LOS ANGELES, CA, February 1, 2011 – The remarkable career of legendary Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis will be celebrated on the opening day of the 6th annual LA, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival (February 20th) with a mini retrospective of several of his most memorable motion pictures, along with a screening of Tonino Pinto’s De Laurentiis documentary “A Neapolitan in Hollywood.” LA, Italia runs the week preceding the Academy Awards® (February 20th -26th) at the Mann’s Chinese 6 Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland complex.
“It’s a fitting tribute to a real Italian legend, whose long and brilliant career was centered in both Italy and Hollywood,” said Pascal Vicedomini, founder and producer of the Festival. “The late producer was a star in his own right, whose career milestones included the 2001 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as an Academy Award® for Federico Fellini’s feature film ‘La Strada.’ Despite his disagreement with Italian cultural policy, Dino De Laurentiis had always loved Italy and we sincerely hope that the Academy plans to do something to honor his memory on Oscar® night.”
Films to be shown include: “Hannibal” (2001) by Ridley Scott (10:30am); “Bitter Rice” (1949) by Giuseppe De Santis (1:30pm); “The Road” (1954) by Federico Fellini, which received an Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film (4pm); and Tonino Pinto’s Documentary – A Neapolitan in Hollywood (6:00pm).
At the conclusion of the documentary, Oscar®-winning screenwriter Steven Zaillian will officially welcome the Italian delegation to Los Angeles. Then Vicedomini will introduce Dino’s wife and producing partner, Martha De Laurentiis, following which noted Italian director Marco Bellocchio, who is receiving the Festival’s 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, will pay homage to the late Mr. De Laurentiis.
LA, Italia is produced by Pascal Vicedomini for the Capri in the World Institute in association with Cim Group, Eni, Rai TV, and Alitalia, with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and with the special participation of the Consul General of Italy, the Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Institute of Culture in L.A. LA, Italia is a sister event of two other Italian festivals, Capri-Hollywood and Ischia Global, all of which are dedicated to establishing a creative and business bridgehead between Hollywood and Italy’s film and show business communities.
LA, Italia is produced by Pascal Vicedomini for the Capri in the World Institute in association with Cim Group, Eni, Rai TV, and Alitalia, with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and with the special participation of the NIAF – National Italian American Foundation, the Consul General of Italy, the Italian Trade Commission, the Italian Institute of Culture in L.A., Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà-Luce and the U.S.C. – University of Southern California.
