• End-of-Year Fundraiser

    Help Us Reach Our $10,000 Goal!

  • Monthly Series 2025

    Screening in San Diego and North County

  • Our Programs

    Our film schedule for the year

Not just Italian films – an Italian perspective

〰️

Not just Italian films – an Italian perspective 〰️

Our Organization

For the past 15 years, the San Diego Italian Film Festival has taken you to virtual journeys along with our protagonists, experiencing the passion, love, comedy, despair, and hope of life. We have learned about Italian film from scholars and directors whose insightful introductions and lectures help us understand why these movies speak to us and continue to influence filmmaking throughout the world.

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News & Events
The San Diego Italian Film Festival Welcomes Valentina Cartareggia as New Executive Director
News
The San Diego Italian Film Festival Welcomes Valentina Cartareggia as New Executive Director
News

As it works to expand its programming and reach, the San Diego Italian Film Festival (SDIFF) has hired Valentina Cartareggia as its new Executive Director. Born and raised in Milan, Italy, Cartareggia relocated to San Diego with her family in 2023.

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News
SDIFF Spotlighted Among the Best Film Festivals in San Diego
News
SDIFF Spotlighted Among the Best Film Festivals in San Diego
News

The San Diego Italian Film Festival, led by bold programmer Antonio Iannotta, was spotlighted among the best film festivals in San Diego by Beth Accomando, Arts & Culture Reporter at KPBS.

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News
Submissions Now Open for the 6th Annual SDIFF Ristretto Awards!
Ristretto, Short Competition
Submissions Now Open for the 6th Annual SDIFF Ristretto Awards!
Ristretto, Short Competition

The San Diego Italian Film Festival (SDIFF) announces the sixth annual SDIFF Ristretto Awards, dedicated to short narratives either by Italians or about Italian culture, Italian-American identity, or more broadly for the Italian community.

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Ristretto, Short Competition
San Diego Italian Film Festival presents feStivale 2024, with the Theme of CORE
Events, Festival
San Diego Italian Film Festival presents feStivale 2024, with the Theme of CORE
Events, Festival

The San Diego Italian Film Festival presents its 18th annual feStivale, a showcase of the best new Italian cinema with a series of premieres varying from dramas and comedies to documentaries. The theme of this year’s festival is Core, a play on words between the English meaning, and the Southern Italian word for Heart. 

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Events, Festival
A Letter from the SDIFF Team
News
A Letter from the SDIFF Team
News

Our hearts are full of sadness and grief as we announce the passing of the Founder, President and Executive Director of the San Diego Italian Film Festival, Victor Laruccia. 

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News
Artistic Director, Antonio Iannotta NPR Interview
Interviews
Artistic Director, Antonio Iannotta NPR Interview
Interviews

SDIFF’s Artistic Director Antonio Iannotta was interviewed on April 16 by Marco Werman on Public Radio International’s show “The World,” which airs locally on KPBS FM weekdays at 1:00pm.

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Interviews
Monthly Series Goes Online Starting May 28 with “Il tuttofare” (The Handyman)
Monthly Series, Events, Films
Monthly Series Goes Online Starting May 28 with “Il tuttofare” (The Handyman)
Monthly Series, Events, Films

Antonio is a trainee lawyer who dreams of joining his mentor’s prestigious firm. But his boss, Salvatore “Toti” Bellastella, the Prince of the Forum, is also an exploitative tyrant.

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Monthly Series, Events, Films
Calabria - An undiscovered country
Italy Travel
Calabria - An undiscovered country
Italy Travel

Stunning cliffs rise from sandy beaches and rocky shores, topped by centuries-old castles that forever gaze out over impossibly azure seas.

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Italy Travel
View fullsize ✨Together for 20 starts now!✨ 
Your gift shapes our milestone 20th feStivale and keeps Italian cinema, community, and culture thriving in San Diego. We are aiming to raise $10,000 by December 31 to support our biggest feStivale yet and launch two ne
View fullsize Lights, camera, ristretto ☕🎬 Submissions are now open for the 7th annual SDIFF Ristretto Awards, celebrating short films by Italians and about Italian culture, Italian American identity, and the Italian community worldwide. We are seeking innovati
View fullsize Join us on Thursday, December 11 at 7 PM at La Paloma Theatre for Un mondo a parte (A World Apart), a heartfelt new Italian film set in the stunning Abruzzo National Park. Follow veteran teacher Michele Cortese as he steps into a tiny rural school o
View fullsize Next Thursday, November 13, we have the afternoon-night all planned for you! FIRST, Enjoy the ultimate pre-movie party at @gelatolovecalifornia in Carlsbad! Join us for an afternoon of artisan gelato, freshly imported panettone from Italy, vibrant m
View fullsize ✨ A little feStivale fun captured in the photo booth! From poses to laughter, these photos really say it all. Our community brought style, personality, and pure joy to this year’s celebration. Here’s a look at some of our favorite momen
View fullsize Join us for an evening of the Best of SDIFF Ristretto Awards bringing together standout selections from 2019-2025, each one offering its own voice, vision, and story. 📅 Thursday, November 13 | 7 PM 📍 La Paloma Theatre Featuring: • Super Je
View fullsize ✨ Grazie to everyone who joined us for our 19th feStivale! What an incredible celebration of film, culture, and community. Thank you to all who supported, attended, and helped make this year’s festival so special. Enjoy a few highlights from
View fullsize 🎬 Exciting Screenings at La Paloma Theatre! We’re bringing two film events to Encinitas this November and December, celebrating the best in Italian cinema and short storytelling. Best of the SDIFF Ristretto Awards 📅 Thursday, November 13 | 7
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View fullsize 🇮🇹 Even though feStivale has come to an end, the celebration continues! 🎬 Join us for another exciting screening this Thursday at La Paloma Theatre. 📅 Thursday, October 16, 2025 🕖 7:00 PM 📍 La Paloma Theatre Vangelo secondo Maria (Gospel
View fullsize 🇮🇹 It’s feSta night! Don’t be late — we’ve changed the schedule this year! 
🏆 The Ristretto Awards come first, followed by the party! 📅 Saturday, October 11, 2025
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego
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View fullsize 🇮🇹 We can’t wait to see you tonight as Week 2 of FeStivale continues with Il tempo che ci vuole (The Time It Takes)! 📅 Thursday, October 9, 2025 🕖 7:00 PM 📍 Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art 🎬 Francesca Comenci
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