Italian Film Festival director Ronaldo Patrizio-Steiner didn't want to host a boring fundraiser.
"(Albuquerque nonprofits) all pretty much do the same thing," Patrizio-Steiner said. "They have a golf tournament or a run or a dinner with a silent auction. And I said, 'Don't do those things, because everyone else is doing them - let's do something different.'"
Patrizio-Steiner started the Italian Film Festival last year. All profits from the festival benefit UNM Children's Hospital.
The festival has a broad scope, featuring classic films like "The Bicycle Thief" and "The Godfather: Part II," along with newer works such as "Nuovomondo," presented by Martin Scorsese.
The films will play through Feb. 17 at the Lobo and Kimo theaters, as well as the Guild Cinema.
"There's a wealth of great films and great directors, and their influence on filmmaking and the world has had great impact," Patrizio-Steiner said.
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The festival features movies that are made by or centered around Italians.
"'The Godfather' is not Italian, but it's a film about Italians," Patrizio-Steiner said.
"Johnny Stecchino," a film in the festival, is a hilarious comedy he said.
"That's one that's not a brand-new movie," he said. "It's about 10 years old, but since it's Italian, it doesn't play in Albuquerque, so not very many people have seen it. That's with Roberto Benigni. You know, the guy who played in 'Life is Beautiful.' He won an Academy Award for that."
Patrizio-Steiner said college students will enjoy watching the film "Ma Quando Arrivano le Ragazze?"
"It's young people, very attractive young people - musicians. It's upbeat. It's funny," he said. "It's got a lot of different elements to it that are really appealing. This has won awards at film festivals, and it's a premiere movie for the United States, basically. That's one I think is really fun."
The festival will kick off Sunday with a live performance of music from the films by the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a film yet to be announced. Afterward, moviegoers can go to the Embassy Suites Hotel for the Pranzodegli Spuntini, a food and wine festival.
"Our entire orchestra is so excited about playing Italian movie music for this special occasion," orchestra director David Felberg said. "This is a bit different from our usual fare but an opportunity that we really look forward to. Playing for the benefit of the UNM Children's Hospital makes it even more special."
Events like the film festival are essential for the nonprofit hospital, which provides more than $150 million in charity care, said Denise Codding, development assistant at the hospital.
"The events that we do raise money to purchase the equipment that we can't buy because of the charity care that we give away," she said.
The festival generated $25,000 last year.
"This year, we have more films, dinner events and concerts," Codding said. "It'll be a great thing for Albuquerque, to have that kind of an event that benefits charity."
The festival ends with a six-hour film at the Guild Cinema, broken up by an intermezzo dinner at Scalo across the street. The film, "The Best of Youth," has won many awards, as well as critical acclaim. Patrizio-Steiner said viewers will stay engaged despite the length.
The intermezzo dinner will include food from areas in the movie.
The festival also has many media sponsors, including the classical radio station KHFM.
Afternoon host Bob Bishop is enthusiastic about his station's support.
"We love the event, and we certainly want to help the Children's Hospital in any way that we can," he said.
New Mexico Italian Film Festival
Through Feb. 17
