ST LOUIS - BOLOGNA SISTER CITIES SPONSORS "IL CAMPIONE" AT ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL ST LOUIS

​MICHAEL CROSS
President, St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities

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The Italian Film Festival USA is back with its first in-person edition since the pandemic. The festival is now in full swing, having begun on April 7 and continuing until its last film which shows on April 23. Directed by St Louisan Barbara Klein, the 19th edition of the Italian Film Festival offers eleven films-comedies, dramas and documentaries-on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. All the films are in Italian with English subtitles. Admission is free and open to the public.

This year, the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities is giving back to the Italian community, proudly sponsoring the U.S. debut of Il Campione, a comedy/drama directed by Leonardo D'Agostini and starring Andrea Carpenzano and Bolognese actor Stefano Accorsi. The young and talented protagonist (Christian Ferro) has a big temper which means trouble for his team-mates and coach. A rocky relationship with his introverted mentor (Valerio Fioretti) means that Christian’s world of fame and Ferraris may have to go by the wayside. The film is a tale of friendship, soccer, and managing success.  

There are many great films showing at the Italian Film Festival in St Louis this season. You may ask, why did we sponsor Il Campione? There are two reasons. Firstly, the main actor is the famed Stefano Accorsi who was born and raised in Bologna and attended the prestigious Scuola di Teatro Alessandra Galante Garrone di Bologna. Secondly, it's a soccer movie. Director Leonardo D'Agostini successfully recreated a credible soccer match on screen which is a feat not many have been able to accomplish. With the excitement of the new St Louis City SC team and the city's new soccer stadium and with Bologna's enthusiasm over its new proposed stadium, this was a perfect film for the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities to promote and sponsor. Soccer-or calcio as it is said in Italian-is a sport which unites both St Louisans and Italians. In Italy, this sport is also seen as an art and I believe this film re-creates the magic of this art. 

I invite everyone to join us on Friday, April 21 at 7:30PM for the U.S. debut of Il Campione. The venue is the Jerzewiak Auditorium in Wrighton Hall at Washington University in St Louis. The film is in Italian with English subtitles. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you there. 

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE VENUE