Sugar Land might not be the first place one thinks of as the site for an Italian film festival, but thanks to the determined efforts of some local residents, it has become a reality. The Umbria in Sugar Land film festival kicked off Wednesday night with a screening of the film, My Italy, at the Sugar Land Auditorium, preceded by an "Aperitivo Reception" at nearby Lonnie Green Park, where festival goers sampled Peroni beer, wines, and cheeses from Italy's Umbria region as well as Italian hors d'oeuvres prepared by Casetta Catering.

Six more films will be shown through Sunday at the Sugar Land Auditorium, a historical 1918 building in the heart of the original town, with a free screening of I Have Friends in Heaven (Ho Amici in Paradiso) at the Sugar Land Town Square Plaza on Saturday night (September 30) at 7 pm. All films are in Italian with English subtitles. (Single tickets are $8-$20. For a full schedule, click here.)