Every June, tens of thousands of hardcore film fans from around the world make a pilgrimage to Italy. Their destination is Il Cinema Ritrovato, a festival in Bologna dedicated to the history of movies. Interest in the festival has exploded in recent years, so much so that organizers now use a digital-ticketing system that has put an end to the long queues that wrapped around Bologna’s streets.
As Hollywood executives continue to churn out bad films that lose money—box-office receipts are still well below pre-pandemic levels—Il Cinema Ritrovato has proved that certain audiences will not just pay to see good movies but travel thousands of miles for the privilege.
