SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Perugia International Film Festival will host its pre-launch event the first week of October and will officially launch its first annual Festival March 22nd to 25th 2012. The festival will be represented by PIFF executives at the Toronto International Film Festival as Stratus Media Group, Inc. hosts the Italian reception dinner.
The Perugia International Film Festival will present films that exemplify traditions of craftsmanship as well as aesthetic and technological innovation. An annual focus of the Festival will be to honor the work of the masters behind Costume Design and Production Design. In addition, the Festival intends to celebrate recent developments in film preservation and will showcase newly restored award-winning films. Moderated discussions and panels will present audiences with an opportunity for an immersive experience in all aspects of filmmaking.
"Perugia is the perfect location for an international film festival,” said Paul Feller, CEO of Stratus Media Group. “Having the University participating in the event and enabling international students to engage in the film industry is an exciting opportunity for SMDI.”
The PIFF Preview in Perugia October 1st and 2nd 2011 will show a number of screenings and discussions with accomplished international guests including world-renowned documentary filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, and internationally recognized filmmaker and photographer Bruce Weber. In addition, a key element will be the active involvement of the Umbria Jazz Festival, Italy's premier jazz and music festival.
“Perugia is not only one of the most breathtaking Italian hill towns with a history of artistic achievement and culinary tradition," remarked Festival Director Karen Arikian. "It is also the dynamic home of two internationally renowned universities and a number of significant festivals, which provide the platform for PIFF to grow significantly.”
Karen Arikian, Artistic Director of PIFF, is widely recognized as a significant contributor to the international film community. Arikian will continue to serve as Executive Director of the Hamptons International Film Festival, Perugia's international partner festival. She is also permanent consultant for the European Film Promotion (EFP) on its U.S. initiatives, and is a delegate for the Berlin International Film Festival and a member of its Competition Selection Committee. She will retain these roles and duties as she shapes the Perugia International Film Festival program with PIFF President, Emanuele Rossi.
PIFF aims to present groundbreaking films while also celebrating the art and craft of modern cinema juxtaposed with historical architecture, sculpture, and artistic beauty of the Renaissance era.