Kicking off with a screening of The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) at the Opening Night Gala, the festival will entertain audiences at Palace Barracks and Palace Centro cinemas until Sunday October 13. Having received much acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival, opening film The Great Beauty pays homage to Rome in an evocative tale starring Toni Servillo.

The Lavazza Italian Film Festival’s collection of powerful performances also includes Fellini’s Roma, About Face, A Five Star Life, A Perfect Family, Balancing Act, Cosimo and Nicole, Ever Blessed Day, Women Drive Me Crazy, The Human Cargo, as well as many other films set to hit Brisbane screens throughout October. The national festival will also be visiting Palace Byron Bay from October 11–20.