The Italian Embassy’s Celebration for the 75th Berlinale
A Night of Cultural Diplomacy Celebrating Italian Cinema
February 20th, 2025
On Friday, February 14th, the Italian Embassy in Berlin hosted its annual reception in honor of the 75th edition of the Berlinale, one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. The event highlighted the Italian film industry and served as a celebration of its ongoing contributions to global cinema.
With an international presence at the festival, Italy stood out through actors like Luca Marinelli, star of the film Paternal Leave (Generation section), and numerous Italian co-productions featured across various festival categories.
The reception brought together a diverse array of distinguished guests, underlining the event's importance in fostering cultural diplomacy. Among the key attendees were celebrated actors such as Claudio Santamaria and Luca Marinelli, as well as director and actress Alissa Jung, whose directorial debut Paternal Leave earned recognition at the festival. Additional filmmakers, such as Alessandro Tonda, the director of Nibbio, and Lyric Paolo Dela Cruz, director of Come la notte, joined the gathering, further cementing the event as a focal point for cinematic discussions.
In addition to the presence of these creative talents, the event attracted numerous industry professionals, including Nicola Borrelli, Director of the General Directorate for Cinema and Audiovisual at Italy’s Ministry of Culture, and Roberto Stabile, the head of international relations for ANICA (Italian National Association of Audiovisual and Cinema Industries). Their presence underscored the vital role that cultural diplomacy plays in strengthening international ties and promoting Italian cinema on a global stage.
The reception also welcomed key figures from the Berlinale, including Jacqueline Lyanga, co-director of the Film Programming of the festival, and Carlo Chatrian, the former artistic director of the Berlinale and current director of the National Museum of Cinema. The gathering of such a high-profile group of individuals served to not only celebrate the role of Italian cinema at the festival but also to highlight the broader cultural collaboration between Italy and Germany, a cornerstone of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Through its ongoing support of Italian cinema and its strategic positioning at international events like the Berlinale, the Italian Embassy in Berlin plays a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange and strengthening the global influence of Italian film. The reception was a testament to the power of cultural diplomacy and the role of cinema as a universal language that brings people together across borders.
