Organised by the Embassy of Italy, this year's Italian Festival, now in its 8th edition, is back with exhibitions, concerts, conferences and other cultural events, boasting more than a dozen events from today until November.
A seminar on ‘Italian Space Activities Cosmo-SkyMed for the User Community’ will be held on July 5 at Space Krenovation Park, Si Racha, Chon Buri.
Offering a unique glimpse into contemporary Italy, the festival covers all aspects of Italian culture including jazz, classical music, collaborative exhibitions, dance performances, art and fashion, classic movies and the latest technology and innovations _ all held at key landmarks in Bangkok, including Siam Paragon, Thailand Cultural Centre and Crystal Design Centre.
The programme aims to build on what is already a friendly relationship between Thailand and Italy, offering a stimulating insight into the latest Italian cultural trends and the country's attractions.
"We aim to bring Italian contemporary culture closer to the Thai public _ especially to Thai youths," said Michelangelo Pipan, the ambassador of Italy. "I see it as an effective method to create a bridge between the two countries."
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL
JUNE
June 17: 6pm at the Embassy of Italy
- La Strada (The Road, 1954), a tragic and poignant film by Italian neorealist maestro Federico Fellini.
June 18: 7pm at FCCT
- Le Notti di Cabiria (The Nights Of Cabiria, 1957), a romantic drama by Federico Fellini. Dubbed 'the Master of Italian Cinema', Fellini was renown for his use of striking images, autobiographical details and disjointed narratives to create poetic, surrealist films. Critically acclaimed, his works have won the most Best Foreign Film Oscars in the history of cinema.
June 21: 3.30pm at Crystal Ballroom, 2nd Floor, E Building, Crystal Design Centre
- A conference on the Milan Furniture Fair with the 52nd Milan Fair Update, with three well-known editors from Casaviva, Living ETC and Ban lae Suan offering their views on the latest furniture and design trends.
June 19: 3.30pm at Crystal Ballroom, 2nd Floor, E Building, Crystal Design Centre
- A conference giving structured feedback from Thai participants at the annual Milan Furniture Fair under the theme "How To Enhance Thai Designers' Competitiveness On The International Market".
June 26: 6.30pm at B Building, Crystal Design Centre
- "Fashion Runway with Fendi, Cantori, Arper And Magis", a fashion show featuring the latest collections from famous brands including Fendi, Cantori, Arper and Magis.
JULY
July 5: 11.30am at Space Krenovation Park, Si Racha, Chon Buri
- The "Italian Space Activities Cosmo-SkyMed For The User Community" seminar discusses users' perspectives on satellite earth observation under the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISDTA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
July 11-July 28: At Central Chidlom
- The "Made In Italy: A Hundred Years Of Italian Shoes & Bags" exhibition showcases more than 300 accessories from the collection of famed Italian designer Giorgio Forni and other celebrated fashion brands including Prada, Versace, Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo.
July 16: From 7.30pm, at the Four Season Hotel
- An evening of Italian baroque music with Grammy and Grand Prix du Disque-award-winning Italian chamber orchestra I Solisti Veneti, conducted by founder Claudio Scimone, featuring a new repertoire including works by Vivaldi, Paganini and Rossini. Tickets are priced from 500 to 1,500 baht. For more information, visit www.solistiveneti.it.
July 24-28: At SF World Cinema, CentralWorld
- The Moviemov Italian Film Festival showcases the most representative films from the recent Italian Film Festival season (2012/13). All screenings are free of charge with subtitles in English and Thai.
July 30: 9pm at Saxophone Pub, Victory Monument
- A concert by world-renowned jazz vocalist Mario Biondi, featuring his vibrant mix of soul and jazz.
AUGUST
Aug 1: 2pm at Chulalongkorn University, Boromrajakumari Building, Room 707
- Seminar on "Primo Levi And The Idea Of Human Dignity: A Tentative Interpretation Of His Message From A Buddhist Prospective" by Claudio Cicuzza, Webster University Professor of Religious Studies. Primo Michele Levi (1919-87) was a renowned Italian Jewish writer, whose books include If This Is A Man (1947) and The Periodic Table (1975).
_ Tammarin Dejsupa
The Dem Street Art Workshop will be held in September at Silpakorn University.
Screenings in memory of Italian neorealist maestro Federico Fellini will take place today at the Embassy of Italy and tomorrow at FCCT.
A concert will be held by the Mario Biondi jazz band on July 30 at Saxophone Pub, Victory Monument.
A fashion runway with Fendi, Cantori, Arper and Magis luxury furniture will be held on June 26 at B Building, Crystal Design Centre.
