Kolkata: A carnival of Italian fashion, theatre, tourism, cuisine and film would enthral denizens of the metropolis with the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IICCI) unveiling the cultural extravaganza 'Festa Italiana'.

The annual festival, being hosted in India from Dec 2, 2004 to Dec 16, 2004 has been shifted beyond Mumbai this year to New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai to the metropolis.

IICCI chairman Pankaj Parekh said after having done the Asia Week in Italy to promote India to the Italians, Festa Italiana would promote the Italian interest in India.

Among its wares are an Italian food festival, shows by eminent Italian designers Valentino and Ermenegildo Zegna, a film festival of Marco Ferreri's creations and a Bengali adaptation of Italian play by Dario Fo 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist' (Mrityu na Hatya).

A book reading of eminent Italian journalist and writer Beppe Severgnini would also be part of the show, Parekh said.

Leading organisations like Thomas Cook, Park Hotel, Alitalia, Trendz TV, D'Damas and World Gold Council would participate in the festival.

The film festival was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee at the State Government film complex 'Nandan'.