Oscar recipients Richard Dreyfuss and Diana Warren, together with Matteo Garrone – as well as the leading actors from the latter’s “I Captain” – Seydou Sarr and Moustapha Fall, launched the 19th edition of the “Los Angeles, Italia Film, Fashion and Art Festival,” on Sunday, March 3, 2024. The festival is scheduled to run through Saturday March 9, the eve of the Oscars, which airs Sunday, March 10.
Seydou Sarr, Mateo Garrone, Moustapha Fall
The big feast of the Italian cinema – promoted with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Intesa Sanpaolo and featuring 112 film screenings (47 in movie theatres and 65 on the online platform eventive.org) – is dedicated this year to Marcello Mastroianni for his birth centenary, and to the legendary playwright Eduardo de Filippo, who will be remembered by Edoardo De Angelis and acclaimed stage actress Lina Sastri, who brings to the festival her directorial debut titled “La Casa di Ninetta,” a film about her mother’s life.
Franco Nero, co-founder of the festival (supported by Ilbe, Riflessi, Wwps TV and Givova), hosted LA, Italia 2024, which this year was chaired by producer Raffaella de Laurentiis and director Michelle Danner.
Among the other guests a special mention goes to Luca Barbareschi, Francesco Mandelli, Sofia Milos, Edoardo Costa, young film director Luigi Grispello, director of photography Massimo Zeri, as well as many longtime friends of the festival, including Oscar winners Nick Vallelonga, Barry Morrow, and Bobby Moresco.
L.A., Italia 2024 enjoys the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, and the participation of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, the Italian Trade Commission (ICE), and the Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles.
Heidy de la Rosa, Joy Ledger, Xonia
“We are so proud to be the longest running and most prolific Italian event in the world with regards to co-productions and the promotion of our Peninsula in the entertainment industry,” declared Pascal Vicedomini. “Since 2006, we have been pioneers in the promotion of major Italian movies and artists in Hollywood and we will enthusiastically continue the work of our legendary cofounders Lina Wertmuller and Marina Cicogna, who are forever in our hearts,” concluded the founder and producer of L.A., Italia.
Daughter to Dino De Laurentiis and Silvana Mangano, Raffaella is one of the most acclaimed Italian producers, responsible for movies that have conquered international markets (“Conan,” “Daylight”). Raffaella’s next movie will be shot in France by Peter Webber. Appreciated as an 'acting coach' and a director (“Miranda’s Victim”), Michelle Danner will premiere her latest cinematic effort, “The Italians,” at L.A., Italia 2024.