It’s turning into an exciting fall for Italian cinema in New York City. Last week, Viva La Libertà (Long Live Liberty) made its stateside debut at Quad Cinemas. The film stars Toni Servillo (pictured above), who dazzled American audiences in La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty), which won the 2014 Oscar for Foreign Language Film. Viva La Libertà explores what happens when a prominent politician disappears and his formerly insane twin brother fills in all of his public (and some of his private) responsibilities. Comedic and poignant, the film makes a cutting commentary on the political scene in Italy today.

Next week brings seven more contemporary Italian films to New York City, thanks to NICE, New Italian Cinema Events. The Florence-based nonprofit has been promoting worthy contemporary Italian cinema around the globe for the past 25 years. Each year, NICE selects seven Italian feature-length films by first or second-time directors — among over 80 titles produced in Italy yearly. NICE screens the films in cities around the world, including New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. The screenings are typically followed by Q&A sessions with the directors and/or cast.

This year, the seven films selected include: Remember Me (Ti Ricordi di Me), Controra, Blame Freud (Tutta Colpa di Freud), Asia Argento’s Misunderstood, Paolo Virzi’s Human Capital, Roberto Andò’s Viva La Libertá (Long Live Freedom), Stefano Incerti’s Snow, and Giovanni Cioni’s Per Ulissi.

Here’s a schedule of next week’s FREE film events in New York City:

Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:00 p.m.
Italian Cultural Institute, New York (686 Park Ave. btw E. 68th and E. 69th street)
Presentation of the upcoming New Italian Cinema Events series in the US (New York, D.C., San Francisco)
panelists: directors Paolo Genovese and Rossella De Venuto, alongside N.I.C.E. director Viviana del Bianco
RSVP: http://www.iicnewyork.esteri.it/IIC_NewYork/webform/SchedaEvento.aspx?id=805&citta=NewYork

Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6:00 p.m.
Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò (24 W. 12th St. btw 5th & 6th Ave.)
Screening of “Remember Me?” (Ti ricordi di me?) by Rolando Ravello (in Italian with English subtitles)
followed by a Q&A with screenwriter Paolo Genovese and a reception
First-come, first-served

Tuesday, Nov 18 at 7.30 p.m.
New York Film Academy – Union Square (100 E. 17th St. @ Park Ave.)
Screening of “House of Shadows” (“Controra”) by Rossella De Venuto (in Italian with English subtitles)
followed by a Q&A with director Rossella De Venuto
RSVP: http://house-of-shadows-screening.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, Nov. 19th at 7:00 p.m.
SVA Theaters – Silas (333 West 23rd St) 
NYC premiere screening of “Blame Freund” (“Tutta colpa di Freud”) by Paolo Genovese (in Italian with English subtitles)
followed by a Q&A with director Paolo Genovese
RSVP: https://blame-freud.eventbrite.com (Currently sold out, sign up for the waitlist now.)

Admission to all events is free and open to the public upon RSVP.