From pop music to grand opera, the stories of Riccardo Cocciante, Rino Gaetano and Maestro Giacomo Puccini arrive in Hollywood thanks to Rai Documentari, at the heart of a special section dedicated to the lives of Italy’s greatest talents, starting March 8 at the LA, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival.
Among the most anticipated titles at the TCL Chinese Theatre is Il mio nome è Riccardo Cocciante, directed by Stefano Salvati, retracing the extraordinary career of the Italo-French singer-songwriter who has just turned 80.
Rino Gaetano: Sempre più blu, directed by Giorgio Verdelli, celebrates the unforgettable voice of Italian songwriting, while the genius of Giacomo Puccini is explored in Cento e oltre. Puccini e noi by Angelo Bozzolini. Also featured is Volonté, l’uomo dei 1000 volti by Francesco Zippel, dedicated to the legendary actor, alongside additional works spotlighting icons of Italian cinema.
Founded and produced by Pascal Vicedomini, the festival is organized by the Istituto Capri nel Mondo with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), and with the participation of Intesa Sanpaolo, KPMG and Rainbow. The event collaborates with the Consulate General of Italy, the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, and the Italian Trade Agency. The festival is chaired by Raffaella De Laurentiis and Filippo Puglisi-Alibrandi.
The program also includes the U.S. premiere of Anna, dedicated to Anna Magnani, directed by and starring Monica Guerritore, special screenings of recent Italian box office hits (Buen Camino, Oi Vita mia’, La Vita Va Così), a tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci marking the 50th anniversary of 1900, as well as TV series such as Sandokan, Guerrieri, Rosso Volante and Franco Battiato – Il lungo viaggio, alongside tributes to Tony Renis and Renzo Arbore.
