Il Cinema Ritrovato and the 2025 edition of Sotto le Stelle del Cinema

Citizens and tourists know by now: June, in Bologna, rhymes with cinema. Just a few steps from Galleria Cavour, in fact, in the unique and majestic setting of Piazza Maggiore, the maxi screen of the city’s Cinema Ritrovato, now in its 39th edition, and “Sotto le Stelle del Cinema” are back.

The 2025 programme is particularly rich and is preparing to transform our capital into an open-air stage with screenings and events not only in the main square, but also in other neighbouring theatres such as the Arena Puccini, BarcArena, the Lumière and the Cinema Modernissimo. The Festival del Cinema Ritrovato, with renewed success, aims to bring restored films that have marked the history of world filmography back to the big screen.

This year’s programme promises to be extraordinarily rich with no less than 454 films in just 9 days. Among the protagonists and appointments worth mentioning are the retrospectives on Katharine Hepburn, the Hollywood icon and the only actress to have won the Oscar statuette four times, and the tribute to Luigi Comenicini, the creator of illustrious masterpieces such as “The Adventures of Pinocchio”. There will be, as usual, great guests from all over the world.

Some names? Terry Gilliam, Bob Wilson and Brady Corbet. After this fascinating journey through the history of cinema, from 21 to 29 June, there will follow, until 14 August, the free evenings dedicated to Sotto le Stelle del Cinema (Under the Stars of Cinema), which will bring screenings of some of the films most loved by the general public to the piazza. On the bill are iconic titles such as “A History of Violence“, “The Zone of Interest” and “Brazil“. We would like to point out that during the inauguration, which will take place on 16 June 2025, Camst will donate a symbolic contribution for each spectator attending Cucine Popolari – Bologna Social Food, in what is intended to be a valuable local solidarity initiative. Finally, we remind you that both film festivals are part of Bologna Estate 2025, the programme of activities promoted by the Municipality of Bologna and the Metropolitan City. The summer season is therefore ready to get into full swing and we look forward to being amazed and enchanted once again.

Ph: Unknown author Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio publicity photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons