Director To Receive Ischia Legend Award In Abstentia Film Kicks Off The Festival’s Homage To France

Roman Polanski’s Venus In Fur (La Vénus à la fourrure), which was highly received as an in competition entry in Cannes, will be the opening night film at the the upcoming 11^th annual Ischia Global Film & Music Festival to be held from July 14th to the 21st on the picturesque isle that is located off the coast of Naples. In addition, the Ischia International Arts Academy will present the Oscar®-winning Polanski (The Pianist), in abstentia, with the festival’s highest honor, the “Ischia Legend Award.”

Venus In Fur recounts the story of an aspiring actress, played by Emmanuelle Seigner, seeking to convince a film director, played by Mathieu Amalric. that she should be in his next film. The Ischia screening at the hotel Regina Isabella’s charming beachside outdoor theatre will be in in its original French version and will be its Italian premiere. The film will be released in Italy on October 31^st by 01 Distribution.

“We are privileged to have this prestigious film as our opening night presentation,” said American producer Mark Canton who serves on the festival’s executive board. “I would like to thank Patrick Wachsberger, co-chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group and his colleagues at Rai and 01 Distribution for making it possible. Coincidentally, the 2013 tribute to France, which kicks off with the premiere of Venus in Fur, falls on that nation’s national holiday, '14 Juillet'.”

Prior editions of the Ischia Global Film & Fashion Fest were dedicated to India, China, Russia, Germany, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, United Kingdom, and Argentina. The focus on France is born from the last year’s fest that hosted Olivier Nakache, director of The Intouchables, and Thomas Langmann, producer of the Oscar-winner, The Artist.

Produced by festival founder Pascal Vicedomini, the 2013 Ischia Global Film & Music Festival is presented under the auspices of the Ischia International Arts Academy with the support of BNL-Group, BNL-BNP Paribas, 3 Italy in collaboration with Meridiana, NTV along with the sponsorship of the DG Cinema of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the patronage of the Italian Representation of the European Union and the Department of Tourism - Region Campania.

The festival previously announced that, in addition to Polanski, it would present Ischia Legend Awards to actors Nicolas Cage and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as to noted film producer Arnon Milchan. All three will be on hand to receive their honors.

Joining Vicedomini in overseeing this year’s Ischia Global Film & Music Fest are President Michele Placido, Honorary Presidents Trudie Styler and Tony Renis, and an Executive Board comprised of producers Mark Canton, Marina Cicogna, Rick Nicita, Paula Wagner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, multi Oscar-winning production designers Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo, president of Cinecittà Studios Luigi Abete, Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis and Italian movie icons Franco Nero, Lina Wertmuller and Enrico Lucherini.