Anniversaries are a celebration of continuity and success, and the 10th edition of the Los Angeles Italia Film, Fashion, and Art Festival is no exception.
Running February 15 through 21, 2015, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, the Festival has been growing in popularity and prestige since its foundation in 2005 by producer Pascal Vicedomini, attracting both Italian and American movie stars.
This year’s opening gala and award ceremony was held on Sunday, with the participation of representatives of the Italian Institutions, the local community, and the film industry. Among them were Italian singer and producer Tony Renis, actors Franco Nero and Fabio Testi, and many more.
Special guest was Italian American Jimmy Kimmel, host and executive producer of the ABC’s longest-running late-night talk show, who was honored with the Award of Excellence for his contribution to the world of entertainment. His parents accompanied him on stage, where he accepted the award with a hilarious speech, recalling his family history as Italian immigrants to the U.S.
Other awardees were Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy (Last Days in Vietnam, 2014), and Morten Tyldum and Graham Moore, respectively the director and screenwriter of The Imitation Game, one of the most credited Oscar contenders that has obtained positive results in the Italian box office.
Live music performances by Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo and Italian American singer Robert Davi were dedicated to the memory of Frank Sinatra, on the occasion of the centennial of his birth, featuring some of his greatest hits like New York, New York.
More tributes to Italian legends of the big screen are in program during the whole week, including the late filmmaker Francesco Rosi (Hands Over The City, 1963) and American actress and singer Liza Minelli, who will receive the 2015 Jack Valenti Los Angeles, Italia Legend Award on February 20th.
The admission-free Festival will showcase 50 films, including 5 world premieres and 15 U.S. premieres, such as It Takes a Miracle! by Alessandro Siani and Partly Cloudy (With Sunny Spells) directed by Marco Pontecorvo and starring John Turturro and Luca Zingaretti. Both films were screened during the opening night and acclaimed by the audience. Marco Pontecorvo and lead actor Luca Zingaretti were in attendance, and their work was acknowledged by American filmmaker and producer John Landis (The Blues Brothers, 1908).
By showcasing the best of contemporary Italian cinema and performing arts, the LA, Italia recognizes the accomplishments of 25 million Americans of Italian descent, as Consul General Antonio Verde and NIAF President John Viola remarked. In this regards, the gala opened with a noteworthy video, produced by the Italian Government, which displayed Italy’s contribution in a large number of economic sectors, from the food industry to tourism, from engineering to luxury manufacturing.
The Los Angeles Italia Film, Fashion, and Art Festival is presented thanks to the collaboration of many supporters, like the Capri in the World Institute, ANICA, the Italian Government, the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the Italian Trade Commission, NIAF, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and Cinecittà Studios, just to name a few.
For more information and the Festival’s program visit http://www.losangelesitalia.com
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