The Loyola Marymount University community is invited to celebrate the return of Il Cinema Ritrovato On Tour. This unique festival is originally from Bologna, Italy, and has been dedicated to restoring and preserving historical films for nearly four decades.
This year’s lineup at LMU offers a fresh opportunity to experience cinematic classics like never before, with screenings held from October 24-26 in the Broccoli and Mayer theaters. The events are free and open to the public. The outdoor screenings on the Drollinger Family Stage will feature live musical accompaniment, including a special performance by LMU President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., who will accompany Georges Méliès’ “The Infernal Cauldron” (1903).
This past summer, a group of LMU students participated in the fourth iteration of the LMU School of Film and Television’s summer study abroad program, with the festival serving as the focal point. Experiencing the magic of Il Cinema Ritrovato firsthand, they joined thousands of film lovers for the marquee screenings in Bologna’s historic Piazza Maggiore. For students of this digital age, no classroom environment can match the impact of being surrounded by an international community of cinephiles, all sharing a profound appreciation for the preservation of film history.
“The study abroad experience for students in Bologna is anchored by their attendance at the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival, the leading and largest film festival in the world that showcases films from 1895-1990s, screening films from around the world,” said Carla Marcantonio, associate dean of academic and faculty affairs in SFTV. “Students also get the opportunity to visit the Cineteca di Bologna’s world-renowned film restoration facilities. It is an experience that opens our students to the appreciation and understanding of film history in a way that no lecture course can quite accomplish.”
A standout feature of this year’s festival is the involvement of these students, who have curated two films for the “From Bologna to L.A.” event on October 25. One of their selections, “Black Sunday” (1960), is an Italian giallo horror film directed by Mario Bava, known for its atmospheric blend of terror and gothic storytelling.
The 2024 festival features a variety of genres and includes some of the most iconic silent horror films, such as “The Golem” (1920) and “Nosferatu” (1922). For those looking for a lighter experience, Buster Keaton’s “Battling Butler” (1926) will showcase Keaton’s timeless comedic genius.
Adding to the lineup is the forgotten gem “Smog” (1962), directed by Franco Rossi. Filmed entirely in Los Angeles, “Smog” explores European attitudes toward American culture in the early 1960s, making it particularly relevant for both film and history enthusiasts. The film was recently rediscovered and screened again at Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna in 2022, offering modern audiences a rare look into L.A.’s cultural landscape through the lens of Italian filmmakers.
The festival will close with a special double-feature celebrating Hollywood legends Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Their films “Shanghai Express” (1932) and “Queen Christina” (1933) will be accompanied by a short video essay, “Meeting of Two Queens” (1991), which reimagines a romance between the two stars through clips from their films. This experimental work hints at the lasting influence of these actresses on modern media culture.
For more information and to RSVP for the screenings, be sure to check the full schedule online.
