Diego Abatantuono takes center stage tonight as the guest of honor at the second edition of the UFF Underground Film Festival in Lucignano. Running from October 29 to October 31 at the Teatro Rosini, the festival honors Abatantuono with the Mauro Di Francesco award during a packed evening of screenings and cultural events.
The Bottom Line
- Diego Abatantuono receives the Mauro Di Francesco award at the Teatro Rosini in Lucignano tonight.
- The honor memorializes the late actor Mauro Di Francesco, who held deep personal ties to Lucignano before passing away in October of last year.
- Following the award ceremony, the festival will screen Carlo Vanzina’s 1981 film I fichissimi.
Celebrating a Comedy Legend at Teatro Rosini
The festival’s central tribute takes place tonight at 21:00, bringing a protagonist of Italian cinema to the Teatro Rosini stage. The Mauro Di Francesco award recognizes an artist who has offered a significant contribution to the world of comedy. Named in memory of the actor and colleague who passed away last October, the prize anchors the festival’s mission in honoring both living legends and personal histories tied directly to Lucignano.
Juri Sicuranza emphasized the profound community pride surrounding the event. “Welcoming a protagonist of Italian cinema like Diego Abatantuono to Lucignano is a source of great satisfaction for our entire community,” Sicuranza noted, praising the festival for balancing high-profile guests with spaces for emerging authors and experimental works.
Expanding Horizons in Tuscan Independent Cinema
While tonight belongs to Abatantuono and the 1981 Vanzina film I fichissimi, the wider three-day festival pushes well beyond nostalgic retrospectives. Guided by artistic directors Jacopo Bucciantini, a director of photography, and Simone Grazzi, a director, the event positions itself as an anti-festival designed to break away from traditional competitive rigidity.
| Festival Date | Key Event | Featured Work or Guest |
|---|---|---|
| October 29 | Opening Night & Surreal Night | Matteo Berruto and Giorgio Canali (Con la pioggia dentro) |
| October 30 | Tribute & Screening | Diego Abatantuono (Mauro Di Francesco Award) and I fichissimi |
| October 31 | Closing Day & Comedy Tim | Independent and experimental short film showcases |
Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Culture and Tourism Stefano Cresti highlighted that the growing event successfully pairs the rich memory of classic Italian comedy with contemporary audiovisual research. Over 300 works were submitted across the festival’s diverse sections this year, proving that the borgo has rapidly evolved into a hub for independent directors, documentarians, science fiction creators, and artists working with artificial intelligence.
