MILAN - Italy

Milan is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of the Lombardy region, and is one of the most highly developed urban centers in Europe.
The Municipality has a population of 1.3 million.
The Milan metropolitan area, depending on the specific definition, has a population ranging from 3.9 to 7.4 million.
Milan is one of the major artistic centres of northern Italy and is also renowned as one of the world capitals of design and fashion.

Milan is also one of the major financial and business centres of the world: with a 2004 GDP of €241.2 billion (US$312.3 billion) the Milan metropolitan area has the 4th highest GDPs in Europe: were it a country, it would rank as the 28th largest economy in the world, almost as large as the Greek economy. The city is the seat of the Italian Stock Exchange and its hinterland is the largest industrial area in Italy. Milan was included in a list of ten "Alpha world cities" by Peter J. Taylor and Robert E. Lang of theBrookings Institution in the economic report "U.S. Cities in the 'World City Network".

Today Milan is a major centre for the production of textile and garments, automobiles, chemicals, industrial tools, heavy machinery, book and music publishing. Milan is also considered to be the fashion center of the world. The place has headquarters and businesses of some of the leading international designers.

The new fair ground, in the north-western suburb of Milano-Rho which was opened in April 2005, makes the Fiera Milano the largest trade fair complex in the world.

Milan will host EXPO 2015 as a renewed city in the wake of this modernization.

Milan Municipality website

How to reach Milan
How to reach the Festival venue

'I've Seen Films' will take place in the Gnomo Milano Cinema venue, in Milan, via Lanzone 30/A in Vicolo Sant'Agostino, very close to the Sant'Ambrogio church and the city center.
In that area there are many restaurants, shops and many useful services. The subway system, the public transport service and the parking areas can offer the best comfort to the turists.
Gnomo Milano Cinema is a film theater built to meet the audience needs. It has all the advantages of a modern and new-concept theater: the sophisticated audio and video technology and the comfortable seats give an emotion-packed feeling to its audience. But most of all, it offers a very keen programming structure that takes into account all kinds of tastes: not only the commercial hits, but also author’s works, special initiatives such as thematic screenings, retrospectives, premieres, original language movies, meetings with directors and so on. Gnomo Milano Cinema is the Milano Municipality's film theatre addressed to quality short films and author’s works screenings.

Another 'I've Seen Films' location is Spazio Oberdan in viale Vittorio Veneto, 2 (on the corner of Oberdan square) very close to the city center. This is a 200-seat theater where films belonging to Fondazione Cineteca Italiana, as well as Province of Milano thematic retrospectives, are screened. There is also an 700 sq. mt. area where contemporary Art and Photography exhibitions take place. In addition to that, an information desk offers updates and news on the main national and international cultural events, and a box office sells tickets to attend Italian and international shows, exhibitions and museums.

'I've Seen Films' will also take place at the Centre Culturel Français.
Founded in 1949, the Centre Culturel Français in Milano is located in the renowned Palazzo delle Stelline, across from the Santa Maria delle Grazie Basilica.
This institution, directly linked with the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, promotes the French language and culture. In addition to the famous French language courses, it offers a rich cultural season, held both in-house and ‘hors les murs’, which ranges from arts to music, from theater to dance and from lectures to design. The Centre Culturel Français cooperates with the major institutions, theaters and festivals in Milan and northern Italy. Its screening room offers a comprehensive French language film season along with other special events such as premieres and retrospectives.

Another 'I've Seen Films' location is Palazzo Reale (the Royal Palace), one of the most beautiful architectures of the Milanese 18th century, set at our disposal by the Culture Councillorship of the Milano Municipality. Palazzo Reale, located to the right of the Duomo Cathedral, plays an important role with regard to Art in Milan, in fact it also hosts the Municipality’s Contemporary Art Museum, where exhibitions of important artists such as Monet, Picasso, Klee, Delacroix, etc. are held. This is the 'I've Seen Films' Awards Evening's location.