FLORENCE - International film-makers and connoisseurs will descend on the Tuscan city of Prato from May 20 to 23 for the sixth edition of the city’s film festival (PFF) that will showcase the best short films in Italy and abroad.  

  Unlike its more famous Venetian counterpart, Prato’s celebration of international cinema grew out of the cultural and visual appetites of the locals. 

  The city itself has given birth to a string of prominent figures throughout cinema’s history. Indeed, the PFF will continue its tradition of honouring two locals giants of Italian cinema: the screenwriters Piero De Bernardi, born in Prato, and Leo Benvenuti, born in Florence.

  The opening event of the festival will comprise of a tribute to the writer and journalist, Curzio Malaparte, a native of Prato, involving a screening of a restored version of the film “La Pelle” by Lilliana Cavani. The actor Maurizio Donadoni will be on hand to interpret some passages of Malaparte’s book “Maladetti Toscani.” 

  Nonetheless, the heart of the festival is the short film competition with its themed sections Mondo Corto (World Short), Human Rights and Corto Italia (Italy Short). In addition to this, there will be a number of matinees and projections of feature films such as “The Biggest Dream” and “Everything you want” open to schools. 

  An evening screening of the feature film “Veleno” by Diego Olivares with Luisa Ranieri, Massimiliano Gallo, Salvatore Esposito and Nando Paone, will also take place. The film was previously presented at the critics’ week, Venice film festival last year and tells the true story of the toxic waste drama in the Land of Fires in the Caserta area.

  On the final day there will be an inauguration of the exhibition dedicated to the film “Il Postino” directed by Michael Radford and Massimo Troisi. Troisi and other big names will host the event and provide commentary. 

  Likewise, the film’s set, designed by Angelo Frontoni, will be exhibited, featuring pictures from a digital collection of his works. The entire archive of Frontoni is kept at the photo gallery of the national cinema museum of Turin and at the experimental centre of cinematography. 

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