L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 20 L'Italo-Americano " I am very happy to participate to the Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival, which has brought me so much luck." With these words Claudia Ge- rini, godmother for the se- cond consecutive year of the well-known film festival, sends her personal wishes to the event, which will be held from March 18 to 21, 2021 in Los Angeles. The festival will be 90% in virtual mode, and 50 national and internatio- nal films, docu-films, TV se- ries and short films will be screened. Flanked by Har- vey Keitel, President hono- rary representing the United States, Claudia Gerini will open the festival with a spe- cial masterclass in strea- ming. " T h e w o r l d o f b o t h I t a l i a n a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l culture" the actress under- l i n e d " n e e d s s u p p o r t ; w e n e e d t o s e n d a s i g n a l o f r e s t a r t a n d h o p e f o r t h e future, because despite hav- ing made many productions this year, theater and the whole category of actors are going through a moment of great difficulty." Now in its sixth edition, Filming Italy - Los Angeles is presented with the Italian C u l t u r a l I n s t i t u t e o f L o s Angeles, organized in col- l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e A P A , the Audiovisual Producers Association and under the auspices of the Consulate G e n e r a l o f I t a l y i n L o s Angeles. Created and orga- n i z e d b y T i z i a n a R o c c a , A g n u s D e i a n d V a l e r i a R u m o r i , I t a l i a n C u l t u r a l I n s t i t u t e L o s A n g e l e s , Filming Italy - Los Angeles wants to promote Italy as a f i l m s e t a n d t o c r e a t e a bridge between Italian and American culture. It also w a n t s t o s u p p o r t I t a l i a n cultural growth through its cinema, the internalization of Italian audiovisual prod- ucts and the intercultural relations between the vari- o u s d i r e c t o r s , p r o d u c e r s a n d a r t i s t s . T h e F e s t i v a l will be introduced by Silvia Chiave, Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. "This Festival is a testi- mony of strength and com- m i t m e n t , e s p e c i a l l y f o r women, of the passion we h a v e f o r o u r w o r k . I a m , a l o n g s i d e T i z i a n a R o c c a , part of this beautiful cultur- a l i n i t i a t i v e : t h a n k s , Tiziana, for giving me this o p p o r t u n i t y , " g o d m o t h e r Claudia Gerini concluded. A m o n g t h e w i n n e r s o f the past editions of Filming I t a l y w e r e m e m b e r G i n a L o l l o b r i g i d a , R o s a r i o Dawson, Monica Bellucci, O l i v e r S t o n e , V a l e r i a G o l i n o , R i c c a r d o Scamarcio, Jeremy Renner, A n d i e M a c D o w e l l , S p i k e L e e , D a v i d C r o n e n b e r g , Claudia Cardinale, Raoul B o v a , N o l a n F u n k , B e l l a Thorne, Salvatore Esposito. The mind behind the fes- t i v a l i s , l i k e e v e r y y e a r , T i z i a n a R o c c a , w h o i s also Artistic Director of the Festival. "I am very happy to announce that this edi- tion of Filming Italy - Los Angeles will take place," she t o l d u s , " d e s p i t e a l l t h e p r o b l e m s r e l a t e d t o t h i s period. Of course we had to adapt to the extraordinary situation we are experienc- ing, rescheduling the festi- val in digital mode." T i z i a n a , i n t h i s e d i - t i o n y o u d e c i d e d t o focus on some specific social issues. Can you tell us more? I have decided to high- l i g h t i s s u e s I b e l i e v e a r e SILVIA GIUDICI particularly urgent and nec- e s s a r y t h r o u g h o u t t h e world, without distinction. We will talk about human rights and equal opportuni- t i e s , w i t h a f o c u s o n t h e enhancement of women's role in the working world, especially in the world of cinema. Then, we'll discuss the environmental prob- lems that are afflicting the planet and threatening the future of young people. And of course we will talk about cinema, in numerous mas- terclasses with many Italian a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c t o r s , addressing the future of the seventh art, jeopardized by the pandemic and the lock- down. The first two of the 25 masterclasses planned with the students have been announced. One will fea- ture Oliver Stone, who will talk about his career and his latest book, and another with Tiziano Ferro. W h a t a r e y o u m o s t satisfied about this edi- tion? I am very happy for the decision to include the fes- tival in the context of the celebrations for the 160th year of diplomatic relations b e t w e e n I t a l y a n d t h e United States, which want to recognize the role cinema p l a y e d o v e r t h e y e a r s i n strengthening the friend- ship between our countries. Tiziana Rocca, the mind behind the Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival (Photo: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com) Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival 2021: a chat with Tiziana Rocca Continued to page 22 LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE

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