Cherry Festival: A Cinematic Celebration in Palombara Sabina

The 'Cherry Festival', a historic film festival created and organized by the 'Il Laboratorio' Association of Silvio Luttazi, will be held from April 19 to 21 at the 'Cinema Nuovo Teatro' in Palombara Sabina. This 35th edition of the Festival Delle Cerase, realized in collaboration with the Cultural Association 'Palcoscenico in Sabina', the Lazio Region, Lazio Land of Cinema, the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Palombara Sabina, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests, features a new artistic director: Boris Sollazzo, a journalist and film critic, writer, commentator, and sports commentator, and the editor-in-chief of The Hollywood Reporter Rome. The Cherry Festival, showcasing the best current season's national quality productions alongside works by both young and established directors, art films from major festivals, is inspired by an ancient tradition of Palombara, a nearly century-old festival named after the delicious 'Palombarese cherry'. It involves associations, educational institutions, the business fabric, and serves as an important moment of aggregation for the citizens as well as an occasion attracting a large number of people from the surrounding territory. Many guests will receive awards for their performances and productions from the last year: from Micaela Ramazzotti to Riccardo Milani, Christian De Sica, Paolo Virzì, Pupi Avati, Barbara Ronchi, Pilar Fogliati, Benedetta Porcaroli, Vinicio Marchioni, and Milena Mancini. At the opening on Friday, April 19, the Lazio Region Under 30 Award will be presented to actress Benedetta Porcaroli, followed by the screening of 'Happiness' by Micaela Ramazzotti, who will receive the Award for Best Debut in the Drama Genre. The film festival will be inaugurated by the Mayor of Palombara Sabina Hon. Alessandro Palombi, the President of the Lazio Region Francesco Rocca, the Councilor Giancarlo Righini, and the Regional Councilor Marco Bertucci. This will be followed by the awarding of Felice Laudadio, for the best book 'For Whom Culture Tolls. Tragicomic Adventures of an Organizer' (ed. Sabinae) and Riccardo Milani for 'Me, Us, and Gaber', best documentary. The first evening concludes with the opening of the Mario Verdone Hall, in the presence of Silvia Verdone and Christian De Sica, best leading actor for the film 'Winter Lemons' by Caterina Carone, which will be screened at 9:00 PM. On Saturday, April 20, awards will be presented to the Palermo actress Selene Caramazza, TV personality of the year for 'The Bad Guy' and 'Outside Sea', and to Barbara Ronchi, best leading actress for 'September', a debut work by Giulia Steigerwalt and 'Kidnapped' by Marco Bellocchio, which will be screened afterwards. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to director Pupi Avati, while the award for best film goes to director and screenwriter Paolo Virzì for 'Another August'. The 'Silvio Luttazi' Best Director Award (inaugurating a hall of the Cinema Nuovo) goes to Marco D'Amore for the film 'Caracas', which will be screened at 9:30 PM. The Festival closes on Sunday, April 21, with the viewing of 'Mary and the Midnight Spirit' by Master Enzo D'Alò, awarded for best animation film. Malcom Pagani will receive the award for best podcast 'They Say About You' and journalist Alessandro De Simone that of best film critic. The screening of the film 'Mia' by Ivano De Matteo, will be introduced by Milena Mancini, best supporting actress, and the award for best supporting actor will be given to Vinicio Marchioni for 'Thanks Guys', 'Mia', 'Another August', and 'There's Still Tomorrow'. At 8:30 PM, it will be the turn of the Piedmontese director and actress Pilar Fogliati for 'Romantics', best debut in comedy and best screenplay with Nicola Baldoni and Giovanni Veronesi who with his 'Romeo and Juliet' will close this edition full of guests.