Cinema Ritrovato

As a waning moon rose over the medieval cathedral, Gianluca Farinelli took to the stage in front of the giant screen welcoming the several thousand strong audience to another free screening in Bologna’s main square. Farinelli is the director of Cineteca di Bologna and the driving force behind Cinema Ritrovato – the yearly celebration of classic cinema that has taken place in the Italian city every summer for the last 37 years.

One thing is for certain: programmers at the Bologna Film Festival are equal opportunity film lovers. Cinema Ritrovato – the official name of this yearly celebration of cinema classics – is nothing if not eclectic.