This year the events in the festival will last for two months. From the 17^th of May to the 25^th of July the festival is full of events dedicated to Italy and its best performance in areas such as cinema, music, theater, photography,

restoration and architecture, publishing for children, illustrative art, enogastronomy, fashion, economic development and foreign investment. All this goes under the slogan “Made in Italy”.

On the occasion of the festival H. E. Mr. Marco Konticheli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy in Bulgaria, said: "Here Italy is increasingly seen as a synonym for quality, technology and innovation, for "the good and beautiful." It is not surprising that last year we were the second most important trading partner of Bulgaria, the Italian community living here is growing, there is increase in tourist flows and in people who want to enroll in Italian language courses. The Italian Festival seeks to respond to this serious interest in Italy".

How? With a varied program. In the XIII Italian Festival a number of interesting events are included such as: a seminar on restoration and on the perspectives for collaboration between Italy and Bulgaria with the participation of universities and companies from the area of Veneto, Emilia Pomanya and Marke; an exhibition “Illustrations for Children: the Best from Italy”; La Dolce Vіta - Food & Wіne Event dedicated to the wonderful Italian cuisine, concerts, seminars with economic focus. All components of the "System in Italy" in Bulgaria have contributed to the event, but H. E. Mr. Marco Konticheli expressed special thanks to ICE agency for the coordination of the initiative.

The main emphasis in the program this year was the First Festival of Italian cinema in Bulgaria that ended on the 6th of June. Organized and promoted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the Cultural Association "Tiziano" in cooperation with the Italian Academy of Film Arts – the "David of Donatello" awards, the Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia, Sofia Municipality and the Bulgarian National Film Archive, it went under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and the Ministry of Tourism of Italy, the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria and the Italian Embassy in Sofia. 11 films nominated and awarded with the prestigious statuette "David of Donatello", were presented there, this year it was given for the 60^th time. The first festival of Italian cinema in Bulgaria gave the opportunity for the promotion of film industry of high-end, representing the best of the Italian cinema and the talent invested in it. In fact, Sofia and Rome are connected by the title "Creative City of cinema" awarded to them by UNESCO.