News
Four members earn scholarships to study in Perugia
Four SPSCA members recently learned they received scholarships to study Italian at the historic Universita per Stranieri in Perugia. Awardees for 2018 are: Jennifer Clancy, Danielle Hayden, Carolyn Law and Cynthia Musto.
Each awardee brings her own talents and interests to Perugia. One recipient is a baker who had studied Italian in Siena in the past. Another is a retired doctor and third-generation Italian who has traveled to other parts of Italy but has never been to Perugia.
The third scholarship recipient is studying Italian at Bellevue College currently and the fourth, a visual artist, is married to an Italian and excited to work on improving her own language skills.
Each recipient receives one month of tuition, plus a stipend to help defray costs, such as apartment rental or travel. Two of the scholarships are funded by long-time sister city supporters: the Hans Lehmann Scholar and the Caffe Umbria Scholar. Thank you to both of our scholarship sponsors for their support!
This year, the committee received more than 20 applications by the Oct. 31 deadline. The top eight were interviewed and our group of four selected. Congratulations to all of them!
Make your new year's resolution early and look into applying for a scholarship for 2019. Find out more here.
Winner of free trip to Perugia announced
If you were in the audience last week at the closing night of "Cinema Italian Style," you were in for a treat. One of our three raffle winners was in the audience and heard her name called. No, it was not the Grand Prize winner, nor the Second Place winner, but the winner of Third Place, who was as enthusiastic as can be.
The Grand Prize winner this year is Judi Y of West Seattle. Congratulations, Judi! She is the proud winner of free round-trip airfare for two to Rome, lodging for two for 7 nights in Perugia, transfers, and a wonderful new addition this year: a four-hour Taste Perugia tour.
Second Prize winner is Alex Y, who won a package of 10 Italian lessons from Percorso Italiano, Seattle's premiere language school. This generous donation is from board member Roberta Tauriello Torgerson. Grazie mille!
Third Prize went to Ann P, who took home a $160 gift certificate for Crown Limousine limos, town cars or other around-town transportation. Thank you, Crown Limo!
Our thanks to all of you who purchased raffle tickets this year. Your support allows us to continue offering scholarships, special events, lectures and other activities both here and in Perugia.
Gov. Jay Inslee visits Perugia
In early November, Gov. Jay Inslee visited Umbria, meeting with President Catiuscia Marini of the Umbria Region, Deputy Mayor Michele Fioroni of Perugia and a host of Italian aerospace business leaders. Inslee signed a memorandum of understanding with President Marini to strengthen collaboration on shared priorities such as aerospace, clean energy, climate change and trade. The photo below shows Inslee and his wife meeting with Deputy Mayor Fioroni.
Those of you who attended the opening of Piazza Perugia in October will remember Fioroni, who was one of the speakers on the official program that day. Following the piazza celebration, sister city board members arranged for Fioroni to meet with many business leaders in Seattle -- from Boeing to Microsoft.
Umbria is home to a robust aerospace cluster and more than 35 companies that are suppliers to Boeing, Mitsubishi and U.S. military aerospace contractors.The aerospace firm, Umbra Cuscinetti, an important Boeing supplier located in Everett, has been a long-standing supporter of the sister city partnership and provided significant support for Piazza Perugia.
Read more about the governor's visit.
Preview this year's Cinema Italian Style at free member event
Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association and Il Punto are co-sponsoring a special event for their members on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the SIFF Film Center in Seattle.
In "A Walk through the Films of Cinema Italian Style 2017," Angelo Acerbi, SIFF Italian film programmer, will preview the Italian films selected for this year. The 2017 festival screenings include a provocative list--from the WWII black comedy "At War for Love" to the classic "Umberto D.," Vittorio De Sica's neorealist masterpiece. Acerbi's presentation will include film clips and trailers from several of this year's 16 featured films.
Our presenter: Angelo Acerbi has been a SIFF programmer since 2009. He has been programming other festivals since 1993, including the Torino Film Festival, Palm Springs Film Festival and Torino LGBT Film Festival. In 2011 he began programming Cinema Italian Style! here in Seattle. Angelo also works as a film producer and production manager for film commissions. He's currently employed as a film journalist for Fred Film Radio, a British Web radio focused on cinema and festivals, and works as a media partner at the Venice and Berlin Festivals as well as others.
Don't delay! Theater size is strictly limited to 90 guests.
Bravissimo! Cinema Italian Style runs November 9-16
This year's festival runs from Nov. 9 to 16. All 16 films will be at the SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle. Find out the latest on films and show times here.
Several award winning films and film premieres will be screened, including "Emma," "Lucky" and "Let Yourself Go!" In addition, director Fabio Mollo ("There is a Light" in its North American premiere) and screenwriter Francesco Bruni ("Let Yourself Go!") will be on hand to introduce and talk about their films. More guests may be added; check the SIFF website.
Don't forget to buy your tickets for the opening and closing night parties which are always lively. It's a great opportunity to rub elbows with Italian cinema guests and the local Italian community. To further enhance your enjoyment of this year's festival, we've added a FREE pre-festival lecture with Italian film expert Angelo Acerbi on Nov. 7. See related post, above.
Members receive a $3 discount on general admission tickets (not valid for parties) with the promo code: ITALIAN17. Use the code online or at the box office.
On Nov. 16, we will hold the raffle drawing for the grand prize of a free one-week trip to Perugia for two. The second prize is a 10-week class with percorsoItaliano and third prize is a $160 Crown Limousine gift certificate for any type of transportation.You need not be present to win.
We will be selling raffle tickets in the theater lobby throughout the festival, until we run out. So pick up a few extra tickets and increase your odds of winning.