Welcome, Benvenuti to the 2011 Alfa Romeo Italian Film festival

The Italian Film festival is very pleased to welcome Alfa Romeo as the naming rights partner. The festival is proud to have such an iconic Italian brand associated with the event.

The Alfa Romeo Italian Film festival continues to expand. In 2010 the festival grew to two and a half weeks in Auckland. In 2011 this continues and we are proud to announce the festival expands to two and a half weeks in Wellington and remains screening in five other major cities. Obviously this is a challenging time for Christchurch, but the festival organisation is totally committed to screening the festival in that city in some form. We will be there whatever it takes.

The Alfa Romeo Italian Film festival has developed into the most successful cultural film festival on the national entertainment calendar and continues as the second largest film festival in the country. Last year the feedback from you, the audience, was as enthusiastic in your praise as ever before. So we describe this year's event as exciting, rewarding, and a challenge we're thrilled to take on.

We are also pleased to welcome visitors to New Zealand here for the Rugby World Cup. This major sporting event is an opportunity to showcase our country's assets, environmental and cultural, and there's certainly a rich diversity of both. And if rugby is not your thing, whether you are a visitor or not, or you just want to take a break, then this festival may be just what you're looking for.

People regularly ask me which films I recommend they watch. My advice is to simply pick a time when you can indulge yourself with around two hours of great entertainment, and go and see the film that is screening then. I am certain you will not be disappointed. Viva il cinema italiano!

Cav. Tony Lambert
Director