MESSINA OPERA FILM FESTIVAL
Messina (Italy)
The Messina Opera Film Festival is the only Italian (and probably European) festival focusing on the relationship that has always existed between Cinema and Opera, through screenings, concerts, presentations and exhibitions that explore the interaction between the two art forms in a classical or contemporary key.
The festival will reach its ninth edition this year, the third opera-themed. In fact, it was born in 1995 but as a Festival for independent cinema, and was created and is still being directed by Ninni Panzera.
The festival includes: Tributes to directors and composers, contemporary panorama, short film competition, screening of silent films with live orchestra, opera tv ads, exhibitions, live performances in the theatre and guests and meetings and book presentations.
Portrait
▷▷ One of Messina Opera's favourite music films/documentaries of all time ?
“Orphea in love” (Germany, 2023) by Axel Ranisch
▷▷ One of the most memorable screenings organized by Messina Opera Film Festival ?
Screening of the silent film “Cavalleria Rusticana” (Italy, 1916) by Ugo Falena, with live musical accompaniment by the Taormina Music Association Orchestra
▷▷ The music film/doc the Messina Opera team would love to see being made ?
Inspired by the example of “Orphea in Love,” a musical that uses music from operas, we would like to see more musical films made that use opera arias reimagined in a contemporary way, creating new film genres.
▷▷ One music film/doc that didn’t get as much praise as it should have according to the Messina Opera team ?
“Aria” (1987) by Altman, Beresford, Bryden, Godard, Jarman, Roddam, Roeg, Russell, Sturridge, Temple.
▷▷ A music film/doc of your country you really enjoyed lately.
“Audiovisual Score for a Landscape of Rubble” (2023). Anthology of images from the Messina earthquake. Music and sounds by Franco Battiato.
▷▷ In one word what does the MFFN mean for you ?
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