Ozpetek and Virzi at the Chicago International Film Fest

(AGI) Chicago (Illinois), Oct 24 - Italian film-makers haveshown up in force at the Chicago International Film Festival,which has launched its 50th edition. "Allacciate le Cinture"(Fasten Your Seatbelts) by Turkish-born naturalised Italiandirector Ferzan Ozpetek and "Human Capital "by Paolo Virzi wereamong the Italian films on show, together with Tir by AlbertoFasulo and Eppideis (Seven Little Killers) by Matteo Andreolli.Two Italian co-prodcutions (Foreign Body by Krzysztof Zanussiand Two Days, One Night by the Dardenne brothers) were alsoshowcased, together with five short films by Italian directorsor Italian co-productions (The Divide by Ashley Monti, HumanVoice by Edoardo Ponti, Portrait by Milkyeyes, The Immaculatesby Ronnie Trocker and Gian Luigi Rondi: Life,Cinema, Passion byGiorgio Trevis.) The Festival is known also for its many sideevents, such as that organised by the Italian Culture Instituteof Chicago to celebrate the four Italian directors attendingthe Festival: Ozpetek, Virzi, Andreolli and Fasulo. A screeningand discussion with Ozpetek was hosted by Chicago University.The Italian Consul General hosted a reception to honour bothOzpetek and the founder and chairman of the festival, MichaelKutza, of Italian origin on his mother's side. Italy'sConsulate General, The Foreign Trade Institute in Chicago, andCinecitta Luce have joined forces to make the presence ofItalian cinema a success. (AGI) . .