A week in Hollywood celebrating Italian cinema, music, fashion and culture on the eve of the Academy Awards.
The 21st annual Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival has successfully concluded in Hollywood, marking once again a vibrant week dedicated to Italian culture — cinema, music, fashion and art — celebrated on the eve of the Academy Awards, reaffirming the enduring creative bond between Italy and California.
Twenty years ago, together with my fellow board members of the Istituto Capri nel Mondo, we conceived an idea: to build a cultural bridge connecting Italian cinema and music to Los Angeles — two worlds that have long admired and inspired one another.
That vision soon found fertile ground. I still remember presenting the concept of an Italian festival in Los Angeles to Shaul Kuba, Avi Shemesh and Richard Ressler — the Principals of CIM Group, owners of the Chinese Theatre and the former Kodak Theatre, now the Dolby Theatre. Their response was immediate and enthusiastic, reflecting the extraordinary admiration that Italy and its cultural legacy enjoy around the world, and especially in America.
Two decades later, in a profoundly transformed global landscape — and with many great figures no longer with us, beginning with two of my guiding muses, director Lina Wertmüller and producer Marina Cicogna — Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival continues to stand as a key cultural event in the international calendar leading up to the Academy Awards.
This year’s edition once again confirmed the vitality and global relevance of the festival — an initiative developed with the invaluable contribution of two distinguished members of our Honorary Board: music legend Tony Renis and iconic actor Franco Nero.
For an entire week, Hollywood became a meeting point for artists, filmmakers, musicians, producers and cultural leaders, celebrating the excellence of Italian creativity and its dynamic dialogue with the global entertainment industry.
An extraordinary lineup of Italian and international talent, together with a rich program of screenings, concerts, conversations and special events, once again reinforced the festival’s reputation as one of the most meaningful cultural gatherings preceding Oscar night.
Opening the week that culminates with the Academy Awards is both an honor and an ever-growing responsibility. Expectations within the international industry are well established, and we embrace this role with dedication and gratitude, aware that we represent a country admired around the world — a country that has always championed art, culture, solidarity and peace.
The historical moment we are living through remains complex and often painful. Conflicts across the globe disturb the lives of innocent people and challenge the creative freedom of many artists. Even those far from the front lines feel the emotional weight of these realities through the stories that reach us every day.
Yet cinema, music and the arts remain powerful forces of inspiration. They help us reflect, connect and continue dreaming together. In times like these, the ability to imagine and create becomes even more meaningful.
Through Los Angeles, Italia, our mission remains clear: to showcase the finest artistic and cultural expression of Italy — projected toward the future while deeply rooted in the extraordinary legacy of the artists who helped shape the global image of our country and left an indelible mark on Hollywood itself.
This successful edition once again demonstrated how culture can bring people together, creating moments of dialogue, celebration and shared emotion for the Los Angeles audience and for the international community gathered here.
The festival proudly continues its mission under the leadership of Chairperson Raffaella De Laurentiis and President Filippo Puglisi-Alibrandi, whose vision and dedication play a vital role in strengthening the cultural bridge between Italy and the United States.
We are deeply grateful to the institutions whose concrete support makes this initiative possible: the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Ministry of Industry, the Italian Trade Commission, the Italian Institute of Culture, and the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles.
Our sincere thanks also go to the sponsors whose commitment supports the festival and its cultural mission: Intesa Sanpaolo, KPMG and Rainbow.
A special acknowledgment goes to Artistic Director Antonella Cocco for her invaluable dedication and contribution to the success of this edition.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Edward Norton and Sasha Brown; Professor Valter Longo; producer Chiara Tilesi; music producer Ray Costa; top manager Rick Nicita (Jack Valenti Award 2026); Academy Award–winning director Taylor Hackford and Academy Award–winning actress Mira Sorvino; directors Catherine Hardwicke, Monica Guerritore, Antonio Silvestre and Davide Barbiero; actors Damián Bichir, Gilles Rocca, Beatrice Grannò, Madalina Ghenea, Antonella Salvucci, Cocky Ricciolino and Robert Madison; and the 2026 Mistress of Ceremony, Etoile Amanda Victoria Aletta, and to all the other artists, partners, institutions and friends who made this week in Hollywood a true celebration of Italian creativity.
Faith and hope encourage us to look forward with confidence. Each of us must continue striving — with respect for others, for intelligence and diversity — so that these values may converge into a shared path of mutual understanding.
And thank you to the audience for embracing once again the very best of today’s Italian and international artistic production — inspired by Italy and by the extraordinary Italians who helped build the enduring myth of our country.
Pascal Vicedomini
Founder and Producer
Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival
