The world’s most renowned Italian coffee brand strengthens its partnership with the ICFF for the tenth anniversary of the festival and the second edition of the Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival.

TORONTO – The Italian Contemporary Film Festival is honored to announce that Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. (Lavazza) is strengthening its relationship with the largest Italian film festival in the world and becoming our presenting sponsor.  This year, from June 27th to July 18th, the ICFF will celebrate two major milestones; the tenth anniversary edition of the ICFF and the second edition of the Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival. Both festivals will take place at Ontario Place in Toronto, and in several other cities in Canada, including Vaughan, and Montreal. The ICFF Festival will be a hybrid of in-person and online events available to viewers all across Canada.

“We are excited to have Lavazza on board as the presenting sponsor for the festival. Lavazza has been a long-time supporter of the organization and we believe that broadening this partnership will help bridge Italian, Canadian, and international communities all over Canada,” said ICFF Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Cristiano de Florentiis. “During a time where cinemas, museums and art galleries are closed, and social gatherings are strictly limited, Lavazza decided to enhance its support to the cultural endeavors with the desire of restoring the sense of community typical of cultural and entertainment events. Likewise, the ICFF shares the same viewpoint and for this reason we are overjoyed to collaborate with Lavazza to bring safe social events to audiences across Canada.”

“At Lavazza, we strongly believe in the values of sustainability and doing business with our heart and we share this vision with the ICFF, striving to create exceptional quality experiences for our customers and audiences everywhere. For this reason, we are really thrilled and honored for the opportunity to renew and reinforce our partnership with the ICFF Team by becoming the presenting sponsor of the Italian Contemporary Film Festival in 2021!,” said Andrea Chiaramello, VP of Lavazza Sales Canada. “We believe this stronger engagement is the natural evolution of the relationship and synergy between Lavazza and ICFF which, over the years, has proven to be outstanding in promoting Italian culture in Canada. Thanks to the success of last year’s amazing ICFF Festival and the new Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival, in 2021 we are going to engage audiences all over Ontario and Canada with an even greater event, reconnecting communities through a dynamic, safe and entertaining festival.”

As a family owned company, Lavazza leads with innovation and heart. With its presence in over 90 countries worldwide Lavazza proudly upholds its mission of providing outstanding quality coffee. Providing an incredible sensory experience to customers around the world, while maintaining a fair and sustainable business ethic. Similarly to the ICFF, Lavazza has grown from very small and humble origins to one of the most important and renowned coffee companies globally, still maintaining the spirit for continuous improvement and innovation.

Lavazza’s love and commitment to their customers creates a perfect synergy with the ICFF’s mandate of bringing the best entertainment and cultural events to audiences across Canada. Thanks to Lavazza, and with the collaborative efforts of CHIN Radio/TV, Rogers Communications, the Government of Ontario, the Italian Government through the support of the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, the Italian Consulates, and the Italian Institutes of Culture, last year Canadians were able to take part in a brand-new international drive-in film festival, honoring the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This astounding event was a gift to the city of Toronto and we are thrilled to replicate the experience enhancing the program to welcome even more audiences at this year’s drive-in initiative.

Together the ICFF and Lavazza strive to bring people closer, with their continuous passion and desire to promote Italian culture, art, and traditions all around the world. Having Lavazza as a committed presenting sponsor offers the opportunity to connect with audiences across Canada, celebrate other cultures, and spur on the love of Italian background and heritage and all it represents. With this partnership and everlasting values of both companies, the ICFF and Lavazza bring Italy to the doorsteps of coffee and film lovers all across Canada.

About ICFF

The Italian Contemporary Film Festival is one of the most highly-anticipated cultural events of the summer in Toronto and across Canada, with a loyal base of nearly 50,000 attendees per year. Established in 2012, it is one of the leading and most successful festivals of its kind, and the largest Italian film festival in the world. Each year the ICFF screens dozens of films in Italian with English or French subtitles, including shorts and documentaries, in a variety of cities across the country. But the ICFF is much more than simply a film festival… It is a unique exploration of Italian arts and culture. With special events highlighting the best of Italian food, wine, fashion, music, literature, architecture and industry developments. The ICFF is committed to celebrating Italian heritage and bringing artists and entrepreneurs from around the globe together and connecting them with Canada’s diverse audience.

Thanks to the collaboration with CHIN Radio/TV, Rogers Communications, the Government of Ontario, the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, the Italian Consulates, and the Italian Institutes of Culture, in 2020 the ICFF launched a brand-new film festival, the Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival.

About Lavazza

For over 125 years Lavazza has pursued its company vision based on passion for work, for the product and the land in which it operates. These values have been ingrained in Lavazza’s DNA since its foundation in 1895 and have been upheld by four generations of entrepreneurs. Each family member who has worked in the company has helped it grow, transforming it into the company it is today. Yet the company still remains true to the qualities of passion and innovation inherited from Luigi Lavazza. “It‘s about doing business with your heart” in the words of Emilio Lavazza.

It is the spirit which has allowed us to expand the company over the years: our way of doing business is an example of sustainability in the fullest sense of the word. It is a quality built up and shared with all the people we have met, starting with our employees and the places in which we work. These are the qualities that, every day, underpin the value of the company, allowing us to be recognized worldwide. Lavazza is recognized globally, not just for the production of premium coffee, but also for our approach to work and social commitment.