Created by ITTV International and the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association, Los Angeles’ first Ferragosto celebration brings Disney and Pixar’s Luca to San Pedro, Los Angeles, launching a new cultural tradition connecting Italy and Southern California.
LOS ANGELES — A vision to bring one of Italy’s most beloved traditions to Los Angeles is about to become reality.
On Saturday, August 15, San Pedro, in Los Angeles, will host the city’s first-ever Ferragosto celebration, an initiative created by Valentina Martelli, Founder and CEO of ITTV International, together with the Anna Manuza, President of Little Italy of Los Angeles Association, in partnership with Disney+ and Los Angeles City Council District 15.
For nearly a decade, ITTV International has served as a meeting point between Hollywood and the international entertainment industry, bringing together leading studios, streamers, producers, creators and institutions from around the world. With Ferragosto, the organization expands that mission beyond the industry itself, bringing Italian storytelling directly into the community and launching what organizers hope will become a new annual cultural tradition for Los Angeles.
The free community event will transform Piazza Miramare into an authentic Italian piazza for an evening of cinema, culture and community centered around a sunset screening of Disney and Pixar’s Luca. Inspired by the beauty of the Italian Riviera, the beloved film perfectly captures the warmth, friendship and sense of wonder that define an Italian summer.
Celebrated every August 15, Ferragosto marks the height of the Italian summer—a national holiday when families and friends gather by the sea, in village squares and around the table to celebrate togetherness. For one evening, that same atmosphere will come to San Pedro, where guests will enjoy pizza, gelato and the unmistakable spirit of an Italian summer under the stars.
The choice of Luca is no coincidence. Inspired by the colorful villages and breathtaking landscapes of Liguria, the Academy Award-nominated Disney and Pixar film has introduced millions of viewers around the world to the beauty of Italy’s coastline and the universal values of friendship, family and belonging.
The event is presented in collaboration with the Portofino Days International Fiction Festival, another initiative connected to ITTV International. The partnership carries special significance, as Portofino and the Ligurian coast provided much of the inspiration behind the world of Luca, creating a natural connection between one of Italy’s most iconic destinations and this new cultural celebration in Los Angeles.
“This celebration is about much more than a movie,” said Valentina Martelli, Founder and CEO of ITTV International. “For years, ITTV International has worked to create meaningful connections between Hollywood and the international entertainment industry. Today, we are taking that vision one step further by bringing those stories directly into the community. We believe entertainment is one of the world’s most powerful tools for promoting intercultural dialogue, especially at a time when understanding and dialogue are more important than ever. Our hope is that Ferragosto becomes a lasting tradition that celebrates not only Italian culture, but also the enduring ties between Italy and Los Angeles.”
Anna Manunza, President of the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association, said the celebration reflects the organization’s commitment to preserving Italian heritage while sharing it with the broader Los Angeles community.
“Our mission has always been to preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of Southern California’s largest Italian-American community while creating opportunities for everyone to experience and enjoy our culture,” Manunza said. “I am especially happy that Piazza Miramare will host its first-ever Ferragosto celebration and that, thanks to Disney+, Valentina Martelli, ITTV International and Los Angeles City Council District 15, we can offer this special evening free of charge to the community. Ferragosto has long been a time for family, friendship and togetherness, and we are delighted to celebrate this cherished Italian tradition by inviting everyone to enjoy a beloved Disney film under the stars.”
Councilmember Tim McOsker, whose district includes San Pedro, said the event perfectly reflects the vision behind Piazza Miramare.
“The newly dedicated Piazza Miramare has quickly become a gathering place for our community, and that’s exactly what it was designed to be,” McOsker said. “A summer evening like this is what the piazza was built for: bringing neighbors together to enjoy a film like Luca, celebrate friendship, family and the spirit of the Italian coast, while honoring the vibrant Italian heritage that has helped shape San Pedro. It’s evenings like these that remind us how important public spaces are in bringing communities together, celebrating our shared history and creating lasting memories.”
Organizers hope this inaugural celebration will become the first chapter of a broader cultural initiative. ITTV International is already working with local partners to expand the program into an annual series of outdoor screenings dedicated to Italian films and audiovisual productions, further strengthening the cultural ties between Italy and Southern California.
The Ferragosto celebration is free and open to the public and invites residents and visitors alike to experience one of Italy’s most treasured traditions through cinema, food and community.
EVENT DETAILS
What:
Ferragosto Celebration featuring a free outdoor screening of Disney and Pixar’s Luca
Presented by:
ITTV International, Little Italy of Los Angeles Association, Disney+, and Los Angeles City Council District 15
In Partnership with:
Portofino Days International Fiction Festival
Date:
Saturday, August 15
Time:
7:00 p.m. – Gates Open
7:45 p.m. – Screening Begins at Sunset
Where:
Piazza Miramare
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
Admission:
Free and open to the public.
What to Bring:
Bring blankets and cushions, settle in under the stars, and enjoy an unforgettable Italian summer evening by the waterfront.