River to River

23rd River to River Florence Indian Film Festival

12.30
pm–Opening of photography exhibition, My India/Megalopolis by Rocco Rorandelli
in partnership with Fondazione Studio Marangoni
Spazio Espositivo C.A. Ciampi, Consiglio Regionale della Toscana, Palazzo del Pegaso, Via dei Pucci 16, Firenze
The exhibition will be open from Monday to Friday, from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm, and from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm
Saturdays, from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm

8.30
pm–Opening ceremony for the 23rd River to River Florence Indian Film Festival
followed by
Ghoomer by R Balki, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 135’
Just one step away from her dream, a cricket player is involved in an accident. A gruff has‐been player – played by Abhishek Bachchan–helps her stand up
again. A gripping plot based on a true story.
Q&A with actor Abhishek Bachchan and director R Balki.

3.00 pm
Saree, Six Meters of Grace by Diego D’Innocenzo, v.o. Italian, English, Italy, 2023, 40’
A travel through time on the footsteps of the most widely worn female dress in the world, the sari.
Q&A with director Diego D’Innocenzo.

4.00 pm
Interview by Mrinal Sen, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 1971, 82’
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of movie master Mrinal Sen, the first of his two masterpieces: the main actor, Ranjit, must dress in Western
clothes for a work interview. It is a very simple request, but fate is against him…

6.00 pm
Cooking Show by chef Basheerkutty Mansoor from Nura
followed by
At 23000 feet by Kovid Mittal, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 79’
Without any experience at all, Kovid Mittal tries to climb a mount up the Himalayas, facing the fears and problems that crop up along the way.

6.00 pm – Small hall
Four More Shots Please! by Joyeeta Patpatia, season 3, ep. 1 and 2, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2022, 78’
Six months later, the four girls take control of their lives again, as they try to make their dreams come true.
Anjana does not understand Arya’s moods, Siddhi tries to support Sneha. During the Holi celebrations, the girls’ secrets are revealed.

8.30 pm
Footprints on Water by Nathalia Syam, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, UK, 2023, 106’
The intriguing story of Raghu and his family, illegal migrants in Great Britain, who have to face plenty of problems. What has the future in store for them? A
poignant film starring Adil Hussain, known for his performance in Life of Pi.
Q&A with actor Adil Hussain and director Nathalia Syam.

SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER

11.00 am
A conversation with content creator Veronica Giuffrè.
Cities of India and the world through Italo Calvino’s eyes

4.00 pm
Bhuvan Shome by Mrinal Sen, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 1969, 96’
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of movie master Mrinal Sen, the director’s second masterpiece. Set in the late Forties, the film tells the story
of Bhuvan Shome, an official whose view of life changes when he meets young Gauri.

6.00 pm
Call me dancer by Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmour, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, UK, Israel, USA, 2023, 83’
Manish does all he can to pursue his dream of becoming a professional dancer, facing insecurities and family constraints. A documentary on hope and
willpower to manage to achieve one’s goals.

6.00 pm – Small hall
Four More Shots Please! by Joyeeta Patpatia, season 3, ep. 3 and 4, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2022, 72’
The girls have learnt to handle the problems that life throws at them.
Umami’s gym is a success, Damini and Jeh fail to reach compromise when they move together, and Anjana mediates between Varun and Kavya.

8.30 pm
Gulmohar by Rahul Chittella, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 131’
What are traditions worth? An ensemble movie about a family and its members who are forced to leave their ancestral home. This changes all of them and
their relationships. A stellar cast, including Suraj Sharma, lead actor in Life of Pi.
Q&A with actor Suraj Sharma.

SUNDAY 10 DECEMBER

10.30 am
Monsoon Wedding by Mira Nair, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, USA, 2001, 114’
A “disturbed screening” for new parents and their babies. An initiative for parents who have just had a baby and have had to give up on going to the cinema,
so they “won’t disturb”. Just before monsoon season, preparations are in full swing in New Delhi for the arranged marriage of Aditi and Hemant. The characters’ lives get entwined in fairly complicated situations: will they manage to have their happy ending? Winner of a Gold Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2001, with a rippling
soundtrack and a stellar cast.

3.30 pm
SHORTS 1, 59’–Problems reaching compromises with the people we live with
Little Detective by Abhishek Singh, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, Hungary, 2023, 13’
A little girl finds a banknote with “help” written on it and, with the help of her parents, she investigates who it belongs to.
Splash by Kshitij Kumar Pandey, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 19’
A boy gets back in touch with a friend he had had a crush on years earlier and tries to give her a letter in which he confessed his feelings.
The List by Gaurav Dave, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 18’
A couple’s life is overwhelmed by a never‐ending list of everything, until something unexpected happens one day…
Slam Dunk, Sehaj! by Asis Sethi, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, Canada, 2022, 9’
A woman would like to pursue her passion but her husband is not so happy about that. She won’t give up on her dreams, though.
Q&A with Abhishek Singh, director of Little Detective.

5.00 pm
Life of Pi by Ang Lee, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, USA, 2012, 127’
Young Pi manages to save himself in a shipwreck as he is put on a lifeboat and tries to find away to survive. But on that little boat he is not alone: will he
manage to defend himself from his travel companions? Winner of 4 Academy Awards and 2 Golden Globes in 2013.
Q&a with actors Adil Hussain and Suraj Sharma.

6.00 pm – Small hall
Four More Shots Please! by Joyeeta Patpatia, season 3, ep. 5 and 6, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2022, 74’
Umang doesn’t know how to handle Samara’s fans who make her life impossible. Siddhi has a setback. Arya is happy to see her parents together again.
Anjana is suddenly reminded of her broken family. Will Damini realise that her relationship with Jeh is about to be over? Will Umang end up with a broken
heart?

8.00 pm
Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani by Karan Johar, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 166’
In this exciting Bollywood film, Rocky’s and Rani’s lives get entwined by chance. Two opposing personalities that are attracted to each other, despite the
obstacles set on them by their families. A film with a bubbling soundtrack and wonderful dancing, starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh.

MONDAY 11 DECEMBER

6.00 pm – Small hall
Four More Shots Please! by Joyeeta Patpatia, season 3, ep. 7 and 8, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2022, 78’
Will a big birthday party save the four girls from a storm? They are all having troubles with their relationships and try to solve the situation as best as they
can, but will it be enough? The girls celebrate Siddhi’s twenty‐fifth birthday. Will the broken hearts be healed or will they be shattered forever?

6.30 pm
SHORTS 2, 43’–Finding oneself and one’s story
Hinglish by Ashish Varma, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, Canada, 2022, 12’
The importance of speaking English.
Kathputli by Priyanshi Prakash Khatri, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 3’, animation
A short Rajasthani‐style animation in which a prince looks for her sweetheart.
Broken Mirror by Pinaki Sarkar, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2023, 11’
A tribute to silent films, in which a woman is troubled by her past.
American‐born, confused and half‐desi by Ronak Shah, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, USA, 2023, 17’
An American girl goes looking for her Indian roots, even if her father is not so happy about that.

8.30 pm
Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga by Srijit Mukherji, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2022, 121’
Based on a true story, a man tries to save his village from poverty by looking for a tiger that is hiding in the jungle.

TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER

5.30 pm
It’s time to rise up‐I am a rickshaw puller by KM Taj‐Biul Hasan, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, Bangladesh, 2021, 25’
In a deeply traditionalist and conservative society, Rahela Begum is the first woman rickshaw‐puller in Bangladesh. This single mother fights for women’s
rights and to pull down stereotypes. A motivational and buoyant documentary.

6.00 pm – Small hall
Four More Shots Please! by Joyeeta Patpatia, season3, ep. 9 and 10, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2022, 82’
The holidays are about to end and things have not been patched up yet. Umang must make sense of all his feelings, while Damini and Dhananjay turn out to
be an excellent team. In the last episodes, the girls try to solve their problems. Will the new year bring new hopes? What adventures are in store for the four girls?

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6.30 pm
Fatima by Sourabh Kanti Dutta, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, India, 2022, 59’
Fatima is a brave woman and an activist who has had the strength to rebel and who fights sex trafficking in her community. A story of problems but also a
story about the hope of creating a better world for us and for those who will come after us.
Q&A with producer Peter Kirby.

8.30 pm–Closing ceremony
Followed by
Goldfish by Pushan Kripalani, v.o. Italian subtitles, English, UK, 2022, 102’
After having been apart for over ten years, a mother and her daughter meet again. The two women face their personal challenges and problems together. A
poignant story that deals with an important subject with subtle irony, starring Deepti Naval and Kalki Koechlin.
Q&A with producer Pooja Chauhan.