The Italian Institute of Culture in Dublin opened the fifth edition of the Italian Film Festival Ireland 2026 with a clear statement of intent, bringing contemporary Italian cinema to audiences in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. The opening night at the Light House Cinema in Dublin featured Chiara by Susanna Nicchiarelli, followed by a Q&A with actress Carlotta Natoli.
Organised in collaboration with N.I.C.E., the festival continues to grow year after year and confirms the rising interest in Italian cinema across Ireland. More than a film programme, it has become a cultural meeting point between the two countries, with the Institute playing a central role in building that connection.
It was a pleasure to meet Carlotta, one of the most respected and accomplished figures in Italian acting. Throughout her career she has moved with ease between cinema, theatre and television, always maintaining a distinctive style based on restraint, depth and credibility. She is an actress who gives strength to her characters without excess, often working through nuance and silence rather than overt display.
During the exclusive interview with Pinocchio Magazine, Carlotta also revealed a warm and spontaneous side of her personality. She was generous with her time, open in conversation and happy to share memories from different stages of her career. Among the stories she told us were little known details from her early years as an actress and reflections on an important international experience abroad that remained especially meaningful to her. It was a reminder that behind a long and successful career there is also a personal journey made of curiosity, courage and unexpected moments.
Chiara tells the story of Chiara of Assisi, who in 1211 chose to step away from family expectations and social limits in order to follow an independent path. The film approaches the saint not as a distant icon, but as a young woman determined to choose her own future in a time when women were given little freedom. That perspective gives the story a strong contemporary relevance.
Susanna Nicchiarelli directs the film with a clear and accessible style, avoiding the heavy solemnity often associated with historical drama. The result is a living narrative centred on emotion, inner conflict and the power of human relationships. Chiara speaks about faith, but also about independence, courage and personal identity.
The choice of Chiara as opening film also connects with the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, an anniversary highlighted by the festival organisers this year.
Special credit goes to the Italian Institute of Culture in Dublin and Director Michela Magrì for their continued commitment to promoting Italian culture in Ireland through events that create real encounters between artists and audiences.
Chiara is a film about courage, self determination and a woman’s right to choose her own future. Its strength lies in showing that struggles for freedom and dignity do not belong only to the past, but remain alive in every generation. In that sense, the film is not only about a historical figure, but also about the present.
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