London’s Bertha DocHouse will host the fifth edition of the Cinecittà Italian Doc Season from 4 to 5 July 2026. Supported by the Italian Cultural Institute of London, this year’s curated lineup features three acclaimed documentaries that offer a thought-provoking exploration of the different facets and complex veracities of the Italian family. Having previously garnered praise at major international film festivals, all three titles are scheduled to make their UK premieres during the weekend.
The festival opens on Saturday, 4 July, with the UK premiere of Stories for Sandro (Storie per Sandro). Directed by Giacomo Boeri, the moving father-son narrative chronicles a filmmaker's urgent mission to preserve the memories of his father, who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, by restaging significant moments of his life inside a theater. The screening will feature specialized access provisions, including extra signage, a quiet breakout space, and a flexible entry policy.
Later that evening, the festival presents I Want Her Dead (Il quieto vivere) by director Gianluca Matarrese. Following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, this darkly comic and emotionally charged documentary examines a bitter feud consuming a southern Italian household, culminating in a surreal family "trial" staged by three eccentric aunts.
The season concludes on Sunday, 5 July, with Roberto Rossellini, Living Without a Script (Roberto Rossellini, più di una vita). Constructed entirely from archival footage and interviews, the film tracks the legendary auteur's mid-career creative rebirth following personal and artistic crises in 1956. The title arrives in London having recently won the 2026 David di Donatello Award for Best Documentary. Audiences will also have a rare opportunity to view Rossellini's debut 1940 documentary short, Fantasia Sottomarina.
In celebration of a century-long legacy of documentary excellence, each screening will be preceded by a short package of rare footage from the historic Istituto Luce archives, a collection registered in the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. Screenings will take place at the Bertha DocHouse screen within the Curzon Bloomsbury, with directors participating in live post-screening Q&A sessions.
