Dual Lens: Italy and Canada Meet in Venice. Expanding Co-production Pathways

The ICFF Dual Lens Conference panel explores the growing collaboration between Italy and Canada in film and television, with a focus on co-productions, emerging creative partnerships, and innovative distribution models. This year’s discussion highlights Toronto’s role as a global production hub, exemplified by major blockbusters filmed in the city—starting with Frankenstein (2025) premiering at the Venice Film Festival—and examines the evolving landscape of international storytelling through cross-cultural cooperation with Italy and other countries.

PART I — Creating in Toronto: From Location to Innovation
Exploring Toronto’s strength as both a location and global production hub, especially in post-production and VFX.

PART II — Beyond the Shoot: Distribution, Co-Productions & International Pathways
Focusing on theatrical distribution in Canada and opportunities for Italy–Canada co-productions.

MODERATORS:

Cristiano de Florentiis (Co-Founder and Artistic Director, ICFF)

Paul Golini (Chair of the Board, ICFF)

SPEAKERS:

Miles Dale (Producer, Demilo Films)

Dennis Berardi (Founder and Special Effects Specialist, Herne Hill)

Alfredo Romano (Producer, ETV) 

Isabella Cocuzza and Arturo Paglia (Producers, PACO Cinematografica)

Attilio de Razza (Producer, Familia)

Viktoria Blank and Emanuele Del Fio (AI Artists, AiRTIFICIAL Visions ICFF )

HOSTED BY ICFF 

ICFF:

The ICFF is one of the most celebrated cultural institutions in Canada, showcasing the best of contemporary Italian and international cinema through an inclusive, diverse, and dynamic lens. The ICFF hosts its flagship summer festival, the Lavazza IncluCity Festival, transforming Toronto’s Distillery Historic District into an open-air cinema village that blends film, culture, food, and community. In 2025, the festival wrapped its edition with over 61,000 attendees and closed with a prestigious gala honouring Susan Sarandon, recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Throughout the year, ICFF continues to promote cross-cultural dialogue and cinematic excellence with a variety of programs, including ICFF Youth (an educational initiative dedicated to students age 8-18), ICFF Archittura & Design (which in 2025 hosted renowned architect Mario Cucinella), regional screenings across Canada, industry-focused panels with a string emphasis on networking, and international collaborations such as its presence at the Venice International Film Festival. With a mission to build bridges between North America and Italy through cinema and culture, ICFF champions stories that inspire, challenge, and connect global communities.