Montreal, August 1st, 2011 – While 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, it also
marks the 18th edition of Montreal's Italian Week. An edition which sincerely celebrates the millions of
Canadians and Americans of Italian descent who have shared and cherished their customs and culture
across the generations. Montreal's Italian Week is a discovery into the identities and traditions of the
great charm of Italy. A true expression of Italy, its expertise, art and the industriousness of its people.
From August 5-14, Montreal invites you to come and discover the taste, sound and vibe of a community
built on the foundation of its forefathers, strong in tradition and custom and as vibrant and unique as the
members of its newer generations. Set to the backdrop of North America's European city, Montreal is the
perfect venue to succumb to the Dolce Vita and experience the Italo-Canadian culture.

10 days of activities are planned to allow festival-goers to discover the features of this multi-cultural city,
including Little Italy, the first home of Italian immigrants to Montreal. Whether you are of Italian descent,
or just looking to discover something new, you will de delighted, captivated and raptured.

Film Screening August 5-13

Commemorating the history of cinema in Italy with titles ranging from 1914 to 2008, this special event
expresses the expertise of Italians in cinematography, their love for their land, their art and their culture.
Film makers Bartolomeo Pagano, Roberto Rossellini, Luchino Visconti, Michelangelo Antonioni,
Nanni Moretti, Nanni Moretti, Gabriele Salvatores, Paolo Sorrentino, Paolo et Vittorio Taviani will
be revived on the big screen. Every film from a different generation and featuring a different region of
italy to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

Fiat Canada test drives August 12-14

Born over fifty years ago, it was more than just a car. It made history. It gave Italians the ability to move
freely and with confidence – after the devastation of World War II. A liberating form of self-expression, the
FIAT 500 was built to satisfy our insatiable love for each day. Some cars go down in history for their
technological or stylistic innovations. Others deserve to be remembered for the role they've played in the
daily life of an entire generation or country. But few succeed in combining the two - technology and
sentiment - and leave an eternal mark. Deeply rooted in Italian culture, values, sentiment and
sensibilities, it will, like its ancestors, not just blend in. The new Fiat 500 will be available for test drives in
Little Italy from August 12-14, take a spin and liberate your passion for life.

Cu'Fu August 11 and 12

Cu'Fu? (Pronounced Koo Foo) translates into "Who Did It?" - a Sicilian's touching and hilarious response
to life's perplexing moments. Exploring the joys and struggles encountered by a Sicilian family adapting to
Canadian urban life, written and performed by Charly Chiarelli.

8 Ways My Mother Was Conceived. August 7

My mother is magic. True Story. My entire Italian family will vouch that my mother was conceived while
my grandmother was still a virgin. Which makes my mother...Jesus.

Dominic Mancuso

―No clichés,‖ he vowed when recording the worn Italian classic, ―O Sole Mio.‖ The song almost demands to be performed grandly, operatically — a suitor comparing his lover's face to the sun — but Dominic Mancuso interpreted it tenderly, like a lullaby. He sang it as though to his newborn child, an astonishing rendition that helped him win this year's Juno Award for best world-music album, the only Italian-language disc ever nominated in any category. Dominic takes the Loto-Quebec stage in Little Italy on Friday
August 12 at 9pm.

Moda Sotto Le Stelle Fashion Show Saturday August 13

Fashion and style meet at the intersection of St. Laurent and St. Zotique for Moda Sotto Le Stelle,
Montreal's Italian Week Fashion Show. A stellar cast of Italian-Canadian Designers illuminate the open
sky in a city where fashion is religion and from a community who breathes it, Moda Sotto Le Stelle is a
seamless combination of two cultures whose creativity and uniqueness define them. in this 150th
anniversary of the unification of Italy, designers Leonardo Bennotti, Lady Dutch, Signor Terry, Moi Bebe
Couture and Maria Arceiro unify under the theme of the capital in this not to be missed event.

Opera, Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verde Sunday August 14

Appearing in the seventeenth century, Italy, opera is a masterpiece that is at the heart of Italian culture.
The beauty of this Romantic language allows us to appreciate and discover the characteristics of this
culture. Montreal's Italian Week presents "Rigoletto" by Giuseppe Verdi. This opera, with three acts and
four scenes, focuses on the social tensions and the subordinate status of women in the nineteenth
century. Combining melodic quality accurately and dramatic scenes, the opera focuses mainly on the
character drama and an original court jester named Rigoletto, who has only one concern: to ensure his
daughter, Gilda, does not become a victim of the adventures of the libertine Duke of Mantua. Approached
by a hit man named Sparafucile, Rigoletto decides to accept the offer of the killer to protect his daughter.
With one of the most surprising ends, this piece is certainly a rendez-vous not to be missed!

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