The Global Film Village: Italian Cinema Does It With Style In Los Angeles

by Marla Lewin

The Italian film commission, brought together filmmakers from around the world for a party at the American Film Market in Santa Monica. The Department of Cinema of the Italian ministry of culture, the Italian consulate, and the Los Angeles Italian Cultural Institute along with friends and guests applauded legendary director, Giuseppe Tornatore winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1990, Cinema Paradiso.  He is in LA, for the premiere of his latest film, Baaria, which opened this year’s Venice Film Festival and premiere’s here in Los Angeles at the Egyptian theatre on Wednesday November 10 and is Italy’s submission for this year’s award. They were joined last night by producers and directors of other new Italian films which will be screened in Los Angeles at the AFM and during the next week.

Cinema Italian Style, artistic director Silvia Bizio commented, “There have been many great Cinematic achievements this year from Italy.  We are proud to celebrate these works with the Hollywood community with a film festival  which runs from November 10th through the 18th.  In addition, Cinema Italian Style, will bestow a prestigious award to a personality from the world of Italian film.  Previous recipients include George Clooney, Angelica Huston, Valerie Golena, and actress/producer Jo Champa, an icon of Italian style in Los Angeles. CIS enjoys the support of Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger and an Honorary Board of Directors including Bernardo Bertolucci, Dino and Martha De Laurentis, Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, Sophia Loren, Sherry Lansing, and Danti Ferreri.

In past years, Italian illuminaries have been joined by Hollywood guests including Warren Beatty, Andy Garcia, John Savage, John Landis, Oliver Stone, Taylor Hackford, and many others.

Marc Halperin and Tornatore, reminisced about having distributed his films in the United States, including Academy award winner Cinema Paradiso, as General Sales Manager of Miramax.  Marc said, “It is exciting to see Giuseppe, in the running again for another Academy Award nomination.”

Another film they worked with together, “Stano Tutto Bene,” recently screened at the AFI,  as a remake with Robert De Niro, now called by its english title “Everything is Fine.”

The films to be featured this year include: Edoardo Winspeare’s I GALANTUOMINI (THE BRAVE MEN); Davide Ferrario’s TUTTA COLPA DI GIUDA (FREEDOM); Marco Amenta’s LA SICILIANA RIBELLE (THE SICILIAN GIRL); Nico Cirasola’s FOCACCIA BLUES; Marco Filiberti’s IL COMPLEANNO (DAVID’S BIRTHDAY); Francesca Archibugi’s QUESTIONE DI CUORE (MATTER OF HEART); Michele Placido’s IL GRANDE SOGNO (THE BIG DREAM) and two documentaries, VITTORIO D. by Mario Canale and Annarosa Morri (a portrait of Vittorio De Sica) and HOLLYWOOD ON THE TIBER by Marco Spagnoli. VINCERE (WIN!), the Toronto, New York and Cannes Film Festival pleaser by master filmmaker Marco Bellocchio will close Cinema Italian Style. Screenings for these films will occur at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.

CINEMA ITALIAN STYLE 2009
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