L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 www.italoamericano.com 6 feStivale 2014 Gala Finale Brings Season to a Close At precisely 5:00, Saturday evening a select gathering of Italian singers and band mem- bers rehearsed, while sumptuous Italian appetizers were set out early in anticipation of the San D iego I talian F ilm F es tival members and their guests, who began pouring into Balboa's Museum of Photographic Art, on bringing feStivale 2014, to an exciting finale. The private showing of Una piccola impresa meridionale (A Small Southern Enterprise) was shown following the dinner. "This is one of the best Italian parties in town, and the most important cultural event in the city," said Antonio Iannotta, Artistic Director of the SDIFF. "This is our way of getting to know and welcome our sponsors and guests." Members of the Italian Cultural Center, Balboa Park's House of Italy, the Italian entertainment troupe, and a host of guests and members attended this auspicious event. "We are expecting between 130 and 180 people this evening," said Elena Incardona, Assistant Executive of SDIFF. "Becoming a member and sup- porting the association," said Incardona, was proof that "they give to us so that we can give back to them." the Gala was well worth the admission fee which included the dinner, wine and coffee bar, not to mention the outs tanding talent w ho s ang Italian songs and entertained the attendees throughout the evening, she added. Supporting the Trio of Italian singers were musicians James Bianchi and Dan Achipinti. The talented s inging trio w ere Giovanna Gattuso, who recently released her smash hit video, The King is Naked; Michela Dalla P ozza and Ros ario M onetti. Malafemmena was Monetti's lead s ong, to w hich he later added the ever popular Italian, O Solo Mio. Forming a Duet with Dalla Pozza they romanced the audience with Quando quando and an Andrea Bocelli favorite, Time to Say Goodbye. Gattuso and Monetti teamed up and sang ardent and emotional all time Italian favorites, Arrivederci Roma and Anema e Core, pleas- ing the dinner gues ts enormously. The trio's final ROBERT GALLO offering brought the house down with Funiculì Funicula. The singers provided the melody, but the audience insisted on provid- ing an overwhelming and joyous chorus. While the music played and the s ingers s ang, the dinner guest were treated to a sumptu- ous repast, supplied by Salvatore Ercolano of V illa Capri Restaurant Group. Aside from the Bruschetta and Antipasti, Ercolano's kitchen provided main courses of Cheese Ravioli and Tortellini and an offering of both Chicken and Salmon dish- es . N o Italian meal is ever served without the ever present Cannoli and other as s orted delectable desserts, coupled with generous amounts of Cappuccino and Espresso, pro- vided by Caffe Arcidiacono. Wine flowed freely while music and song filled the air. Before sending the revelers off to enjoy the private, premier s how ing of S D IF F 's final movie, V ictor Laruccia, Executive Director thanked the gathered guests. "We especially want to thank MOPA, our families, organiza- tions, corporations, universities, art organizations, musicians and chefs, all who join in for the love of the culture," he announced. H e gave s pecial recognition to S an D iego's Commis s ion for A rt and Culture, Roberto Ruocco, Italian Vice Consul, San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts and Supervisor Ron Roberts. The SDIFF's last movie, Una piccola impresa meridionale, was an uproarious comedy about misunderstandings, plot twists and the forming of an unlikely harmony forged between a small group of people who have the least amount of interest in each other, not to mention, the propensity to get along well. What starts out as an abandoned lighthouse is soon transformed into a beautiful hotel, but not before it becomes a gathering place for a priest, a former call girl, a lesbian, two eccentric workers accompanied by a little girl and a divorced husband. Elena Incardona, Assistant Executive of SDIFF Dale Jones, Secretary HOI From left: Giovanna Gattuso, Rosario Monetti and Michela Dalla Pozza

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