The Cathay Pacific Italian Film Festival’s streamlined frame glides from top to bottom for the 11th time this year, opening in Auckland this Thursday before making six visits by way of Wellington (Oct 18th), Christchurch (25th), Dunedin (November 1st), Nelson (8th), Napier (15th), and Hamilton (22nd). A reflection on the trendline of Italian Cinema if anything, this is a festival that rarely surprises or provokes, though is enormously likeable, striking a cord with audiences who lust after a little Mediterranean flair, or come October, have had quite enough of winter’s depressiing gray hues. On The Festival Reader, Italian aficionado MELODY NIXON introduces the 2006 Programme, and gets first glimpse at Gianni Amelio’s Keys to the House.