London’s documentary cinema space Bertha DocHouse will host the 5th edition of the Cinecittà Italian Doc Season on 4–5 July 2026, presenting three acclaimed Italian documentaries in their UK premieres. The season is supported by the Italian Cultural Institute of London and celebrates contemporary Italian documentary filmmaking rooted in a century-long archival tradition.
The programme highlights the influence of Italy’s historic Istituto Luce archive, which has shaped documentary storytelling for decades and continues to inspire internationally recognised works.
Three UK Premieres explore Italian family life and legacy
This year’s selection focuses on the theme of the Italian family, approached through three distinct cinematic perspectives:
STORIES FOR SANDRO (Storie per Sandro)
Directed by Giacomo Boeri, this emotional documentary follows a son-filmmaker who attempts to preserve his father Sandro’s fading memories after an early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Using staged reconstructions, the film explores how cinema can become an archive of personal history. It premiered at Hot Docs.
I WANT HER DEAD (Il quieto vivere)
Directed by Gianluca Matarrese, this darkly comic and emotionally intense film portrays a fractured Southern Italian family trapped in a long-running feud. A surreal “family trial” staged by eccentric relatives becomes an attempt to restore order, blurring fiction and reality. The film premiered at Venice Film Festival and screened at IDFA and Thessaloniki.
ROBERTO ROSSELLINI, LIVING WITHOUT A SCRIPT (Roberto Rossellini, più di una vita)
This archive-driven documentary by Ilaria de Laurentiis, Raffaele Brunetti, and Andrea Paolo Massara revisits the creative and personal crisis of legendary filmmaker Roberto Rossellini. It traces his transformation from neorealist pioneer to documentary innovator, following his work in India after his separation from Ingrid Bergman. The film won the 2026 David di Donatello Award for Best Documentary.
The programme also includes Rossellini’s rare 1940 short FANTASIA SOTTOMARINA, offering audiences a glimpse into his early cinematic imagination.
Industry voices highlight Italian documentary strength
Manuela Cacciamani, CEO of Cinecittà, emphasized Italy’s global reputation in documentary filmmaking, crediting the Istituto Luce archive and Cinecittà’s creative legacy for shaping “a gold standard” in non-fiction storytelling.
Francesco Bongarrà of the Italian Cultural Institute of London highlighted the cultural importance of family in Italian society and the relevance of the selected films in offering diverse perspectives on this theme.
Bertha DocHouse director Jenny Horwell described the season as a celebration of Italian non-fiction cinema, bringing together stories of love, conflict, memory, and cultural identity.
Archive films from Istituto Luce
Each screening will be preceded by curated archival footage from Istituto Luce, including rare historical material such as A Train for Children in Miniature World, Milan: The Martinoli Family, and The Bergman-Rossellini Twins Are Born. These films are part of the UNESCO-recognised audiovisual heritage preserved by the archive.
A growing platform for Italian documentary cinema
Now in its fifth year, the Cinecittà Italian Doc Season continues to position London as a key international destination for Italian documentary film, showcasing works that have already earned recognition at major festivals including Venice, Hot Docs, IDFA, and Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.
The 2026 edition reinforces the event’s role in connecting UK audiences with contemporary Italian storytelling rooted in history, family, and cinematic innovation.
4 – 5 July, Bertha DocHouse, Curzon Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1AW