Cinecittà Luce, the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura present a Ferzan Ozpetek Retrospective in Los Angeles June 4 - 12

Cinecittà Luce, the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of Los Angeles will be welcoming Turkish-born Italianate director Ferzan Ozpetek to Los Angeles for a weeklong retrospective of his films (June 4-12).

FERZAN OZPETEK: A RETROSPECTIVE series will kick off on Friday, June 4th with a presentation of the director’s filmography at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura (IIC) in Westwood followed by the Los Angeles gala premiere of Ozpetek’s LOOSE CANNONS (MINE VAGANTI) at UCLA’s Billy Wilder Theater. Ozpetek will be on hand to introduce both his retrospective and the Los Angeles premiere of his latest film.

A collaboration between the Italian Film Commission and the Italian and Turkish Consulates of Los Angeles, FERZAN OZPETEK: A RET- ROSPECTIVE is supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture – Film Department and has two key partners: Alberta Ferretti and Alitalia. Public screenings of Ozpetek’s other films will take place at UCLA’s Billy Wilder Theater and at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura with Ozpetek in attendance at the June 4th (Loose Cannons), June 5th (Last Harem) and June 6th (Saturn Opposite) showings.

Brand new prints of the titles will be provid- ed by CinecittàLuce. Ozpetek will discuss his career and unique cinematic per- spective at the IIC’s June 4th presentation with representatives of Cinecittà Luce, the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in attendance.

The weeklong retrospective also includes the June 5th presentation at the IIC of Laura Delli Colli’s book FERZAN OZPETEK: EYES WIDE OPEN, published by Mondadori. Delli Colli will introduce her book which, through interviews with the actors and producers Ozpetek has worked with and interviews with the director him- self, provides an unprecedented portrait of Ozpetek’s life and works. Ozpetek will also be present as part of the author discussion.

The acclaimed filmmaker has made eight films to date: Last Harem (Harem Suare’), His Secret Life (Le Fate Ignoranti), Facing Windows (La Finestra di Fronte), Sacred Heart (Cuore Sacro), Saturn In Opposition (Saturno Contro), A Perfect Day (Un Giorno Perfetto), and Ozpetek’s first feature film, Steam: The Turkish Bath (Hamam).

All titles will be screened as part of the retrospec- tive. Produced by Fandango in collaboration with Rai Cinema, LOOSE CANNONS (Mine Vaganti) has just completed a successful run at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it garnered a special mention from the jury for “making us laugh, cry… we congratulate Ozpetek and his excellent cast and contributors….”

The presentation of the Ozpetek library has united Cinecittà Luce, the UCLA Film & Television Archive, and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in a unique collaboration to bring to greater attention the work of this heralded director.

About Cinecittà Luce

Established in May 2009 following the merger of Cinecittà Holding and Istituto Luce, CINECITTÀ LUCE is the public service branch of the Italian Ministry of Culture – Film Department with the aim of promoting Italian cinema.

CINECITTA’ LUCE controls one of the largest audiovisual Archives of the world, its motion-picture library contains almost 100 years of history in millions of hours of footage, the photographic library has more than 3 million pictures and the International Film Archive of approximately 3,000 movies, subtitled in various languages, enables the company to work with major international cultural institutions worldwide, with the aim to promote classic and con- temporary Italian cinema and give support in the selection of Italian films at major film festivals.

It directly distributes Italian and European movies guarantee- ing their diffusion throughout Italy; it publishes Cinecittà News, a daily online that offers constant updates on all aspects of Italian cinema, and film industry related books in several languages.

About UCLA Film and Television Archive

The UCLA Film and Television Archive is internationally renowned for its pioneering efforts to preserve and showcase not only classic but current and innovative film and television. It is dedicated to ensuring that the moving image history of our time is explored and enjoyed for generations to come.

A unique resource for media study, the Archive constitutes one of the largest collections of media materials in the United States - second only to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. - and the largest of any university in the world.

Its vaults hold more than 220,000 motion picture and television titles and 27 million feet of newsreel footage. The combined collections represent an all-encompassing documentation of the 20th century. The UCLA Film and Television Archive is a member of the International Federation of Film Archives. http://www.cinema.ucla.edu

About the Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Italian Government Cultural Institute)

The Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Los Angeles is one of five government cultural agen- cies established in the United States by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Founded in 1984, the Institute acts as a cul- tural intermediary between Italy and the US, in a multifaceted perspective.

The IIC is a center for cultural and academic activities, a school of Italian language and culture, and a center for art exhibitions, film screenings and videos. It promotes the translation of Italian authors by encouraging local publishers and makes the public aware of Italian artists, as well as literary contests and awards.

Further program details are available at: http://www.iiclo sangeles.esteri.it/IIC_LosAngele s/webform/SchedaEvento.aspx?i d=388