AN ACTIVE END OF SUMMER IN MONTREAL’S GOURMET DISTRICT
| Summer activities and events are still in full swing in the heart of Petite Italie! The Société de Développement Commercial (SDC) de la Petite Italie and its many partners continue to make Montreal’s gourmet district festive. The weekend of August 11 to 13 will be the perfect time to stroll through the streets of the Petite Italie, as the ItalFestMTL will take place, as well as the celebrations in honour of the Madonna della Difesa around the Our Lady of Defense Church (Parc Dante) and the Foire des vins et du cidre du Québec at Jean Talon Market. The program of the Cine Parc Dante is also enhanced by special screenings of the films I fratelli De Filippo and the documentary Ennio, while other film screenings take place in the neighbourhood: Cinema sous les étoiles and screenings at the Casa d’Italia. An overview of the activities, to be consumed without moderation: |
| Three days of festivities in Petite Italie: August 11, 12 and 13 29th edition of ITALFESTMTL – 3 days in Petite Italie |
ItalfestMTL is back in Montreal’s Little Italy with several of its shows located on two stages on St-Laurent Boulevard, between Shamrock Avenue and St-Zotique Street. Music, art, gastronomy, fashion and Italian talent from here and the Bel Paese will be proudly celebrated!
On the stage at the corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and St. Zotique, singers Gianni Bodo and Manny Blu will perform on Friday evening starting at 8:00 pm. Also on Saturday evening, the public will be able to enjoy the singer Lili-Ann De Francesco and the comedian Joe Cacchione before attending the “Moda Sotto le Stelle“, the fashion show under the stars with Italian-Canadian designers and international brands. Finally, Rossini’s opera “The Barber of Seville“, performed by international singers and a maestro from Italy, will close the event on Sunday at 9 pm.
A second stage located at the corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and Mozart East will host various artists and musicians (Paul Cargnello in a DJ Set, Marco Sanelli, December Rose, Pino Gioia and Makenzie among others) from Friday 5 pm until 8 pm every day. On Sunday, August 14, do not miss the best dessert contest hosted by Joe Cacchione. Finally, the circus artist Elodie Sanna with the accordionist Giovanni Natale will present their acrobatic show throughout the weekend.
ItalFestMTL will also offer a look at Italian traditions through local regional associations, which will be on site. Many facets of Italian craftsmanship, gastronomy and history will be on display.
For more information, please check here.
| BLOCK PARTY IN HONOR OF MADONNA DELLA DIFESA/OUR LADY OF DEFENSE CHURCH/AUGUST 13 &14 On August 13 and 14, the public is invited to attend a large block party around the Our Lady of Defense Church. The celebrations in honour of Madonna della Difesa will begin on Saturday, August 13 with musical performances starting at 5:00 pm. On Sunday around noon, after the mass, a procession will take place in the streets of Petite Italie. Also in the late afternoon, concerts and food booths will be offered. |
| FOIRE DES VINS ET DES CIDRES DU QUÉBEC/AUGUST 13 The Jean-Talon Market will host the Foire des vins et cidres d’ici! on August 13 in partnership with the Conseil des vins du Québec. This event will be an opportunity for wine and cider lovers to discover vintages not available at the SAQ, ciders from our region, and stock up on good bottles. More information here. |
| ALWAYS CINEMA CINÉ-PARC DANTE: In the presence of Italian actor Mario Autore and concerts The ICFF Italian Contemporary Film Festival and the SDC Little Italy are co-organizing the Ciné-Parc Dante, in partnership with the Cinéma Beaubien and the borough of Rosemont Petite-Patrie. It is recommended to arrive early to guarantee a good seat and to have fun in Montreal’s gourmet neighbourhood! August 10 – Il silenzio grande ( The Great Silence) by Alessandro Gassman The film, set in Naples in 1965, is based on a play by the writer Maurizio De Giovanni. The cast of this great success in Italy includes, among others, Massimiliano Gallo, Margherita Buy and Marina Confalone. Il silenzio grande will be preceded at 8:30 p.m. by Alessia Bottone’s short film La Napoli di mio padre (My Father’s Naples), a biographical account enriched with numerous archival images. |
| August 17- I fratelli De Filippo by Sergio Rubini |
Naples will again be in the spotlight on August 17 with this enchanting feature film about the difficult childhood and adolescence of Eduardo, Peppino and Titina De Filippo.
The appointment at Parc Dante is set at 7 pm: As an opening, there will be a Neapolitan concert by Daniela Fiorentino and her band. A welcome will be given by the Consul General of Italy in Montreal, Mrs. Silvia Costantini. In addition, the film will be introduced by the actor Mario Autore, who plays the role of Eduardo in the film.
| August 24 – Ennio by Giuseppe Tornatore |
Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore’s documentary on the life of maestro Morricone will be introduced by Ben Charest (himself nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song – Les Triplettes de Belleville). This compelling film focuses on the creative process of one of the most brilliant composers in the history of world cinema
Ennio will be preceded by a concert by Enzo De Rosa and Daniela Fiorentino.
CINÉMA SOUS LES ÉTOILES – Monday, August 15 août at 8:15 pm/Parc Dante
Damascus Dream by Émilie Serri
A reinvented initiatory story, Damascus Dreams recounts the quest of Émilie, a filmmaker in search of an inaccessible country of origin. By intertwining the memory of her father, that of Syrian refugees and her own imagination, Émilie composes a country that lies somewhere between myth and reality, dream and nightmare, past and present.
A discussion with filmmaker Emilie Serri will follow the screening. Presented in collaboration with Réalisatrices équitables.
| AT CASA D’ITALIA TOO! WITH CINÉMA PUBLIC Throughout the month of August, screenings are organized with Cinéma Public at Casa d’Italia, located at 505 Jean-Talon Street East. https://cinemapublic.ca/cinema-en-salle/ |
| August 12 6 pm – Les oiseaux ivres – ticket half price 8:15 pm – Les passagers de la nuit August 13 6 pm – En route! August 20 5:30 pm – Les passagers de la nuit August 26 8:30 pm – Ste. Anne With filmmakers Rhayne Vermette and Benjamin Taylor August 27 3:30 pm – Mon père et sa mélancolie In presence of director Xiaodan He |
