Over the past six decades, Italian cinema has been a celebrated mainstay of the Chicago International Film Festival. With this year’s selection, we harken back to the best of the country’s filmmaking traditions while showcasing vibrant new work. Having screened films from such venerable auteurs as Marco Bellocchio, Alice Rohrwacher, Matteo Garrone, Nanni Moretti, Federico Fellini, Ettore Scola, Lina Wertmuller, and Luchino Visconti, we proudly spotlight contemporary Italian filmmakers Uberto Pasolini, Valeria Golino, Maura Delpero, Francesca Comencini, and directing duo Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza. Many of this year’s films, intriguingly, are exploring ideas about history and legacy, creating a poignant dialogue between past and present and underlining the enduring power of Italy’s cinematic artistry.