Sunday, May 3 | 12:00 PM
Premier Theater at One Letterman
1 Letterman Dr #B, San Francisco
Now in its 69th edition running from April 24-May 4, 2026, the San Francisco International Film Festival presents the premiere of The Kidnapping of Arabella, an intense drama directed by Carolina Cavalli, skillfully blending humor and melancholy in an original way. The film is elevated by outstanding performances from Benedetta Porcaroli and Chris Pine.
The film was presented in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where Benedetta Porcaroli won the Orizzonti Award for Best Actress.
Following the screening, director Carolina Cavalli and actress Benedetta Porcaroli will be present for a Q&A session with the audience.
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The Kidnapping of Arabella
Directed by: Carolina Cavalli
Italy, 2025
107 min
Starring: Benedetta Porcaroli, Lucrezia Guglielmino, Chris Pine
SYNOPSIS
Holly is a 28-year-old woman who has always felt uncomfortable in her own skin and disappointed with the course of her life. Her life takes a turn when she meets Arabella, a seven-year-old girl convinced she is a younger version of Holly. Eager to escape her own life and punish her father for not buying her tacos, Arabella persuades Holly to embark on a journey together. This eccentric road movie explores themes of identity, loneliness, and the complexities of relationships between adults and children.
Carolina Cavalli
Born in Milan, Carolina Cavalli made her directorial debut with Amanda (2022), which received three David di Donatello nominations, including Best First-Time Director. She co-wrote Fremont by Babak Jalali (2023), for which she won the John Cassavetes Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. The Kidnapping of Arabella is her second feature film.
Event sponsored by the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco