2011 LA, Italia Fest To Mark The 150th Anniversary Of Italian Unification Through A Celebration Of Film And The Performing Arts

Highlights Include a Retrospective of Films by the Great Italian Masters; A Performance by Jazz Pianist Stefano Bollani; and A Tribute to Ballet Star Roberto Bolle

LOS ANGELES, CA — The 2011 edition of the Los Angeles, Italia Film, Fashion and Art Fest will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy with a retrospective of Italian films that have impacted the history of cinema, and by appearances by two of Italy’s most renowned performing artists, ballet great Roberto Bolle and jazz pianist Stefano Bollani, both of whom will receive the Excellence Award – a special acknowledgement of Italian artists whose extraordinary work has introduced that country’s cultural riches to audiences throughout the world.

The sixth edition of the annual festival that showcases the best of Italian culture will take place on the eve of the Academy Awards (February 20th to 26th) at the Mann’s Chinese 6 Theatre in the famed Hollywood & Highland complex.

“This is the first cinematic initiative outside of Italy to celebrate Italian unification as seen through the eyes of such great masters such as Luchino Visconti, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Elio Petri, Michelangelo Antonioni, Pietro Germi, Florestano Vancini, and Gigi Magni, along with a photo exhibition featuring Italy’s most famous cinematic couples,” said Festival Producer Pascal Vicedomini.

The Italian Ambassador to the United States, Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, added:  “The fact that the 2011 edition of ‘Los Angeles Italia – Film, Fashion, and Art Fest’ coincides with the 150th Anniversary of Italy’s Unification – ITALY@150 – makes it even a better occasion to showcase Italy’s talents and strengthen the ever growing cultural exchanges between our two countries.”

LA, Italia will mark the Hollywood debut of Roberto Bolle and Stefano Bollani. On the evening of February 24th, Bolle will present the backstage documentary of his show Onegin (produced by Classica and set between Milan’s La Scala and the Opera Theatre of Stoccarda) as well as a director’s cut of his show “Roberto Bolle and Friends.” The following evening, February 25th, Bollani, will perform live at the piano in a tribute to Nino Rota’s music and Federico Fellini’s films.

Vicedomini noted that the Fest will also screen a number of recent Italian blockbuster comedies including “Welcome to the South” (“Benvenuti al Sud”) by Luca Miniero which was Italy’s 2010 top Box office performer, and “Men Vs Women” and “Women Vs. Men” by Fausto Brizzi (2011).

It was previously announced that the Festival’s opening day (February 20) will celebrate the remarkable career of legendary Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis with a mini retrospective of several of his most memorable motion pictures, along with a screening Tonino Pinto’s De Laurentiis documentary “A Neapolitan in Hollywood.”  The opening night film will be the American Premiere of Marco Bellocchio’s “Sorelle Mai,” which will be followed during the week by a retrospective of some of iconic director’s most acclaimed films including “Fists in the Pocket” (1965), “Vincere,” (2009), “Enrico IV” (1984), “Good Morning, Night” (2003), “The Wedding Director” (2006) and “My Mother’s Smile” (2002).

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, the National Italian American Foundation (NAIF) 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 Los Angeles. 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.

Screenings and programs are offered at no charge to the public – admission is on a first-come, first-seated basis.  For more information and a full schedule of screenings and events, please visit www.losangelesitalia.com.

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