From Italy with Love, Sept. 27-Oct. 1

Ciao a tutti! The art, culture and charm of Italy is coming to you via the big screen during a multi-day film festival called Umbria in Sugar Land, Wednesday to Sunday, Sept. 27 to Oct.1.

The four-day festival is an international project produced by the International Film Festival of Spello, also known as Festival del Cinema Città di Spello ed i Borghi Umbri. Last year, the festival was presented at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival.

In Sugar Land, both Italian and other European films will be screened at the historic Sugar Land Auditorium, 226 Lakeview Drive, with a free public screening of Ho Amici in Paradiso (I Have Friends in Heaven) beginning at 7 p.m. at Sugar Land Town Square, 2711 Plaza Drive. All films will be in Italian with English subtitles.

Each of the seven films will be competing for the Umbria in Sugar Land Awards in four categories: Best Film, Best Screen Play, Best Cinematography and Best Directing.

In keeping with the organizers’ goal of promoting the cinematographic culture and the Umbrian region’s contributions to art, culture, food, wine and craftsmanship a free educational seminar — Framing Italian Cinema — will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, 445 Commerce Green Blvd.

Single tickets are $8 for students with ID and $10 general admission. VIP tickets can be purchased for $20 and include preferred seating to the film, as well as admission to an Aperitivo reception prior to the four evening screenings. Ticket packages to all six screenings can be purchased for $50. A VIP Festival Package is $100 and includes preferred seating plus admission to all four Aperitivo Receptions.

The Aperitivo Receptions take place from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Lonnie Green Park, 130 First Street, roughly one and a half hours before the film screenings.

The film schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, September 27, 2017, 7pm: My Italy (La mia Italia)
• Thursday, September 28, 2017, 7pm: Maternity Blues (Il bene dal male)
• Friday, September 29, 2017, 7pm: Greenery will Bloom Again (Torneranno I Prati)
• Saturday, September 30, 2017, 3pm: Like Crazy (La Pazza Gioia)
• Saturday, September 30, 2017, 7pm: The Gospel According to Mattei (Il vangelo secondo mattei)
• Sunday, October 1, 2017, 2pm: Italian Race (Veloce come il vento)

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

The film festival is just one of the many exciting Sugar Land cultural events you can enjoy when you make your home at Imperial. Sugar Land was ranked one of the top 10 Texas suburbs to live in by Niche.com. based on cost of living, quality of schools, job opportunities, low crime rate and local amenities.