by InTrieste
The summer film series CinemaNordEst returns to the Giardino del Cinema this June, offering five evenings of screenings that explore stories, landscapes and communities across northeastern Italy and the wider cross-border region.
Running from June 10 to 14 as part of the city’s Trieste Estate 2026 cultural program, the event will take place in the outdoor arena of the Public Garden “Muzio de’ Tommasini.” Organized by the Casa del Cinema Association of Trieste, the series will present films shot, produced or set in the area historically known as the Three Venices, as well as neighboring territories. All screenings begin at 9 p.m. and admission is free, subject to available seating.
The program opens on June 10 with Napoli-New York (2024), directed by Gabriele Salvatores and starring Pierfrancesco Favino. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the film follows two Neapolitan children who secretly board a ship bound for New York in search of a better life. The production was filmed in Naples, Trieste, Rome’s Cinecittà studios and the Croatian city of Rijeka.
On June 11, the festival will screen Esprimi un desiderio (“Make a Wish”), directed by Volfango De Biasi. The comedy stars Diego Abatantuono and Max Angioni and centers on an unlikely friendship that develops between a young man assigned community service and a group of residents in a retirement home. The screening is presented in collaboration with the Goffredo de Banfield Foundation and was filmed in both Friuli Venezia Giulia and Puglia.
The following evening features Ultimo schiaffo (“The Last Slap”), a 2025 Italian-Slovenian co-production directed by Matteo Oleotto. Set during a harsh winter, the film tells the story of two siblings navigating life in a remote mountain village. The project marks Oleotto’s return to the rural settings and eccentric characters that characterized his earlier work, including Zoran, My Nephew the Idiot.
On June 13, the focus shifts to short-form storytelling with Corti senza confine (“Short Films Without Borders”), a collection of eight films created for GO! 2025, the joint European Capital of Culture initiative of Nova Gorica and Gorizia. Each short film examines the concept of the border as a place of encounter and transformation, with the Transalpina Square serving as a recurring symbol of connection between the two cities. The evening is organized in collaboration with the Circolo della Cultura e delle Arti of Trieste.
The festival concludes on June 14 with Pane e tulipani (“Bread and Tulips”), the acclaimed 2000 romantic comedy by Silvio Soldini. Starring Licia Maglietta and Bruno Ganz, the film follows an unexpected relationship that develops in Venice after a housewife is accidentally left behind during a family vacation. Widely regarded as one of the most successful Italian films of its era, it won nine David di Donatello awards, including Best Film.
Admission to all screenings is free until capacity is reached.
