after an epic battle, he succumbs to the hawk. Ploy is traumatized by the event and believes he can’t fly anymore. When the day of the migration comes, he tries for the last time to find the courage to take flight but fails and is captured by a cat who takes him home. Ploey manages to escape but mum and Ploverina, his best friend, thinking him dead, have left with the others. To survive, the small bird will have to embark on a long journey to reach Paradise Valley.

‘I FEEL PRETTY’: SUNDAY, JULY 22nd  WITH LUCKY RED AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Can a coin tossed in a fountain grant a wish? For the protagonist of I feel pretty it seems like it might just be the case...The film, produced by Voltage Pictures and Wonderland Sound And Vision, directed and co-produced by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, will be premiered on Sunday July 22nd to the giffoners and the jurors and will arrive in Italian cinemas a month later, on August 22nd, distributed by Lucky Red with Universal Pictures. In the cast, in addition to fashion stars such as Emily Ratajkowski and Naomi Campbell, and faces of great cinema and television such as Laure Hutton (Michelle Stratton of 'American Gigolo') and Busy Phillips, also the four-time Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams. Renée Bennett (Amy Schumer from Trainwreck), a woman who has always been introverted and insecure about her physical appearance,  wakes up from a fall convinced to be sexy, witty and irresistible. Magically her life is completely changed,  and she becomes who she has always dreamed to be:  a self-confident woman of great success in New York. But what will happen when she will realise that her physical appearance actually never changed?

MAIA THE BEE - THE HONEY GAMES: ON MONDAY JULY 23rd THE ITALIAN PREMIERE BY KOCH MEDIA

Raise your antennas: the friend of the youngest kids is about to arrive, flying in the sky of the 48th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival. Monday, July 23rd will be the turn of the Italian premiere of  ‘Maia the Bee: the Honey Games'. The animated picture will arrive in Italian cinemas on October 18th , 2018, distributed by Koch Media. Made entirely in computer graphics such as the hit TV series, the film is directed by Noel Cleary (Blinky Bill), Sergio Delfino (former animator for The LEGO MOVIE) and Alexs Stadermann, (Bambi II, Tarzan II and supervisor of The Lion King 1 1/2). Behind the animations of the characters are the German production of Studio 100 Media (its animations of Vicky the Viking and Mia and me) and the Australian one of Studio B Animation, with over 216 thousand drawings to compose the work. After having conquered entire generations of children since the 1980s, when the first TV series landed in Italy, Ape Maia returns to the small screen with a new TV series (on Nickjr and Rai Yoyo) and on the big screen with a feature film full of novelty and with a renewed graphic. And indeed, from October 18, young and old will be able tohave fun at the cinema with Maia the Bee - The Honey Games, the new adventure of Maia and her funny all-time friends, along with new characters Maia will have to confront in a challenge to the last blow....of pollen, and that will teach her the true meaning of teamwork.

‘ADRIFT’: ON JULY 23rd SAM CLAFIN, STAR OF THE FILM, WILL PRESENT THE NATIONAL PREMIERE

In just a few minutes, he was able to win the affection of jurors and giffoners, now he is ready to return replicating and doubling the warmth and affection donated in 2016: Sam Claflin is the first international guest of #Giffoni2018. The British actor will arrive at the 48th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival,  on Monday July 23rd , along with the national premiere of his last film ‘Adrift’. And adventurous story of love and survival produced by Huayi Brothers, Lakeshore Entertainment, RVK Studios, STX Entertainment and distributed by 01 Distribution. The film, directed by  Baltasar Kormákur, has in its cast two protagonists very well loved by the public: and indeed, together with Claflin, there is Shailene Woodley, known for ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, ‘Divergent’, as well as for the HBO series ‘Big Little Lies’ with Nicole Kidman e Zoë Kravitz. The film is inspired by a true story that took place in 1983, when Tami and her fiancé Richard Sharp left on a sail-boat from Tahiti to reach San Diego, more than four thousands miles of ocean.

'BEAUTY': THE MUSICAL BY NICOLA ABBATANGELO ON JULY 23RD AS AN EXCLUSIVE FOR THE GIFFONERS

Beauty is a musical set in a fantastic London of the end of the nineteenth century. The short film bears the signature of Italian director Nicola Abbatangelo and will be presented in world premiere at Giffoni 2018, Monday July 23rd, produced by Moolmore Films. In a grey world, Henry created the colours. He managed to trap them in small glass balls to give to his sick wife, but he could not save her. From that day on he began to produce colourful globes without stopping, involving his four sons, but refusing to share that incredible magic with the rest of the world and fighting with his youngest son, Stick, exactly for this reason. Twenty years later, the boy returns home because his father is dying. The only hope seems to be a very expensive medical device, but only by freeing the colour from captivity Stick and Henry will be able to reconcile and fill everybody's lives with beauty.

DARKEST MINDS' THE ANTICIPATED 20TH CENTURY FOX  PREMIERE SCHEDULED FOR JULY 24th

Among the most anticipated premieres of the 48th edition there is also 'The Darkest Minds', directed by Jennifer Yuh, with Amandla Stenberg and Harris Dickinson, scheduled for Tuesday July 24th. Based on Alexandra Bracken's book series, Darkest Minds follows the story of 16-year-old Ruby, played by Amandla Stenberg (Hunger Games). After an unknown disease has killed 98 of the children, 2 of the survivors mysteriously develop superpowers. Precisely because of their extraordinary skills, the boys are declared a threat by the government and locked up in a horrible rehabilitation camp. It is precisely Ruby who chooses to gather her teammates and escape from the field, but the time comes when escape is no longer enough: the children will have to resist and fight against the adults who betrayed them. The film will be released in Italy the next August 14th, distributed by 20th Century Fox.

ON JULY 25th UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL ITALY PRESENTS: MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN

Ten years after Mamma Mia! the film that has grossed over 600 million dollars worldwide, you are invited to return to sing, dance, laugh and love, this time with Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. On July 25th, Jeremy Irvine - who plays Sam - will present the film premiere for the jurors and giffoners. Produced by Legendary Entertainment and Universal and distributed in Italy by Universal Pictures International Italy, the film will be in Italian cinemas on September 6th. Once again we’re on the Greek island of Kalokairi, once again listening to the ABBA’s song, and this time the original cast will be joined by new members: Lily James (The Darkest Hour, Cinderella, Baby Driver) will be the young version of Donna, and Jeremy Irvin (War Horse, The Woman in Black: Angel of Death) will be a young Sam. Beside them will be Academy Award winner Meryl Streep as Donna, Julie Walters as Rosie, Christine Baranski as Tanya. Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper are once again Sophie and Sky,  while Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård and Academy Award winner Colin Firth, resume their roles as Sophie’s three prospective fathers: Sam, Bill and Harry.

JULY 25th WILL BE DAY TO DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE PC WITH THE PREMIERE OF 'SEARCHING': PRESENTING THE EVENT WILL BE SALVATORE ARANZULLA AND OSCAR COSULICH

To enrich the long calendar of highly anticipated premieres there is also 'Searching' by Aneesh Chaganty, scheduled for Wednesday, July 25th. To present the special preview to the masterclassers will be Salvatore Aranzulla, the founder of the Aranzulla.it site, one of the 30 most visited in Italy, in which he responds to thousands of computer related doubts and Oscar Cosulich, who works with L'Espresso and Il Mattino and expert of animation and comics. When David Kim's 16-year-old daughter disappears, a local investigation is opened and a detective assigned to the case. But 37 hours later David decides to look in a place where no one else had thought of looking, where all the secrets are kept: his daughter's computer. In a hyper-modern thriller, told through the technological devices we use every day to communicate, David must track down all of his daughter's movements before she disappears forever. The film is produced by Bazelevs Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia.

‘TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE filmS’: ON JULY 26th THE TEENS SUPERHEROS TEAM ON A PREMIERE FOR THE GIFFONERS WITH WARNER BROS PICTURES

The adventure on the big screen for “Teen Titans GO! To The films”, the team of superhero teenagers protagonist of the animated series signed Dc Comics and Warner Bros. , will begin at the 48th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival.  On Thursday July 26th, the jurors and giffoners will have the possibility of watch a preview of the fresh and irreverent animated film, which will arrive in  theaters in Italy on September 6th, distributed internationally by Warner Bros. Pictures. The feature film parodies the four seasons of the acclaimed series, aired on Cartoon Network and Boing from 2013. It now arrives in theaters with a new adventure that begins with Robin, the leader of the group, who wants to turn his friends into the protagonists of a film of their own, like any self-respecting superhero. They just have to find a way to get noticed by the best Hollywood director: with some extravagant ideas and a song in their hearts, the Teen Titans are heading towards Tinsel Town, sure to be able to realize their dream. But when the group is deceived by a Super-Villain and its diabolical plan to conquer Earth, the situation gets a turn for the worst, their friendship and their fighting spirit fail and their own destiny is at stake. The film is directed by Peter Rida Michail and Aaron Horvath, from a screenplay by Michael Jelenic and Horvath, based on the DC characters. Horvath, Jelenic, Peggy Regan, Michail and Arnett are the producers, with Sam Register as executive producer. The music is by Jared Faber.

‘HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3’: ALL THE MOST BELOVED MONSTERS RETURN TO #GIFFONI2018 WITH SONY PICTURES ANIMATION AND WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT ITALIA

Even monsters, in their own small ways, get stressed and need a holiday, even better if the journey calls for a special stop at the 48th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival. On Friday July 27th to surprise and amuse jurors and giffoners there will be the national preview of ‘Hotel Transylvania 3: A monstrous holiday’, the new chapter of the monster comedy produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Italy.

A return dear to the audience of Giffoni that, already in 2015, had welcomed with enthusiasm and warmth the teaser preview of the second film of the saga. This time the irresistible monsters, already protagonists of the past episodes of Hotel Transylvania, come back ready to take us on a new hilarious adventure. In the new film, Dracula decides to go on a cruise with his family and finally take a summer break. The rest of the group joins them and, aboard the cruise, the monsters have a great time and participate in all the activities and attractions on board from volleyball for monsters and colossal buffets, to unusual excursions. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare when Mavis discovers that Drac has fallen in love with Ericka, the mysterious captain of the ship with a dangerous secret that could destroy the monster race. Hotel Transylvania 3 sees animator Genndy Tartakovsky back to the director’s seat; he also signs the screenplay together with Michael McCullers. The film is produced by Michelle Murdocca with executive Adam Sandler. In the Italian version, Claudio Bisio will lend his voice to the very nice Dracula while Cristiana Capotondi will interpret the sweet Mavis. In Italian cinemas, the film will arrive next August on the 22nd.

SPECIAL EVENTS

A FILM EXHIBITION SPONSORED BY WARNER BROS OPENS THE NEW GIFFONI EXPERIENCE 4K UHD HALL

Warner Bros. Entertainment Italy brings great cinema to the Giffoni Film Festival 2018 opening the event with a exhibition of films in 4kUHD related to the central theme of the 48th edition: 'AQUA'. The new hall equipped with Atmos 4k UHD technology, will be inaugurated with eight evening screenings open to the public from July 20th to 27th, giving the audience the magic and unique experience of high-definition films. The exhibition will open with the latest masterpiece by Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk, in which water has a double meaning: water as a fatal prison, a desired destination and a place of death. The sea is also the set Life of Pi and In The Heart of the Sea: water as the cradle of life in the first and mystery and danger in the second. In line with the fundamental question posed by Giffoni on respect for nature and for the Planet, two titles could not be missing in which water is a resource and a salvation not only for the present but also for the future: The Martian and Mad Max: Fury Road. There will be laughter with the irresistible animated film Ice Age: Collision Course in which water is found in all its stages and as a set design, and great adventures with the timeless tale Pan. The review concludes with the film winning 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro, a modern fairy tale that has moved and inspired critics and audience and in which water it is the element of connection to another world.

'44 GATTI' : ON JULY 22nd IT’S UP TO THE NEW RAINBOW ANIMATED SERIES

44 Gatti’ the newest animated series by Rainbow Group, will be presented on July 22nd at the 48th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival in a  special event dedicated to the jurors of Elements +3. A unique possibility, for the 500 children that make up the jury, to see an episode of the highly anticipated and upcoming television series (from November in prime-time TV on Rai Yoyo), while the animated characters will parade on the Water Carpet for the public of Festival. '44 Gatti' is a CGI series composed of 52 episodes, and will be internationally distributed in 2019. The protagonists are four very funny cats Lampo, Milady, Pilou and Polpetta, that play together in a band called the ‘Buffycats’. In each episode the four ‘Buffycats’ will have a series of fun adventures around the city and in evocative places, facing challenges and assisting the many friends that will ask for their help to solve problems.

‘BENE MA NON BENISSIMO’:  ON JULY 22nd A STORY OF BULLYING WITH A HAPPY ENDING DEDICATED TO THE JURORS

Fabio Troiano and Francesca Giordano will be in Giffoni, Sunday, July 22, to present the teaser of 'Bene Ma Non Benissimo' by Francesco Mandelli, made specifically for the jurors who can see and discuss it in preview. The producer Pier Paolo Piastra and co-producer Riccardo Neri will also take part in the meeting. Candida is a plump and motherless teenage girl who lives with her father Salvo in a small village in the south. He loves to dance to the rhythm of the songs of Shade, a famous rapper she's in love with. Forced to move to Turin with her father, Candida will have to face the challenge of a new life. But Turin proves to be harder than expected, especially when the integration into a new school in the middle of the year is called to the most difficult challenge: by enrolling in a new school in the middle of the academic year, she becomes the laughing stock of the entire institute. Candida, however, makes friends with Jacopo, a introverted kid,bullied by his classmates; Candida is the only one that can make him smile. Initially simple schoolmates, they soon become inseparable friends. The city of Turin turns into a magical place in the eyes of the girl, one to discover with her new friend. Yet, Jacopo's father, a wealthy businessman, does not look favourably on their friendship, until he is forced to change his mind. In the cast the young Francesca Giordano (The mafia kills only in Summer - The series), with co-start Yan Schevchenko. Alongside them Euridice Axen, Gioele Dix, Giordano De Plano, Gisella Donadoni, Ugo Conti, Rosario Terranova, Emanuele Succa, Luca Zunic, Francesco Bottin and Shade in a cameo in the role of himself. The film is produced by Viva Productions, a production company from Milan owned by Pier Paolo Piastra, and with the support of Turin Piedmont Film Commission in collaboration with FIP Piedmont Film Investments. The film is co-produced with Fabio Troiano, Vincenzo Terracciano (also screenwriters of the film) and with Riccardo Neri's Lupine Film , who is also executive producer.

'HEIDI BIENVENIDA' :ON JULY 24th A SPECIAL EVENT WITH MAGIC, MUSIC AND FUN FOR THE ELEMENTS +10

After having won over the young Latin American public and after the great success of the first season, aired last April on Rai Gulp (channel 42), HEIDI BIENVENIDA is ready to win the applause of the Elements +10 jury. In the cinema after the exclusive screening of the first episode of the first season, the young protagonists of the series Chiara Francia and Tiziano Francia, together with producer Javier Francia and author Marcela Citterio, will be present to talk about the 'behind the scene' of the series. Produced by Mondo TV Iberoamerica, together with Alianzas Producciones, HEIDI BIENVENIDA is a modern adaptation of the famous novel. As a matter of fact, author Citterio is already known to the pre-teen world to which the series is addressed: 'Yo soy Franky', 'Chica Vampiro' and 'Patito Feo' are her international successes.  Heidi is a young girl who lives free and happy in the mountains with her beloved grandfather and spends unforgettable moments with her friends Pedro, Emma and little Diego. Among her friends there’s Nicanor, a very special talking rabbit that only Heidi can hear. The girl will be forced to abandon the beloved mountains to go and live in the city where she is called to perform a very important task: she will have to move to Sesemann home to help Clara recover from her agoraphobia. Will Heidi's enthusiasm and positivity be enough to cure Clara? The protagonist's charisma and magnetism, a very young and promising Chiara Francia - already known for Consentidos and Chica Vampiro - make the series truly captivating. Together with Heidi, a series of highly distinctive characters, like Emma, portrayed by Mercedes Lambre, co-star of Violetta, Miss Rottermaier, played by Forencia Benítez, also know for Violetta and  Sueña Conmigo, Toribo played by Victorio D'Alessando and Morena, interpreted by Minerva Casero. The series airs everyday on Rai Gulp (channel 42) from Monday to Friday at 18.25.

‘WHITE FANG’: ON JULY 26th, THANKS TO ADLER ENTERTAINMENT, ELEMENTS +10 WILL MEET ALEXANDRE EXPIGARES

For the first time the unforgettable novel by Jack London arrives on the big screen in a amazing animated picture. White Fang will be among the special events scheduled for Thursday, July 26th, reserved for Elements +10 that will also have the chance to meet the director Alexandre Espigares - Academy Award winner in 2013 for Best Animated Short Film (Mr. Hublot) - and talk about his new film with him. White Fang is a wolf that has a quarter of dog’s blood. He’s a noble and brave creature, and for this he will be victim of human cruelty. After being raised in the snowy, beautiful but hostile lands of the Great North, he is welcomed by Grey Beaver and his tribe of Native Americans.  Here he is protected by men, but he will have to find a way to be accepted by the other dogs. Unfortunately, Gray Beaver will be forced to give White Fang to a cruel man, who will turn him into a fighting dog. Almost at death’s door, he will be saved by a helpful and loving couple, that, through love, will teach White Fang to dominate his wild instinct and become their best friend. A story about redemption described from the dogs’ point of view, and, above all, about the extraordinary power of love that inextricably connects dog and man.

MORE NEWS