Los Angeles, April 18 – 12-time Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren and the talented Italian singer/songwriter Laura Pausini will be honored with the “L.A., ITALIA – Master in Music Award” on the opening night of the 16th Annual “Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival”. From the film “The Life Ahead,” directed by Edoardo Ponti and starring Sophia Loren, “Io Sì (Seen)” will receive the festival’s “Best Song of the Year.” The two world-renowned artists were recently awarded Best Original Song – Motion Picture at this year’s Golden Globes along with Niccolo’ Agliardi, and are now nominated for an Academy Award.

”Laura Pausini is already a national idol and is a celebrated artist all over the world. Diane Warren is a global legend, with a career punctuated by acknowledgments inclusive of twelve Academy Awards nominations. When they joined forces they literally generated a magical and poetic song that strikes a chord with audiences all around the world, ” declared Tony Renis, a Golden Globe winner and Oscar-nominated music composer serving as L.A., Italia Festival co-chairing along with producer Andrea Iervolino and Oscar winner Nick Vallelonga. “On April 25,” added Renis, “we’ll be supporting Diane and Laura, hoping that they will avenge Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, and myself for a prize we failed to win – though we’d gotten very close to victory with my song ‘The Prayer’ (1999).”

“Io Sì (Seen)” is a song produced for Atlantic Warner by Greg Wells, a long-time collaborator of such music stars like Elton John and Celine Dion. The song is executive produced by music legend, Bonnie Greenberg.

Access to screenings at the Hollywood Chinese 6 Theatres for L.A., Italia 2021 will be free of charge (maximum 100 people, with reservation trough the website losangelesitalia.com) as well all the screenings on Eventive.org and Mymovies.it. Seminars and award giving ceremonies also can be followed on YouTube and social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

The Festival, sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affaires and the Italian Ministry of Culture in association with Intesa Sanpaolo, Rai Italia, Iervolino Entertainment, Minerva Pictures, Rai Com, Rai Cinema, Movietaly, Rainbow, Isaia as well as the Anica, Apa, Italian Trade Commission, the Italian Consulate General and the Italian Institute of Culture in Los Angeles, has become a metaphorical bridge between two cultures and two industries.

The Festival, sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affaires and the Italian Ministry of Culture in association with Intesa Sanpaolo, Rai Italia, Iervolino Entertainment, Minerva Pictures, Rai Com, Rai Cinema, Movietaly, Rainbow, Isaia as well as the Anica, Apa, Italian Trade Commission, the Italian Consulate General and the Italian Institute of Culture in Los Angeles, has become a metaphorical bridge between two cultures and two industries.