FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 02/20/19
ICFF launches its annual event, Call the Shots: Female Power Through Film.
In celebration of International Women's Day, the ICFF presented by IC Savings is proud to present a
one- day event that commits to promoting the visibility of female driven cinema, in its content, and in
its production. The 2019 edition is dedicated to successful women who have made their mark in the
Cinema Industry.
There will be a 30 minute panel discussion with the participation of women who have achieved
success the film industry. This will be followed by the screening of Marco Tullio Giordana’s, The Name
of A Woman.
TORONTO (February 20, 2019) – The Italian Contemporary Film Festival has announced more exciting
news today. Much to the delight of cinema lovers across the country, ICFF will present the second
edition of Call the Shots: Female Power through Film which will be held on International Women’s Day,
March 8th, 2019, as part of the ICFF Special Programs.
True to its mandate to promote and celebrate women’s achievements in film and in society as a whole,
the second annual event promises to deliver another incredible evening; A pre-movie reception will be
followed by an engaging panel discussion introduced by Mara Cataldi, Director of Operations and
founder of Call the Shots, and moderated by ICFF Artistic Director Cristiano de Florentiis, and Tonia
Serrao Soppelsa, Co-ordinator of Cultural Events.
The three guest panelists in the round table discussion, are women whose contributions to cinema will
be celebrated for years to come, and whose paths to success have not been without challenges: Joana
Vicente is the newly-appointed, first female CEO of the world-renowned Toronto International Film
Festival, and is an acclaimed independent producer and a prominent member of New York’s film scene;
Patricia Cuccia is a well-known set decorator, whose works include Brokeback Mountain, Mean Girls and
Titans; and Christina Piovesan is a celebrated film director and producer, as well as the founder of First
Generation Films, responsible for the 2018 Special Presentations opener at TIFF, Mouthpiece. The panel
discussion serves as a critical component of the event, offering audiences some insight into the theme of
the evening from the unique perspective of women in the film industry.
Subsequent to the discussion, the ICFF presents the feature film, Nome di Donna, (The Name of A
Woman) co-written and directed by Marco Tullio Giordana and starring none other than Cristiana
Capotondi, best known for her roles in Notte Prima degli Esami and Milano 2015.
The film is a stunning portrayal of a young single-mother who uproots the only life her daughter has
ever known to move to a small village in Northern Italy and start over. Nina begins what seems like a
dream job, working in an upscale private seniors’ clinic with other women she comes to care for and
connect with, only to discover a deep history of sexual harassment within the organization, and an even
deeper willingness to keep quiet about it. After falling victim to inappropriate advances by her
supervisor, she quickly realizes she is not alone. What she cannot understand is her colleagues’
resignation to management’s unseemly behavior; the women are obliged to keep the company’s dark,
dirty secrets for fear of losing their jobs. Nina must find the courage to stand up for herself, and
although she is met with fierce opposition from her fellow employees, she takes on the daunting task of
leading a small revolution that will ultimately have huge consequences; not only for herself and her
colleagues, but more importantly for her child.
The film makes a poignant contribution to the very relevant and incredibly important conversations
around sexual harassment, gender equality and safety in the workplace in the 21st century. With the
birth of the #MeToo movement, it has become more evident than ever that a clear and open dialogue
around such issues is absolutely necessary. For this reason the ICFF is committed to bringing its
audiences films of relevance and social conscience.
The event is supported by George Brown College.
For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, please visit www.icff.ca.
About ICFF
The Italian Contemporary Film Festival is one of the most important celebrated events of Italian culture
in North America, and is the largest Italian film festival outside of Italy. The annual festival attracts
thousands of attendees to screenings, industry events, and galas. The eight annual Italian Contemporary
Film Festival will run from June 13 - 21, 2019. ICFF is presented by IC Savings and generously supported
by Great Gulf Homes, Empire Communities, Two Sisters Vineyards, Castlepoint Numa, Cityzen Dominus
and Delta Air Lines – the Official Airline Sponsor of the ICFF.
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Media contact
Anne-Elise Allegritti, ICFF Communication Coordinator - aallegritti@icff.ca - 416.893.3966
Giorgio Mitolo, ICFF Media Relations Coordinator - media@icff.ca