Los Angeles, Italia – This year’s festival brings to the stage Italian-American icons
Big names this year at the Los Angeles Italia, the festival that celebrates films, fashion and art made in Italy. The event gathered Italian and American icons such as directors Quentin Tarantino, David O. Russel and Michele Placido, musician Zucchero Fornaciari, actors Christoph Waltz, Giuliano Gemma and Franco Nero, producers Harvey Weinstein and Iginio Straffi. They all alternated on the stage of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood during this last week, collecting awards and applauses.
But the focus of the whole festival was with no doubt him, Al Pacino, who made his appearance during the opening night to be awarded by the L.A. Italia with the Jack Valenti – Los Angeles, Italia Legend Award 2013. An icon for both Italians and Americans, Pacino played important roles in some of the most successful Hollywood productions.
However, looking at the selection of films, this doesn’t seem to be the best Los Angeles, Italia edition. Many young directors on the list – and this is good – but almost all showing a quite repetitive formula for their films.
But this year’s festival is not only about movies: on the list also several documentaries, most of which willing to portray –fortunately- many interesting sides of Italy: history, music, handicraft, social commitment… Among these, Kief Davidson’s documentary on the Italian NGO Emergency, currently running for an Oscar. But Italian cinema goes beyond the big screen: the IIC in Los Angeles is currently hosting Hats in Film, a collection of beautiful handcrafted hats used in some of the greatest movies of Hollywood.
Italy has still a lot to give to the “settima arte”, but it needs to find the strength to overcome the present cultural monotony. Italian Trade Commission President Riccardo Monti, who recently visited L.A. to present his program, reaffirmed his intent to support and promote the Italian cinema. The film industry -as both he and Consul General Giuseppe Perrone remarked- is not only an artistic expression, but one of the main economic resources for Italy, even more in 2013, Year of the Italian Culture in the U.S.
The festival is coming to an end, but there’s still more to see. Tonight Italian icon Zucchero will be hitting the Grammy Museum for a special performance. On Saturday, the festival will leave the stage to the magic Oscar night.
Los Angeles, Italia 2013 was presented by the Istituto Capri nel Mondo in association with Eni, Rainbow Group and Cim Group, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Cinema Department of the Italian Ministry of Culture. Presenting partners also include the Italian General Consulate, the Italian Trade Commission, the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, TCL Chinese Theaters LLC, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the University of Southern California (USC), and Cinecittà Studios.
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