Film, art, food and wine set the scene for the Milan International Film Festival’s exclusive screening on the evening of June 17 at the Audis Husar Art Gallery in Beverly Hills. An eclectic mix of 130 guests attended and viewed four film shorts that all earned accolades at the Festival this year as well as the work of two European artists.

      Called “An Evening of Art and Film,” the event was created to raise funds for the Arts in Inner City Schools Program. Proceeds from the Morgan Stanley and Walker and Associates, LLC’s sponsorship, as well as a percentage of art sales, went to the San Antonio de Padua School in Boyle Heights, the former school of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

      The Milan International Film Festival (MIFF), also known as the “Sundance of Italy” for the way it illuminates excellence in independent films, is an international cinema exhibition inaugurated in 2000. It selects a pool of exceptional independent films worldwide and showcases them each year.

      Along with the film screening, the gallery also featured the works of artist Mario Londono and muralist Vanessa Valore; the latter presented her interactive “Rock Art” and sold six of her pieces that night.

      Among the featured films was MIFF Best Short Film Winner “Fueling the Fire.” Produced by Susan Cohen and Julia Lipan, the story dealt with stereotypes, points of view and the concept of judging people by appearance. A disgruntled, pregnant mother of two and the frustrated father of a rebellious teen bear witness to a late-night shooting at a Los Angeles gasoline station convenience store and establish their own suspects based on personal value judgment.

      Suspenseful and ominous from start to finish, the film makes use of garish lighting and dark cinematography to create a fearful, apprehensive atmosphere. Striking, perfectly convincing performances by the actors, who are each convinced of what they saw and tell completely different stories, draw the audience in and compel them to ponder which one is the real version of the truth.

      “The Trench” a very short film by Gabriel Bologna, whose art direction was done by featured artist Vanessa Valore, touches on the universal concept of brotherhood in the midst of war when two soldiers, one fighting on the Allied side and the other on the Axis side, find that they are both actually from the same race. Brief but powerful, the film focuses on one short moment that speaks volumes about how brotherhood is stronger than war.

      British film “Home” by Giles Borg explores the past of a homeless man, telling his story in reverse. A poignant, touching performance by lead actor Kieran O’ Brien shows the tragedies of a life, marriage and parenthood gone awfully sour, and the power of shattered dreams to destroy a man’s future.

      Although it is somewhat confusing at first because of the absence of dialogue and the backward chronological sequence of events, the film compensates towards the end when the man’s once-happy past is completely revealed, and uses raw emotion to stir up tears in the eyes of viewers. It definitely succeeded in keeping them at the edge of their seats trying to figure the story out, at least chronologically.

      Last was Alessandro Aronadio’s “Glorybox,” based on Euripides’ story of Alcestis, whose fate was to lay down her life for her husband’s sake. Set on a pristine beach, the beautifully young and graceful wife reflects on her situation and ponders the meaning of life, death and love. Simple yet powerful, the film builds on the elements of nature as a backdrop combined, again, with the sole actress’s thoughts and raw emotions, and these compensate for the lack of a tangible sequence of events or dialogue.

      The story is rich in symbolism and analogies, such as the book containing Alcestis’ story, which the jaded woman sets on fire on the beach before wading out into the ocean to meet her own demise. The plot seems simple at a glance, but in truth requires much analysis of the said symbols and the piecing together of the woman’s enigmatic thoughts and expressions.

      The evening’s guests, which included representatives from sponsor company Morgan Stanley and some members of the press, also enjoyed wine, cocktails and pleasant interaction among themselves and the artists.