Filming in Italy – Los Angeles returned with a full slate of films for its fourth edition, from January 29th through the 31st, 2019 at the Italian Cultural Institute, Los Angeles and Harmony Gold Theater in West Hollywood.
Produced by Tiziana Rocca, Filming Italy – Los Angeles Artistic Director and Valeria Rumori, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Los Angeles, the festival played host to many personalities from the Italian cinema industry and Italians in Hollywood.
This year, legendary actress Gina Lollobrigida, who only a year ago received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was named Honorary President of the Festival, while Edward James Olmos and Raoul Bova were also recognized during the awards ceremony.
“American films gave me so much and the Americans always remembered me, always! Receiving last year the Filming Italy award and the star on the Walk of Fame was wonderful. Coming back again this year is a true honor,” comments Gina Lollobrigida “Not only, but right here in Los Angeles, the shooting of the documentary about my life will begin. In the 50s, I started my career here. Howard Hughes brought me to this extraordinary city that I had always wanted to visit. The war had given me the strength to believe in myself and when I arrived in Los Angeles, I forgot the deafening sound of bombs. Cinema made me live my life and I thank Italian and international cinema for everything it has given me”.
The award ceremony was followed by a special Hollywood Foreign Press Association screening of ‘The Anarchist Banker,’ directed by and starring Giulio Base, who was also in attendance.
The 2019 festival also celebrated and honored actress Claudia Cardinale, who was a guest of honor of the event. Cardinale received the Filming Italy Career Achievement Award and the Harmonist Annual Excellence Award presented by Lola Tillyaeva, as well as the IIC Los Angeles Creativity Award from the Italian Culture Institute, Los Angeles, in recognition of her films and Italian creativity and excellence.
“We are delighted to announce the fourth edition which once again features great films and world famous Italian talents and to have the diva Claudia Cardinale as our guest of honor,” says Tiziana Rocca, Artistic Director, “Filming Italy – Los Angeles was created to bring to Hollywood’s attention the important cinematographic and cultural patrimony of Italy through the stars and films that made it famous as well as highlighting new talents. Our mission is to promote internationalization and the Italian territory. It is therefore an important occasion of cultural exchange for audiovisual productions.”
Also in attendance were Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles Silvia Chiave, Bella Thorne, Sofia Milos, Vincent Spano, and others.
During the night the actress will receive the Filming Italy Career Achievement Award and the Harmonist Annual Excellence Award presented by Lola Tillyaeva, but also the IIC Los Angeles Creativity Award from the Italian Culture Institute, Los Angeles, as recognition of Italian creativity and excellence appreciated all over the world.
