For 16 years, Open Roads has proudly offered North American audiences the most diverse and extensive lineup of contemporary Italian film available. The 2016 edition strikes a satisfying balance between emerging talents and esteemed veterans, including feature debuts by Carlo Lavagna (Arianna) and Adriano Valerio (Banat); the latest from Gianni Zanasi (The Complexity of Happiness), documentary filmmaker Gianfranco Pannone (The World’s Smallest Army), and Vincenzo Marra (First Light); and the final work from the late cult director Claudio Caligari (Don’t Be Bad, Italy’s submission for the 2015 Best Foreign Language Oscar). This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Ettore Scola’s brilliant Ugly, Dirty and Bad, which will return to the screen in a beautiful new digital restoration. As always, the series includes both commercial and independent fare, ranging from a vĂ©ritĂ© documentary to a superhero movie, outrageous comedies to gripping dramas. Experience the best of today’s Italian cinema, with in-person appearances by many of the filmmakers.

Open Roads: New Italian Cinema is co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Istituto Luce Cinecittà. Organized by Dennis Lim and Dan Sullivan, Film Society; and by Carla Cattani, Griselda Guerrasio, and Monique Catalino, Istituto Luce Cinecittà.

Special thanks to the Italian Trade Commission; Italian Cultural Institute New York; Casa Italiana Zerilli MarimĂČ—NYU; Antonio Monda.