Italy + Film Festival = Party

The perfect equation for a South Beach weekend

Comments (0) By P. Scott Cunningham Thursday, Oct 4 2007

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The point of film festivals is that people get to wear badges, duck lines, and go to afterparties. It's like Italian slalom skier Alberto Tomba said on the eve of the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, when asked if he would change his lifestyle during the competition: “I used to have a wild time with three women until 5:00 a.m. In the Olympic Village, I will live it up with five women until 3:00 a.m.” Italians are notoriously fun-loving. So if some people happen to watch any of the 10 films being screened from October 4 to 9 as part of the fifth annual Italian Film Festival at the Regal 18 South Beach Cinema, so be it. But if not, the festival is loaded with amusing afterparties that are free for people with a badge or a movie stub.

The weekend will pass in a festive blur at the afterparties at Opium on Saturday, and Mansion on Sunday. Tonight, before the screening of Giovanni Veronesi’s romantic comedy Manuale d’Amore 2, you can stop by Napapijiri (1008 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) for wine and appetizers. And after the screening, the party is at Snatch (1437 Washington Ave., Miami Beach), where your ticket stub will grant you free admission and complimentary cocktails from 11:00 p.m. to midnight. Tomba and his native countrymen want to know: Can you handle it? Call 305-447-0233, or visit www.cinemaitaly.com.
Oct. 4-9, 2007