La Grazia, the latest film from director Paolo Sorrentino, will close the Haifa International Film Festival. Sorrentino is known for the aesthetic appeal of his films, such as The Great Beauty (2013), which won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, and the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film. La Grazia – which means “grace” in Italian and can also refer to a legal pardon, held its world premiere as the opening film of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
The film stars Toni Servillo, who won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in Venice for this role, as President of Italy Mariano De Santis (a fictional character). A widower for the past 8 years, De Santis lives with his daughter Dorotea (Anna Ferzetti) who looks after the health of her father. Having been a judge for most of his career, De Santis is currently in the final six months of his presidency. Yet just as he is looking towards retirement, he is confronted with several dilemmas. A devout Catholic, he is uncertain whether he should sign a bill legalizing euthanasia. Furthermore, he must decide whether to pardon two people who were convicted of murdering their partners.
The 41st edition of the Haifa International Film Festival will take place from October 5 – 14, 2025. The Haifa International Film Festival takes place with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports – Israeli Film Council, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Regional Cooperation, and the Haifa Municipality. The festival’s Artistic Director is Yaron Shamir, and it is produced by Ethos – The Haifa Municipality Art, Culture and Sports Association Company. The full program and ticket information will be available on the Haifa Film Festival website: https://www.haifaff.co.il/eng.
