A new type of film festival will be launched at the end of July when families, celebrities, officials and film aficionados gather at Fiuggi in Italy for the first edition of the International Festival of Cinema. The week-long family-friendly festival will see the Italian premiere of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and will feature a competition for good movies that are not readily available at the box office. Among the latter this year is Bella, the Public Prize winner at Toronto last year.

As participants relax among the attractions of the popular holiday spot, they can also choose from a menu of entertaining films suitable for all the family -- hits such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Harry Potter. Also on offer are sessions in which leading figures will speak on topics related to the family, the arts and communication. A “family passport” allows any size family to watch all the films and attend all the activities for only 45 euros.

Backed by Italy’s Forum of Family Associations, the Fiuggi Family Festival aims to become an international point of reference for the family and the cinematic world. ~ InterMedia Consulting, June 6