22nd Milano Film Festival to Showcase Independent Cinema from Sept 28 to Oct 8

The 22nd edition of the Milano Film Festival will take place from September 28 to October 8, 2017, in Milan, Italy, transforming the city into a hub for independent cinema. The festival's core will be the creative district of Tortona, with BASE Milano, Mudec, and Cinema Ducale hosting a packed schedule of films, music, and art events. The full program will be announced on September 26, but previews include a competition of eight first and second feature films premiering in Italy, directed by filmmakers from around the world. Notable jury members include director Abel Ferrara and film critic Rinaldo Censi. Ferrara, known for his anti-conventional style, recently directed 'Piazza Vittorio' about Rome's Esquilino district. Censi curated the retrospective at the last Locarno Festival. Out-of-competition highlights include 'England Is Mine' by Mark Gill, starring Jack Lowden as a young Steven Patrick Morrissey; 'Manifesto' by Julian Rosefeldt, featuring Cate Blanchett in 13 roles; and 'Columbus' by Kogonada, an Italian premiere. Also screening is '20th Century Women' by Mike Mills, starring Annette Bening. The festival also features music and visual arts documentaries: 'Cassette' traces the history of punk and rap via the audiocassette; 'Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present' profiles the minimalist musician and filmmaker; 'Fame' documents a street art festival; and 'Girl Power' is a Czech documentary on female graffiti artists.