Italian Language Week Celebrations in New York

The third week of October marks the seventeenth “Week of Italian language in the world” (La settimana della Lingua italiana nel mondo), a cultural event central to the promotion of the Italian language abroad.

 "Italian is becoming increasingly known abroad as a language capable of transmitting the values of beauty and quality that constitute the cornerstones of a lifestyle appreciated worldwide," said Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. "With the Week of Italian Language we celebrate the bond that exists between our language and the Country's great creative and economic points of excellence." 

Every year the diplomatic and cultural network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy chooses a theme for this initiative and this year’s theme is “L’italiano al cinema, l’italiano nel cinema” (Italian at the cinema, Italian in cinema). Thus, this week is an homage to the role that cinema has played in the development of the society.

The Italian Embassies, Consulates and Italian Cultural Institutes offer an extensive program of initiatives in many cities throughout the USA, involving conferences, exhibitions and events featuring the major players of Italian culture.

In New York City, the week kicks off with internationally renowned Italian director and actor Nanni Moretti, who is appearing at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, together with Giuseppe Antonelli, university professor and anchorman of the radio show 'La lingua batte', to discuss the importance of linguistic choices in his movies.  

Additionally, Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini is visiting New York for the occasion, and is taking part in a series of events that focus on Italy’s role in international culture.

On Wednesday October 18th, Minister Franceschini is attending the opening press conference of the second edition of “Italy On Screen Today,”at the Italian Consulate in New York, an Italian film festival that lasts until October 22nd.

On Thursday October 19th, Minister Franceschini, along with David Freedberg, Pierre Matisse Professor of the History of Art, & Director of the Italian Academy at Columbia University and Dario Disegni, President of the National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah, are partaking in the lecture “Italy at the Forefront: Innovation versus Constraints,” discussing Italy’s leading role in cultural conservation, his initiatives in this domain and the newly-created Museum of Italian Judaism, opening in Ferrara on December 13. 

On the same day, Minister Franceschini is also participating in a presentation together with Honorable Stefano Dambruoso and Hon. Michela Di Biase, at Stone Brook University’s Center for Italian Studies, followed by a reception that provides an additional opportunity to interact with these Government officials. Italian Ambassador Varricchio, Consul General Francesco Genuardi and US Attorney for Eastern District of New York Bridget M. Rhode are attending as well.