Cinema Italian Style 2011 presents the US premiere of Italy's academy awards entry - Best foreign language film "Terraferma"

Cinema Italian Style 2011, will kick off on November 11th with the premiere of Emanuele Crialese’s Terraferma, Italy’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2011 Academy Awards.

Terraferma stars Donatella Fin occhiario, Filippo Pucillo and Giuseppe Fiorello will join Crialese for the red carpet event at the Egyptian Theatre hosted by Vittoria Puccini, hostess of the 2011 Venice Film Festival, and Pierfrancesco Favino (Night at the Museum, Angels and Demons, The Chronicles of Narnia). Directed and co-written by Crialese, Terraferma, garnered the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Venice International Film Festival. The 2011 edition of Cinema Italian Style (November 10-15) is dedicated to legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis.

De Laurentiis’ work and contributions to the world of cinema will be remembered and celebrated at a special tribute preceding the premiere of Terraferma. Acclaimed director Terry Gilliam will also be presented with the CIS BVLGARI Award prior to the film’ screening.

The Cinema Italian Style 2011 program and the De Laurentiis homage will be announced on November 10 during a special event at the De Laurentiis family residence. The Cinema Italian Style series is organized and produced by Cinecittà Luce and the American Cinematheque. The two organizations have worked side by side since 1995 to bring to Los Angeles the best Italian movies as well as films that have received significant recognition at international film festivals.

This year’s selection, assembled by film journalist, author and President of SNGCI (National Union of Italian film journa- lists) Laura Delli Colli, includes director Nanni Moretti’s Habemus Papam (We Have a Pope), Mario Martone’s Noi Credevamo, Cristina Comencini’s Quando la Notte (When the Night), Gianni di Greogorio’s Gianni e le donne (The Salt of Life), Paolo Genovese’s Immaturi (The Immature); Sergio Castellitto’s La bellezza del somaro (Love and Slaps); Francesco Bruni’s Scialla (Easy!), Giuseppe Gagliardi’s Tatanka, Alba Rohrwacher’s Corpo Celeste and Ricky Tognazzi’s Il Padre e lo Straniero (The Father and the Foreigner). Each film will feature an introduction and Q & A led by La Repubblica correspondent Silvia Bizio.

The week-long Cinema Italian Style program includes a November 10 pre-opening event at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica with CIS Award recipient Terry Gilliam. Gilliam will meet the audience after the screening of his 1985 Oscar- nominated film Brazil and introduce his latest short film The Wholly Family which was shot in the street of Naples.

Further program highlights are a panel discussion on tax incentives for filming in Italy organized by A.N.I.C.A (Italian Association of Cinema Industries), the opening of Dress in Dreams’ new exhibition “Star Wigs” at the Italian Cultural Institute and film presentations at local universities and cultural centers to introduce the best Italian movies of the year to film students.

Every year Cinema Italian Style bestows the prestigious Cinema Italian Style Award upon representatives of Italian cinema and US cinema industry representatives who have unique ties to Italian cinema. This year’s recipient of the Award will be acclaimed director Terry Gilliam.

Past recipients include: George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Raoul Bova, Rick Nicita, Ed Limato, Anjelica Huston, Valeria Golino, Jo Champa, Dino De Laurentiis, Gabriele Muccino, John Turturro, Douglas Kirkland and Academy Award winners Vittorio Storaro (director of photography) and Milena Canonero (designer).

About Cinema Italian Style

The Cinema Italian Style series is organized and produced by Cinecittà Luce and the American Cinematheque, supported by The Italian Ministry of Culture – Film Department; Alitalia, Baci Perugina, Bvlgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Cantine Arnaldo Caprai, Cruciani and E.L.M.A (European Languages and Movies in America).

In collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy, The Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Cultural Institute
of Los Angeles. Cinema Italian Style enjoys the support of the Honorary Board of directors which includes Bernardo Bertolucci, Jo Champa, Martha De Laurentiis, Danny De Vito, Michael Douglas, Giancarlo Giannini, Jim Gianopulos, Anjelica Huston, Sherry Lansing, Sophia Loren, Dante Ferretti, Rick Nicita, Pietro Scalia, Dante Spinotti and Harvey Weinstein.

In past years, Italian talents such as Riccardo Scamarcio, Valeria Golino, Raoul Bova, Ornella Muti and Gabriele Muccino have been joined by Hollywood guests including Warren Beatty, Andy Garcia, Anjelica Huston, Patricia Arquette, John Savage, John Landis, Oliver Stone, Paul Mazursky, Penelope Cruz, Taylor Hackford and many others.