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Bologna’s niche festival of forgotten films captures the streaming generation
Over 40 years, Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato – or ‘rediscovered cinema’ – has evolved into an influential international gathering
TL;DR
- Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna is celebrating its 40th anniversary, showcasing restored, rediscovered, and overlooked films.
- The festival has grown significantly, attracting a new generation of cinephiles and record attendance numbers.
- Last year's edition drew 140,000 visitors to screenings in Piazza Maggiore and other historical locations.
- The festival originated from the Bologna Cineteca, a film library and laboratory renowned for film restoration.
- Notable filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Wes Anderson regularly attend, enhancing the festival's profile.
- The 40th-anniversary edition will feature over 500 films, including silent movies, 1980s Hollywood classics, and newly restored works.
- Special retrospectives will honor Italian director Luchino Visconti, and screen legends Barbara Stanwyck and Josephine Baker.