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Interview with Beth Barrett – SIFF Artistic Director

One of our Dante members, Andrea Aldrich, recently interviewed the Artistic Director of SIFF, Beth Barrett, during a recent episode of her podcast, Italy Inside Out.

Beth gives us insider information about the Seattle International Film Festival and the reason Cinema Italian Style was born.

This year, because of the pandemic, Cinema Italian Style will be virtual, which has brought a whole new set of production challenges for SIFF. During the festival, new films are shown by established film makers and the works of new film makers are debuted. This engaging interview with Beth Barrett, Artistic Director for SIFF, discloses the history of the organization and the changes made throughout its 47 year existence, the emergence of the Italian film festival because of the strong community interest, the search for new films each year and a synopsis of some of her favorites in this year’s lineup.

You can listen to this episode of Italy Inside Out from wherever you get your podcasts or follow this link to episode No.14.  https://italyinsideout.buzzsprout.com

Beth Barrett

Italian Language Meeting – January 27, 2021

When: January 27, 2021
Speaker:
Dr. Lorenzo Giacani
Topic: From the Apennines to the Cascades Pursuing Scientific Excellence
Location: Online

A medical illustration attributed to Albrecht Dürer (1496) depicting a person with syphilis.

There will be a “social hour” beginning at 7 pm. The presentation will start at 7:30.

About the Speaker:  Dr. Lorenzo Giacani earned a BS in Molecular Biology magna cum laude at the University of Bologna (Italy) in 1998. His interest in STIs and syphilis began after being drafted into the Italian Army, where he was tasked with testing soldiers for syphilis. Following his service, Dr. Giacani enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Medical Biotechnology also at the University of Bologna, graduating in 2005. As a graduate student, Dr. Giacani focused primarily on the study of the virulence factors of the syphilis agent. In 2002, he accepted a position as an exchange scholar and moved to the University of Washington, where he is currently an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Global Health, where he keeps studying syphilis pathogenesis and evaluating vaccine candidates for syphilis. Throughout his career, he has received the ASTDA Developmental Award and the Vallesina Award for his scientific achievements.

About the Presentation: Dr. Giancani will focus on the path that brought him to the US from Italy, and his current work at the University of Washington on one of the oldest known sexually-transmitted infections, syphilis.

Dr. Lorenzo Giancani

English Language Meeting – January 13, 2021

When: January 13, 2021
Speakers: Janet and John Lenart
Topic: Walking Through History in the Veneto
Location: Online

About the Speakers:

Janet (a retired Nurse Practitioner) and John (a retired engineer) moved to Vicenza, Italy in 1994 to work as civilians on a U.S Army post. They lived in the Vicenza community for almost 19 years and then returned to Seattle. They spend every Fall in Vicenza, except when there is a worldwide pandemic.Janet is currently serving as a consigliere on the Dante Alighieri Society of Washington Board.

About the Presentation:

Anywhere you walk in Italy you find history. You generate all sorts of questions about the origin of the sights. If you’re lucky you also find people living in the area who are eager to answer your questions. We will share our enthusiasm for the 52 Tunnels hike, the Dolomites and the city of Vicenza. Then we’ll look back on World War I and II history and recount stories from locals to explain the sights and the impact on people today.

Additional resources:
The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919 by Mark Thompson
War in Val D’Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944 by Iris Origo
International Encyclopedia of the First World War https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online…
Strada delle 52 Gallerie, a WWI military mule road https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe…
Centenario della Vittoria – Le 52 gallerie del Pasubio (20 minutes) walks the tunnels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOpBH…
Ricordi dal Monte Pasubio (10 minutes) provides an excellent history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y56S9…
L’insurrezione in Piemonte https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlCIc…
Bella Ciao. Storia e fortuna di una canzone. https://www.isrn.it/bella-ciao-storia…
Dolomites

2020 SIFF Cinema Italian Style

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
get ready for SIFF – coming soon right into your homes.

Dante Alighieri is a proud sponsor of Cinema Italian Style at SIFF, bringing the best in new Italian cinema right to your home in 2020—with a virtual 12th edition! Featuring work from established masters and new voices, pre-recorded filmmaker Q&As, and films spanning the country, Cinema Italian Style will hit your screens December 10 – 17, 2020.

Save $10 on full priced passes with promo code DA2020PASS and $2 on regular priced tickets with promo code DA2020TIX.* Passes on sale now! Full lineup and tickets will be released December 3.

Buy Pass: https://www.siff.net/year-round-cinema/film-festivals/cinema-italian-style
*Discounts available on full priced passes and tickets and not applicable on SIFF Member discounted passes/tickets. 

SPECIAL OFFER FROM TUTTA BELLA

Enjoy a complimentary, wood-fired pizza from Tutta Bella any time during the festival. As a thank you for supporting Italian cinema, Tutta Bella https://tuttabella.com is generously providing one FREE 13” Neapolitan pizza to each Cinema Italian Style passholder, when you purchase your pass by November 30.

Learn More https://www.siff.net/year-round-cinema/film-festivals/cinema-italian-style

Bread, Love, and Cinema:  Italian History Through Film and Food

SIFF Virtual Film Class
TUE DEC 8 · 7:00-9:00 PM

Excellence in film and food have always been associated with Italy and Italian culture. From post WWII (Bicycle Thieves, An American in Rome) to present day (Big Night, Facing Windows) Italian film culture has been inextricably connected with Italian food. Join Dr. Antonio Iannotta in this journey through some of the most iconic and important Italian films that center food culture as a reflection of their time in Italian history.

Special offer from Tutta Bella: complimentary pizza for the first 100 class registrants.

Learn More https://www.siff.net/education/film-appreciation/classes/bread-love-cinema