ISCHIA FILM FESTIVAL 2017

Ischia Film Festival: Cinema in a Unique Island Setting

The island’s renowned film festival celebrates its 15th edition from June 24 to July 1, 2017. Feature and short films, documentaries, exhibitions and conferences will debut in some of Ischia’s most scenic locations, creating a little miracle in the name of cinema.

The special relationship between Ischia and the history of cinema has lasted for over half a century. The island is a true open-air film set where many talented actors and directors have contributed to the Seventh Art.

Since 2003, the Ischia Film Festival has brought to this cinematic cradle some of the best international feature films, short films, documentaries and guests. The 15th edition continues this tradition, once again turning Ischia into a crossroads of images, languages and stories.

A Festival Built on Passion and Limited Resources

“This is an extraordinary festival, especially considering the limited resources that have always been used to create it,” said Boris Sollazzo, at his first edition as co-director alongside Michelangelo Messina, founder and artistic director of the event. “Over the last few years, many Oscar and David di Donatello winners have come to Ischia and this event is a little miracle. I wish Ischia became a focal point, a place to talk about cinema and for cinema.”

The Ischia Film Festival Programme

Locations as the Heart of the Festival

Throughout the last week of June, the Ischia Film Festival puts the spotlight on feature films, short films and documentaries that were first shown to the public in 2016 or 2017.

The common denominator is a strong focus on cultural identity and the concept of location. The selected works highlight the relationship between culture, traditions and territory on screen.

“This year our goal is to widen the concept of ‘location’,” continues Sollazzo. “It does not only mean a landscape or a cultural identity. As a film festival, we must focus on a location when it has a central role—for example, when an entire film takes place on a train or in a car. At the same time, we want to talk about locations in a more abstract way, considering them in films, TV series and documentaries.”

The so-called film location tourism or cine-tourism has always been an important topic for the Festival. Ischia is certainly no stranger to this phenomenon: the island has been featured in many unforgettable movies, from Cleopatra to The Talented Mr. Ripley and many more.

Another key aspect of the Festival is the opportunity to create a real dialogue between authors and audience. Alongside the daily screenings, there are exhibitions, workshops, meetings and conferences open to the public.

For the 15th edition, director Krzysztof Zanussi will be president of the Ischia Film Festival. There will also be a special retrospective dedicated to Pasquale Squitieri, a great friend of the event who recently passed away. The Ischia Film Festival 2017 programme is still being updated, but you can follow all the news on the official website (available in Italian and English): www.ischiafilmfestival.it.

Ischia as an Open-Air Film Set: Festival Locations

Natural and Architectural Scenography

The unconditional love of filmmakers for Ischia is easy to understand: natural and architectural scenography is everywhere. These landscapes are not only the backdrop for the Film Festival, but also an opportunity to visit the island of Ischia in an original way.

Following an unusual itinerary, you can discover:

• Aragonese Castle
• Terrazza degli Ulivi (Olive Terrace)
• Carcere Borbonico (Bourbon Prison)
• Saletta del Convento (Hall of the Monastery)
• The Church of San Pietro in Pantaniello
• Assunta's Cathedral
• Piazzale delle Armi
• Casa del Sole (House of the Sun)
• Terrazza Convento (Convent Terrace)

All of these venues will host screenings and events, turning Ischia into a small capital of cinema where stunning landscapes and the work of talented filmmakers come together.

Going to the Ischia Film Festival?

Boat Transfers from Naples Airport to Ischia and Beyond

If you are planning to attend the Ischia Film Festival, you may need some practical information about boat transfers from Naples Airport to Ischia. Ischia Charter Boat offers a range of exclusive services to make your journey easy and comfortable:

• Private car and boat transfer from Naples Airport to Ischia;
• Private car and boat transfer from Naples Airport to Capri;
• Private boat rental from Ischia to Capri (and vice versa).

Our private boats can also take you directly from Naples to the main hotels on the island, such as:

• Hotel Regina Isabella in Lacco Ameno;
• Hotel Mezzatorre in Forio d’Ischia;
• Hotel Excelsior in Ischia Porto.

Feel free to contact us and book your private boat charter in Ischia to enjoy the Ischia Film Festival in total comfort.