The BFI’s programme for August 2025 includes a tribute to one of Italy’s most famous movie stars and style icons, with a season titled Sophia Loren: Hollywood style, Neapolitan spirit, a season presented in partnership with Cinecittà and the Cinema Department of the Ministry of Culture of Italy.

Through her professional and personal relationship with producer Carlo Ponti, and her long-term creative partnerships with actor-filmmaker Vittorio De Sica and co-star Marcello Mastroianni, Loren helped make some of Italian cinema’s most beloved films while taking Hollywood and international roles that, combined, make Loren one of the great screen icons. The actress began her career in the Italian film industry as a teenager in 1950 and, within just a few years, rose to become an Oscar®-winning actor, ultimately establishing herself as a glamorous international star. Rooted in a strong cultural identity, she seamlessly combined a flair for comedy with the emotional depth of dramatic roles.

The programme kicks off on 1 August with Sophia Loren: Hollywood Italian style, when season curator Adrian Wootton OBE will give an illustrated talk encompassing the full range of Loren’s extraordinary life and career. Offering insights into the making of her finest films, alongside anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories about her creative relationships, the talk will feature excerpts and images from her films.

A 25 & under introduction to Sophia Loren will also take place on 16 August, when researcher and strategist Alexandria Amaka Animba will discuss the world of one of cinema’s most enduring icons, while films playing across the season will include Good Folk’s Sunday (Anton Giulio Majano, 1953), The Gold of Naples (Vittorio De Sica, 1954), Too Bad She’s Bad (Alessandro Blasetti, 1954), Lucky to Be a Woman (Alessandro Blasetti, 1956), Heller in Pink Tights (George Cukor, 1960), Two Women (Vittorio De Sica, 1960), El Cid (Anthony Manny, 1961), Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Vittorio De Sica, 1963), Marriage Italian Style (Vittorio De Sica, 1964), Arabesque (Stanley Donen, 1966), The Voyage (Vittorio De Sica, 1974), A Special Day (Ettore Scola, 1977), Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Lina Wertmüller, 1990) and The Life Ahead (Edoardo Ponti, 2020).

This BFI season, which features numerous 4K restorations courtesy of season partner Cinecittà, will be accompanied by other notable events: Moviedrome: Bringing the Cult TV Series to the Big Screen and In Character: The Films of Peter Sellers which will accompany London’s cinephiles throughout the summer.