THE 10th annual Newcastle Italian Film Festival promises to be a treat for the senses, offering not only movies including cinematic classic The Godfather, but cuisine, music and a Vespa display too.
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Organiser Nick Moretti said he was "very excited" about the November 15 to 17 festival's first year at new home Event Cinemas Kotara, following the closure of Tower Cinemas.
"I know the Newcastle Film Society are over the moon about coming here, they think it's great," Mr Moretti said.
"I'm confident it will go very well. Access is really easy and it has a lot going for it this year."
Cinema general manager Renea Coolahan said she hadn't known whether all the festivals would make the move to Kotara.
"We're very grateful they've given us this opportunity to be able to showcase these films, because there's other theatres that could have been used," she said.
Mr Moretti said the new location meant small changes. Complementary cheese, wine, pizza and dolci before the Friday and Saturday sessions will be served from 6pm in the 473-capacity V-Max theatre. Other sessions will be in 266-seat cinema two.
A barbershop quartet will perform on Friday night and Hilary Oliver will perform an operatic number on Saturday night.
Mr Moretti said Put Nonna In The Freezer was an obvious choice for opening night, partly because of its intriguing title.
"I've also got some comedies, which always appeal to a wide audience, as well as a classic with The Godfather, a thriller, The Girl In The Fog, and a documentary about Sardinia, Balentes- The Braves Ones," he said.
He was pleased to see the event he founded with late friend Dino Cesta become a "fixture".
"People ask about it in advance - that tells me they want to come," he said.
"I intend to continue doing it as long as people keep coming. When people say 'Thank you' it makes it all worth it."
He said Mr Cesta - and his late wife Anna - lived on in the festival. He said he "absolutely" considered what Mr Cesta would think of the film selection.
"We would not usually agree," he laughed.
"Dino really liked to challenge people and would say 'If they don't like it it's their bad luck', but I'm a bit more conservative."
Mr Cesta's mother will make crostoli for patrons and the festival will award the $2500 Dino and Anna Cesta Memorial Scholarship to students studying art, writing, film and television or music.
It also donates all its proceeds to the Motor Neurone Disease Association NSW.
Mr Moretti invited high schools to contact the cinema to attend a Friday screening of God Willing, for $10 per student.
Patrons who present their tickets to the concierge desk will pay an $8 flat fee for all-day parking on Saturday and Sunday.