Cinema Italian Style 2011 - Crialese, Gilliam and De Laurentiis protagonist of the first night

The last edition of Cinema Italian Style just closed with another big, deserved success. The Festival presented 11 movies for 5 days of Festival, hosted by the Egyptian Theatre of Hollywood and the Aero Theatre of Santa Monica.
Last November 10th The Italian Cultural Institute welcomed with a party guest such as actors Pierfrancesco Favino, Francesca Inaudi, Giuseppe Fiorello, Donatella Finocchiaro, Vittoria Puccini, Barbara Bobulova, Lidia Vitale, Filippo Pucillo and director Emanuele Crialese. The party was held on the occasion of “Star Wigs”, the exhibition that brought to L.A. the most amazing “heads” from international cinema and fashion.

The day after, the first screening at the Egyptian Theatre. But before the movie, it’s time for a homage to a great protagonist of international cinema: this edition of Cinema Italian Style was indeed dedicated to the Italian movie producer Dino De Laurentiis. His wife Martha, smiley and elegant as always, shared with the audience one of the best memories of him, telling the story of Dino’s success, from being a poor student of cinema, “without a penny in my pocket”, as he used to say, to becoming an icon of the cinema industry. A tale accompanied by a short movie showing the beginning of De Laurentiis’ career as an actor and his thoughts of the last years about his life and his movies.

On the stage with Martha another giant of Hollywood: Terry Gilliam. In the occasion of Cinema Italian Style, the visionary director, also author of “Brazil”, “Fear and Loathing in Las V egas” and “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”, presented “The Wholly Family”, a short movie settled in Naples area. As Gilliam said, Naples was not just his set but also his muse.

For their contribution to the world cinema and for their love for Italy, Terry Gilliam and Dino De Laurentiis have been awarded with the Bulgari Prize. The award has been handed out by another very special guest: Gabriele Muccino. “Dino De Laurentiis is for me one of the biggest icons of cinema” said Muccino.

“He’s one of those who have inspired me in my career. Nobody like him created a bridge between Italian and American cinema, and nobody like him impressed me so much with his movies. I still remember when King Kong came out; I was a kid and I was lying down on the beach, looking at my hand, like when in the movie King Kong dies. This memory is still in my mind. Now I feel like this small in front of a giant, but it’s great to be here to award his career.”

“Talking about Terry,” continued Muccino, “I remember he was shooting in Cinecittà when I was in high school. I and my friends were so proud he was in town! And now I’m proud to give this award to Terry Gilliam, a man able to create a powerful, imaginary world that connects reality to our subconscious.
After the award ceremony, journalist and curator of the festival Laura Delli Colli welcomed on the stage the cast of “Terraferma”, real protagonist of the evening.

The movie received great reviews all over the world and will represent Italy at the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film category. Director Emanuele Crialese, accompanied on the stage by actors Donatella Finocchiaro, Giuseppe Fiorello and Filippo Pucillo, only said a few words to introduce his film. “It’s wonderful to be here for this celebration. We also have our own story to tell...but it’s on the screen. I really hope you enjoy the movie.”

So thanks to the American Cinematheque and Cinecittà Luce, to the Italian Ministry of Culture – Film Department, to the Consulate General of Italy, the Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles. Thanks also to Alitalia, Baci Perugina, Bulgari, Dolce&Gabbana, Arnaldo Caprai, Cruciani and E.L.M.A. And thanks to the support of the honorary committee made up of the President of Cinecittà Luce Roberto Cicutto, Bernardo Bertolucci, Jo Champa, Martha De Laurentiis, Danny De Vito, Michael Douglas, Giancarlo Giannini, Jim Gianopulos, Anjelica Houston, Sophia Loren, Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo, Micheal Nathanson, Rick Nicita, Pietro Scalia, Stacey Snider and Harvey Weinstein.

Their great job contributed to making the success of this last edition.

Alessandra Mastroianni
contributor