The Queen of Italy Returns "Dall" Italia All' Australia" Film and Folk Music Festival is touring the Illawarra area in Australia in January showcasing the seven week world journey by Italian immigrants to Australia in 1924.

In 1924, the Italian film director Angelo Drovetti embarked on an epic 8,000-nautical-mile voyage with his movie camera. The result, Dall'Italia All'Australia (From Italy to Australia), is regarded by many as the most comprehensive film ever made of a migrant voyage. ‘Dall’Italia All’Australia’ chronicles the voyage of the Regina d’Italia (Queen of Italy) - one of three passenger ships first built for the Lloyd Sabaudo Line at the turn of last century.

The film showcases the panoramic views witnessed by Italian, Yugoslav, Greek, Arabic and Jewish migrants as they stood atop the deck of the old steamer during their seven-week world odyssey from Genoa to Australia, by way of Egypt & Sri Lanka, arriving in September 1924.

Author Anthony De Bolfo, who discovered the film, introduces and commentates on the film, with Italian folk music by acclaimed musicians - The Viaggiatori - Kavisha Mazzella (singer, guitar, accordion) and Irini Vela (bouzouki, guitar) and the Viaggiatori - David De Santi (accordion), Mark Holder-Keeping (saxophone, clarinet).

Visit www.illawarrafolkfestival.org.au to make your booking

Pay tribute to the mighty and couragious Italian immigrants around the world - we are the 21st region of Italy!