In Bologna, the Cinema Ritrovato festival celebrates its 40th anniversary

Forty years of history, hundreds of restored films and a passion for the big screen that continues to attract enthusiasts from all over the world. Bologna is preparing to host a celebratory edition of one of its most iconic cultural events: Il Cinema Ritrovato, which returns with its giant screen in Piazza Maggiore, from 20 to 29 June, to celebrate forty years of great emotions.

Over the course of these four decades, the festival, organised by the Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, has made our city an international hub for the restoration, conservation and promotion of the world’s cinematic heritage, thanks to meticulous work that has breathed new life into undisputed masterpieces of film history.

The anniversary will therefore be celebrated with exceptional events and over five hundred screenings taking place not only in Piazza Maggiore but also in other cinemas and open-air venues across the city. Founded in 1986, Il Cinema Ritrovato is now regarded as one of the world’s leading festivals dedicated to restored classics and attracts thousands of visitors to the city every year, as well as, of course, directors, actors, scholars and film enthusiasts.

The beating heart of the event remains, however, as always, the city’s main square, in front of the Basilica of San Petronio: here, every evening, thousands of people can enjoy free screenings under the stars, in an atmosphere that over the years has become one of the cultural symbols of the Italian summer. This year’s programme features numerous tributes to the great figures of cinema history, such as Luchino Visconti.

The director, an icon of Italian cinema and creator of masterpieces such as "The Leopard", "Rocco and His Brothers" and "Senso", will be the focus of one of the most eagerly awaited retrospectives of the entire festival. Joséphine Baker and Barbara Stanwyck, meanwhile, will be among the female stars to whom the festival will give particular prominence. Among the guests already announced, Carlo Verdone stands out; he will introduce the restored screening of "Bianco, rosso e Verdone", one of the most beloved films of his career and of Italian comedy. The 40th anniversary therefore represents much more than a simple celebration.

Further guests will be revealed in the coming days, but we can say with certainty that this anniversary confirms the festival’s unique ability to combine cultural exploration and public engagement, historical memory and contemporary relevance. Thus, in an era dominated by digital platforms, Bologna continues to highlight the unique value of the cinematic experience, which thrives on shared emotions that deserve to be cherished.

Ph: Whitey Schafer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons