Italian Cinema Week: Karachi Pays Tribute to Legendary Filmmaker Ettore Scola

KARACHI: Italian Cinema Week returned to Karachi with the ninth edition of Fare Cinema 2026, organised by the Consulate of Italy in Karachi in collaboration with Nueplex Cinema.

The annual initiative, promoted by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, celebrates Italian cinema around the world and highlights the contributions of filmmakers and professionals across the industry, including directors, screenwriters, actors, set designers and technicians.

This year’s programme paid tribute to legendary Italian filmmaker and screenwriter Ettore Scola through screenings of two of his acclaimed films, La Famiglia (1987) and La Cena (1998).

The screenings gave Karachi audiences an opportunity to experience Scola’s distinctive storytelling and his exploration of family, relationships and society.

Welcoming the guests, Consul of Italy in Karachi Fabrizio Bielli thanked Nueplex Cinema for serving as the venue partner and for its continued support in promoting Italian cinema in Karachi.

Born on May 10, 1931, in Trevico, Italy, Scola became one of the most influential Italian directors and screenwriters of the 20th century. During a career spanning more than five decades, he explored Italy’s historical, political and social changes through wit, sensitivity and humanism.

Scola began his career at the age of 15 as a ghostwriter and illustrator for the satirical magazine Marc’Aurelio. He later co-wrote several notable films, including Dino Risi’s Il Sorpasso (1962), before making his directorial debut in 1964 with Se permettete parliamo di donne.

Scola died in Rome in 2016 at the age of 84, leaving a lasting legacy in Italian and international cinema.

The two films selected for the Karachi programme demonstrate Scola’s ability to explore universal human experiences through familiar everyday settings. La Famiglia examines changing family dynamics across generations within a home, while La Cena explores human relationships and social interaction around a restaurant setting.

Together, the films show how ordinary places can become settings for important moments in people’s lives.

Consul Bielli said the themes in Scola’s films resonate with audiences in both Italy and Pakistan. He highlighted the importance of family, homes, shared meals and gatherings with loved ones, noting that these values hold a strong place in both cultures.

The Consulate of Italy said the screenings aimed to highlight the cultural similarities between Italy and Pakistan while promoting cinema as a bridge between people, traditions and societies.

The event brought together selected guests, film enthusiasts and members of Karachi’s business and cultural communities, who attended the screenings to celebrate Scola’s enduring contribution to world cinema.