A young political activist and aspiring documentarian is confronted by the realities of armed conflict in this intense autobiographical film. Though against the Iraq war, 28-year-old Aureliano agrees to serve as assistant director for a documentary about Italy’s role in the country. Upon arriving, the most pressing need seems to be finding a place to smoke, but when a tour through a nearby town results in bloodshed and loss, the young cameraman must confront his own culpability in the war machine. Taken from the director’s personal experiences and filmed with palpable energy, 20 Cigarettes is powerful and impassioned filmmaking.

Preceded on November 15 by Vodka Tonic (Ivano Fachin, 9 min, 2011). A Manhattan businessman who sells dreams reflects on past loves and his present predicament.


Venti sigarette, Italy 2010, 94 min. Written by Gianni Romoli, Francesco Trento, Volfango de Biasi, Aureliano Amadei. Photographed by Vittorio Omodei Zorini. With Vinicio Marchioni, Carolina Crescentini, Giorgio Colangeli, Orsetta de Rossi. Intramovies.