ITALIAN USA OF Phoenix April 20 - 27, 2018 Enjoy the local premieres of six recent Italian films and two programs of short films at the 2018 Italian Film Festival USA of Phoenix. All films shown on the campus of Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, the Scottsdale Civic Center Library and Mustang Library. Sponsored by Volpi Foods and ASU’s School of International Letters and Cultures. In collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of , ASU, Scottsdale Civic Center Library and Mustang Library. AT WAR FOR LOVE • IN GUERRA PER AMORE Friday, April 20 • 7:00 p.m. • ASU, Memorial Union 230 Pima Room (Director, Pierfrancesco Diliberto, aka Pif, Comedy, 2016, 99 min.) , 1943. Sicilian immigrant Arturo falls in love with Flora, but she's engaged to the son of a mafia boss. Arturo's only option is to ask Flora's father for her hand, but he still lives in Sicily. Penniless, Arturo enlists in the US Army and takes a "free" trip to Sicily at the start of the Allied invasion.

CUCINÌ Saturday, April 21 • 10:00 a.m. • Scottsdale Civic Center Library Auditorium (Director, Ciro Fabbricino, Documentary, 2017, 54 min.) A journey into the flavors, smells and colors of the Neapolitan gastronomic traditions through the eyes and memory of five Neapolitan cooks.

FRIENDS BY CHANCE • TUTTO QUELLO CHE VUOI Saturday, April 21 • 11:15 a.m. • Scottsdale Civic Center Library Auditorium (Director, Francesco Bruni, Drama, 2017, 106 min.) Alessandro unwillingly takes a job as an aging poet’s walking companion. Over time, the poet's failing mind reveals memories of a hidden treasure. Following the clues, Alessandro and his friends take the poet on a trip in search of the treasure, but find the true treasure hidden within their own hearts.

THE LAST PROSECCO • FINCHÉ C'È PROSECCO C'È SPERANZA Saturday, April 21 • 1:30 p.m. • Scottsdale Civic Center Library Auditorium (Director, Antonio Padovan, Drama, 2017, 102 min.) A wine-making count, fighting for his territory; a cement factory manager who meets an inexplicable end; a Persian-Italian police inspector: ingredients in a mystery highlighting the conflict between greed and respect for the vineyards, unfolding in the rolling hills of the region, home to Prosecco grapes.

EARS • ORECCHIE Saturday, April 21 • 3:30 p.m. • Scottsdale Civic Center Library Auditorium (Director, Alessandro Aronadio, Comedy, 2016, 90 min.) A man wakes up one morning with an annoying ringing sound in his ears and a note on the fridge says: "your friend Luigi has died. P.S. I took the car". This is just the beginning of a tragicomic day!

SHORT FILM PROGRAM • PROGRAMMA DI CORTOMETRAGGI Sunday, April 22 • 1:00 p.m. • Scottsdale Civic Center Library Auditorium (Comedy, Drama, , 2017, 120 min.) Seven recent films—The Line, At My Home, Pipinara, Simposio Suino in Re Minore, Crosstitch Road, The Fisherman and The Little Italian Girls—are in competition for your vote for best .

IT'S ALL ABOUT KARMA • QUESTIONE DI KARMA Sunday, April 22 • 3:15 p.m. • Scottsdale Civic Center Library Auditorium (Director, Edoardo Falcone, Comedy, 2017, 90 min.) A rich heir believes a con man is his reincarnated father. A surprising comedy about friendship.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM • PROGRAMMA PER BAMBINI Friday, April 27 • 3:30 p.m. • Mustang Library (Comedy, Drama, Animation, 2017, 90 min.) A family-friendly program of thirteen short films is geared toward an audience of children aged 6-12.

FREE admission. For further information, visit www.italianfilmfests.org