icff Italian Contemporary Film Festival 2014 Opening Gala & Party at The Ritz

Coinciding with Italian Heritage Month, the third annual Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF 2014) took place in Toronto between June 12 and 20, 2014, kicking off with an opening party held at The Ritz. Festival sponsors include IC Savings, Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Liberty Group, Castlepoint NUMA Inc. and GFL. Co-founder of the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF). This year’s festival presented a total of 28 features and 37 shorts.

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Stephen Baldwin (right)

The ICFF is a true showcase of Italian cinema, with many films being produced by Italians in Canada as well as Italy.

The opening film of the ICFF at the TIFF Lightbox was Giuseppe Tornatore’s drama “The Best Offer” starring Geoffrey Rush, Sylvia Hoeks, Donald Sutherland and Jim Sturgess.

Following the film, the opening night party was held on the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel where actor Stephen Baldwin, who stars in the festival’s world premiere of “2047 Sights of Death”, was seen working the red carpet along with many of the other celebrity guests.

The signature cocktail Aperol Spritz, made by combining 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol (Italy’s number one selling spirit) and 1 part soda, was truly refreshing.
The antipasti table featured traditional Italian-style dishes such as Caprese salad, and grilled vegetables. Two large sides of roast beef were carved on the spot for guests of the event. The mandatory Italian staple of mushroom risotto and chicken ravioli both topped with parmigiano reggiano cheese took the centre stage of the ballroom.

Delectable lemon, cream and chocolate desserts were hard to resist! Luckily I was able to work off some of the rich food on the dance floor!

See also: ICFF Italian Contemporary Film Festival 2013 Closing Gala

Cristiano de Florentiis (Co-founder, Artistic Director)

Stephen Baldwin (right)

Nick Mancuso

(photos by Tanya)