(May 15) Their first encounter dates back to 1983. Eight years later - in 1991, in a convent in Cesena - they would become husband and wife. In 32 years, they have become one of the most envied couples in the world of entertainment and among the most beloved in Italy. From the set of "You upset me" - where they met - to "The Tiger and the Snow" and "Pinocchio", and the unforgettable "Life is Beautiful," actress Nicoletta Braschi has featured in virtually all films directed by her husband, Roberto Benigni. The two artists are now featured in Canada, where the exceptional nature of their union - in life and movies - will be at the center of an extraordinary film retrospective organized by the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). "A beautiful life" is the title of the special initiative held at the prestigious cinema TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. Six whole days - June 4-9 - to honor the couple with screenings, debates and conversations. The two actors will introduce some of their biggest successes: "Life is Beautiful" (winner of three Academy Awards and the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival), "Johnny Stecchino", "La voce della luna" by Federico Fellini, and "Mobbing - I like to work "by Francesca Comencini, just to name a few. Benigni and Braschi will talk about their lives, the creative process behind their films and their memorable collaborations, with Jim Jarmusch in Down by Law. "We are honored to welcome Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi at Tiff to celebrate their extraordinary collaboration" announced Jesse Wente, programming director of the TIFF Bell Lightbox. "Their films have inspired audiences around the world and we are excited to offer film lovers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and impact of their work on the big screen with both present in the room." "This exceptional pair - points out Cristiano de Florentiis, artistic director of the ICFF - has made magnificent film, all an extremely important part of modern Italian cinema. We are happy to present the initiative together with Tiff. This beautiful retrospective reflects Italian culture seizing tragic, comic and narrative aspects in a way that is both touching and extraordinary." (PO / Gil)

THE TRIBUTE TO ITALIAN CINEMA

The TIFF - Toronto International Film Festival- will continue to pay tribute to Italian cinema for the rest of the season with "Summer in Italy": a special retrospective dedicated to the great Italian classic, which will include restored versions of the most important films by Luchino Visconti, Federico Fellini and Roberto Rossellini. The extraordinary event will be followed by "More Than Life Itself: Redescovering the Films of Vittorio De Sica", the first Toronto retrospective devoted to the great director in the last 20 years. The Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) is entirely dedicated to Italian cinema. It now enters its fourth edition with special events June 11-19 in six Canadian cities: Toronto, Vaughan, Hamilton, Mississauga, Montreal and Quebec City. Nine days will pay homage to contemporary Italian cinema with directors from around the world, and it will be an occasion to discover the richness of Italian culture and experience the influence of Italian cinema and culture. ICFF is supported by as leading sponsors: The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Castlepoint, Gfl. Partners are: Tiff, Cineplex, Cinematheque Quebecoise, Guzzo Cinema, Cinema Cartier, the Italian Embassy, Consulate of Italy (Toronto and Montreal), the 'Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Trade Commission, and the Association L'Altra Italia.