Successful 18th year of Italian Film Festival USA – Cleveland at CWRU
April 16, 2025, was the 4th day and conclusion of the 18th edition in Cleveland at CWRU as part of the 21st year of Italian Film Festival USA.
CWRU students, faculty and staff, the greater Cleveland area community, and others in the NE Ohio area, including children, enjoyed local premieres of 4 recent, acclaimed Italian films and an exclusive program of newly released short films. Most films were preceded by a brief recorded greeting from the filmmaker.
The festive atmosphere was enhanced before each screening by drawings to win gift cards, donated by several of CWRU’s neighboring merchants and restaurants: Arrabbiata’s Italian Restaurant, Tasty Pizza, The Original Mario Fazio’s Great Neighborhood Dining, Mamma Catena Vino e Cucina, Ferrara’s Imported Foods, Casa Dolce Bakery, DiStefano’s Authentic Italian Grocery Store, and Bar Italia. Little Italy Wines donated a wine tasting at their location for up to 4 people.
The 2025 Italian Film Festival USA – Cleveland was grateful for support from the national sponsor Your Italian Passport and local sponsor Liberatore Landscape Construction, LLC, and the Consulate of Italy in Detroit, along with our Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.
The CWRU Program in Jewish Studies and the Department of History co-sponsored the second film, a documentary on the life of Italian senator-for-life and Holocaust survivor,
Liliana Segre. The CWRU Film Society has partnered with the Program in Italian for all
18 years of this event, assisting with the promotion and managing the projections & the concession stand.
Italian Film Festival USA – Cleveland has long been an extraordinary collaborative effort and intersection of assorted communities. There are 12 other US cities hosting this year, but CWRU is the only location in Ohio. Thanks to the enthusiastic DMLL colleagues and all who attended. We are looking forward to even more in the future!
Contact Denise Caterinacci, Italian Section of DMLL, with any questions or comments.