LOS ANGELES, August 1st, 2025 – Months after its dazzling 20th edition, Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival continues to resonate as one of the most impactful cultural events of the year. Held in the days leading up to the 2025 Academy Awards, the festival once again turned Hollywood into a stage for Italian cinema, fashion, and music, celebrating the deep and enduring bond between Italy and the United States.

As we move into the second half of 2025 and a new awards season begins to unfold, it’s the perfect moment to look back on the highlights of LA, Italia 2025 — and to start the countdown to Los Angeles, Italia 2026.

A Star-Studded Celebration

The 2025 edition honored outstanding figures in international and Italian cinema with the LA, Italia Excellence Awards, presented to:

• Ralph Fiennes

• Julian Schnabel

• Edward Berger

• Pupi Avati

• Jack Huston

• Diane Warren

• Nick Vallelonga

• Sergio Castellitto

• Antonio Avati

• Mauro Borrelli

• Marco Belardi

• Fabrizio Mancinelli

• Francesco Merola

• Francesca Ceccarelli

One of the most acclaimed films of the year, Conclave by Edward Berger, was awarded Best Movie, with Ralph Fiennes receiving Best Actor and Berger also honored as Best Director. The film’s Italian set decorator Cynthia Sleiter is also an Academy Award nominee, highlighting Italy’s excellence behind the scenes.

Premieres, Tributes, and Cultural Highlights

From the emotional U.S. premiere of “The American Backyard” by Pupi Avati to the world premiere of “Champagne”, the long-awaited Peppino di Capri biopic, the festival offered a rich and diverse program across multiple venues including the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Italian Cultural Institute.

Special screenings included:

• The Return by Uberto Pasolini with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche

• The Last Supper by Mauro Borrelli, which closed the festival

• The Voice of Naples by Massimo Ferrari, honoring Mario Merola

• The Opera! – Arias for an Eclipse by Davide Livermore and Paolo Gep Cucco

Documentaries, Short Films, and New Voices

The Los Angeles, Italia Special Contest celebrated emerging talent with:

• Best Documentary: Tineret by Nicolò Ballante

• Best Short Film: Figli dell’arroganza by Anteros Marra

Groundbreaking works like I Am Crazy and You? by Dario D’Ambrosi brought together cinema and therapeutic theater, while over 80 screenings gave space to bold Italian and international storytelling.

Italy Shines on the World Stage

LA, Italia 2025 was organized with the support of:

• Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC)

• Intesa Sanpaolo

• ENIT, ICE, Italian Cultural Institute, Consulate General of Italy in LA

• SCABEC, Adamantis Europe Ltd, Givova, Riflessi – Made in Italy

Under the leadership of Pascal Vicedomini and chairperson Raffaella De Laurentiis, the festival welcomed major names including Franco Nero, Nick Vallelonga, Diane Warren, Jack Huston, Frank Grillo, and many others who joined hands in celebrating the global impact of Italian creativity.

Looking Ahead: Los Angeles, Italia 2026

The 20th edition of Los Angeles, Italia was more than a milestone — it was a promise of the future. With its unmatched blend of tradition, innovation, and international flair, the festival set a high bar for what’s to come.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for Los Angeles, Italia 2026, as the journey continues and Italian excellence once again takes center stage in Hollywood.

Follow updates at www.losangelesitalia.com and on all official social platforms.

The celebration goes on. See you next year.

L'articolo LOS ANGELES, ITALIA 2025: A TRIUMPHANT 20TH EDITION – SEE YOU IN 2026! proviene da Los Angeles Film Festival.

LOS ANGELES, April 18 – Directors Edoardo Ponti (“The Life Ahead”) and Filippo Meneghetti (“Two of us,”) will be assigned the “L.A. Italia Excellence Award” at the 16th edition of the Los Angeles, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival, the prominent and sought-after showcase of Italian culture traditionally preceding the Oscars. This year the festival is scheduled from April 18 to 24.
“These two Italian world renowned filmmakers incarnate the quintessential Italian excellence rich with outstanding creativity and sensitivity. Their artistic talent transcends all geographic boundaries” – declared Marina Cicogna for L.A., Italia.
Ponti’s movie “The Life Ahead” starring the director’s mother Sophia Loren, has recently earned a Golden Globe to Laura Pausini, Diane Warren and Niccolò Agliardi for the original song “Io sì (Seen).” written with Diane Warren and Niccolò’ Agliardi.
“Two of us,” the directorial feature film debut for Meneghetti, an Italian director with an international background, is running for the Academy Awards; the French movie has been shortlisted in the category Best Foreign Film.
Los Angeles, Italia 2021 is dedicated to the late Maestro Ennio Morricone, who was awarded by the Festival in 2007 and who, in 2016, received a well-deserved star on the Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. The tribute to Morricone will open the section “The Italian Masters” in the forthcoming edition of the much anticipated festival.
La Italia is an Italian film and audiovisual happening produced by Pascal Vicedomini and promoted by the Institute Capri in the world; the event establishes an ideal bridge with the festival Capri, Hollywood that last December celebrated a quarter of century and honored Sophia Loren for her amazing performance in “The Life Ahead.”
Los Angeles, Italia enjoys the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture (Direction General Cinema and Audiovisual) as well as the participation of Intesa Sanpaolo, Rai Cinema, Rai Com, Rainbow, Medusa, Iervolino Entertainment and Isaia, The Italian Consulate General, Ice and the Italian Institute of Culture.

L'articolo DIRECTOR EDOARDO PONTI RECEIVED “2021 LA, ITALIA EXCELLENCE AWARD” AT TCL CHINESE 6 THEATRES ON APRIL 18th proviene da Los Angeles Film Festival.

”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. 

L'articolo DIANE WARREN AND LAURA PAUSINI HONORED WITH “MASTER IN MUSIC AWARD” AT L.A., ITALIA 2021 THE OSCAR NOMINATED ARTISTS FETED ON THE OPENING NIGHT, SUNDAY APRIL 18 proviene da Los Angeles Film Festival.