LOS ANGELES – The film Anna by Monica Guerritore, dedicated to Anna Magnani, opened the 21st Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival in Hollywood on International Women’s Day, during the week leading up to the Academy Awards ceremony.

“No woman embodied strength and resistance to manipulation as she did, fighting to defend her talent and authenticity,” said the film’s director and star Monica Guerritore, who arrived at the Chinese Theatre accompanied by her husband and the film’s producer Roberto Zaccaria, along with two of the film’s actors, Beatrice Grannò and Robert Madison. “In the film, dedicated to all women, we discover Anna’s difficult human journey and her battles: a powerful message that endures and becomes a guiding destination, making Anna Magnani an inspiring figure still celebrated around the world.”

The Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival, chaired by Raffaella De Laurentiis and Filippo Puglisi Aldovrandi, was promoted by the Capri in the World Institute with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), with the participation of Intesa Sanpaolo, KPMG and Rainbow, in collaboration with ICE – Italian Trade Agency, the Italian Cultural Institute and the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles.

“It was difficult for me, since I don’t like airplanes — just like she didn’t,” Monica Guerritore said. “But when you have to bring the most important work you’ve done to the world, you don’t step back: you move forward. When I arrived in L.A., passing in front of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the driver realized I was Italian. I said ‘Rome’ and he immediately replied: ‘Magnani.’ Everywhere you can feel the affection people still have for her.”

“Anna has been recognized by great artists such as Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren as a beacon of freedom,” Guerritore concluded. “A woman who continues to speak to the world.”

On the Hollywood stage, at the opening gala of the Festival founded by Pascal Vicedomini, guests included renowned artist manager Rick Nicita, honored with the Jack Valenti Award by Academy Award–winning director Taylor Hackford; actor Demián Bichir with his wife, étoile Victoria Aletta (festival godmother); dancer Antonio Spinelli, fresh from the major show with Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl; directors Antonio Silvestre, Daniele Barbiero and Valter D’Errico; actors Gilles Rocca, Emanuela Postacchini, Livio Cori and Annaluce Cuomo; and producers Chiara Tilesi and Carlo Salem.

Joining them were other figures from international cinema and music: actors Nathalie Emmanuel, Carolina Guerra, Sofia Milos, Vincent Spano and Kristos Andrews; producer Edward Walson; Oscar-nominated composer and songwriter Nicholas Pike (*“Sweet Dreams of Joy” from the film Viva Verdi); and Mark Sonnenblick, Oscar-nominated as co-writer and lyricist of the song “Golden” from the Netflix animated film KPOP Demon Hunters. Also in attendance was Academy Award–winning composer Alexandre Desplat, nominated for the score of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.

Representing the great tradition of songs for cinema was also the legendary songwriter Diane Warren, nominated for the Academy Award for the seventeenth time with the song “Dear Me” from the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless.

Founded and produced by Pascal Vicedomini, L.A., Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival is promoted with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture and under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MIMIT and MIT, in collaboration with institutional and industrial partners including Intesa Sanpaolo, Rainbow and Givova. The festival’s Chairperson is Raffaella De Laurentiis, and its President is Filippo Puglisi Alibrandi.