Every Wednesday we're releasing a short film from the roster of our recent Ristretto Awards. The Ristretto of the Week is available via our social media accounts and e-newsletter. One short film each week offers a tiny, healthy dose of Italian creativity.

Each Monday the SDIFF team shares with you our pick of the week: An Italian movie we recommend that's available to stream on Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, or Hulu, followed by a live discussion on the following Sunday with the SDIFF staff and/or board, volunteers, and special guests.  

“While we cannot be physically together, the strength of our community is now more than ever something we take pride in as Italians and as San Diegans,” says executive director Diana Agostini. "All over the world we are seeing the need to connect with one another, and often the glue for this is the arts community. You all have seen videos of people playing music from balconies all over Italy, museums opening up their doors to allow visitors to still find relief in artistic beauty, musicians having live shows using social media. Even those who have been asymptomatic carriers of the artistic needs are starting to show signs of this fundamental trait that brings us together as human beings. This need for arts, together with all the acts of kindness and selfless service to our communities, is the only type of viral contagion we want to see growth in, and we are here to do our part.”

"From all of us at SDIFF, we send you a virtual hug as we all practice social isolation for the health of everyone around us and of our communities. And like Italians say these days: Andrà tutto bene (everything will be all right),” adds artistic director Antonio Iannotta.