The Salento International Film Festival will honor the Robert Minkoff on September 26, 2004. Mr. Minkoff will be presented with "SALENTO DIRECTOR AWARD" which recognizes a director for their visionary achievements in cinema., at the Salento International Film Festival , which will be held on September 18-26, 2004, Tricase, Lecce - Italy. In the heel of the boost shaped Italy, surrounded by the sea on three sides, with its end Santa Maria di Leuca Cape.
ROB MINKOFF (Director/Executive Producer) is the director responsible for bringing the two highest-grossing family films of all time to the screen. Beginning his career with the Walt Disney Company, he directed The Lion King, which grossed more than $768 million worldwide, and became the highest grossing animated film Disney ever made. He then merged live action and computer generated images (CGI) for Columbia Pictures' Stuart Little which earned over $300 million worldwide and went on to become one of the most successful non-Disney animated family films ever made. Born and raised in Palo Alto, California, Minkoff attended Cal-Arts Character Animation Program before joining Disney as an animator. While at Disney, Minkoff developed story, characters and animation for the now classic The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. His directorial acclaim began with the action packed Roger Rabbit shorts. Minkoff is now known as one of the most successful filmmaker's for making a star out of a mouse and a big lion.

Closing Night Award Ceremony and Gala Dinner will be held at PICCOLO MONDO HOTEL located a Castro Marina on September 26, 2004 at 8:30 PM. Tickets for the Gala Euro 80.00 will be on sale on August 16, by calling + 39 340 8063589 or +39 0836 947035 This event will be sold out make your reservation on time, very limited seats.