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Showing posts from June, 2015

Anna Magnani- Unconventional Cinema Royalty

Updated April 17, 2016 It's recently been announced that the Film Society of Lincoln Center along with Istituto Luce Cinecittà will honor the distinguished career of Italian cinema icon Anna Magnani. "La Magnani", an all-celluloid retrospective will feature 24 works shown entirely on 35mm and 16mm film. The series will take place at Lincoln Center in New York City, May 18 – June 1 leading right up to the much anticipated "Open Roads: New Italian Cinema". Click here for more information and to buy tickets. She is one of the most revered actresses in the history of cinema and her memory lives on in some of the most influential films of all time.   Born in Rome in 1908, Anna Magnani became a highly respected Academy Award winning actress, but her beginnings were anything but glamorous.   Magnani grew up in poverty. She was raised by her grandmother after her mother left at a young age, and she never knew her father. It was clear before long that Magnani

Actor Domenico Centamore: Pride and Passion for his Sicilian Culture

He’s had roles in some of the biggest Italian blockbusters of the new millennium and each time, he portrayed a fearless protagonist willing to fight until the end against organized crime.  Sicilian born actor, Domenico Centamore is proud of his heritage, expressing that pride by working on films that make strong statements against the corruption his culture has had to endure. He’s had roles in  popular mafia-themed films such as I cento passi (One Hundred Steps), La mafia uccide solo d’estate (The Mafia Only Kills in Summer) and Anime nere  (Black Souls). Centamore has an impressive list of credits to his name, always portraying complex characters, some of which seem to border on insanity. His gaze is penetrating, as you can see in the clip below from I cento passi with Luigi Lo Cascio, and he sincerely gives a performance that comes straight from the soul. When we began our informal interview a few weeks ago, Centamore at first seemed a man of few words but then his pride

Al GEOpenDay la presentazione della Libreria Multimediale Geocart

Il #GEOpenDay della Geocart, in programma il 26 giugno a Potenza, sarà l'occasione per lanciare alcuni nuovi prodotti altamente innovativi e digitali. Tra le attività in programma verrà presentata la nuova Libreria Multimediale Geocart. Il 26 giugno, durante il #GEOpenDay, nel Centro Entertainment & Media di Geocart, il laboratorio Digital Lighthouse, verranno mostrate alcune delle accurate ricostruzioni virtuali che sono state sviluppate durante i mesi di ricerca e si potranno osservare gli output del percorso elaborativo che i dati percorrono dal momento della loro acquisizione, fino al desktop. La scommessa di Geocart parte proprio da qui, con una nuova tecnica sviluppata dalla società che permette di sfruttare i dati provenienti dai nostri sensori e dalle tecnologie utilizzate nelle fasi di telerilevamento, per ricostruire con soluzioni inedite: accurati modelli digitali 3D e simulazioni virtuali di interi paesaggi, siti d’interesse, set, architetture o di ogge

Basilicata: Terra di Cinema - Edoardo Leo's "Noi e La Giulia"

"Lucania" Photo by Jeannine Guilyard It’s a vast, spacious land untouched and unpolluted by industry. Its rolling hills, majestic mountains and ancient buildings have stood the test of time. Throughout the years, it has served as a backdrop for iconic filmmakers like Pier Paolo Pasolini and Francesco Rosi. Now, a whole new generation of filmmakers is discovering the magic of Basilicata as a natural set, bringing the region to the world’s stage once again. Edoardo Leo’s award-winning film, Noi e La Giulia , is the latest high-profile film to be shot in Basilicata. Adapted from Fabio Bartolomei’s book, Giulia 1300 e altri miracoli , the story follows three unlikely partners as they join hands on the risky business venture of turning a dilapidated farmhouse into a modern agriturismo. The opening scenes were shot in Rome, with the remainder of the film shot in the countryside of Pomarico, situated in the hills of Matera. The farmhouse in which most of the scenes took pla

Ischia Film Festival Celebrates Location of Francesco Munzi's "Black Souls"

The Ionic Sea along the town of Africo (Photo by Actor, Stefano Priolo of Black Souls) Out of the 109 films selected for the festival, 54 will be enjoying their national premieres, 2 their international premieres and 2 their European premieres. 42 are Italian productions or co-productions, and the competition will feature 40 films, including feature films, documentaries and short films, which will battle it out for the festival’s awards. From 27 June to 4 July 2015, the 13th edition of the Ischia Film Festival will be held at the Aragonese Castle in Ischia. It is the only international competition dedicated to cinematographic locations that gives artistic recognition to audiovisual works, directors, directors of cinematography and set designers that endorse Italian and international locations, putting the emphasis on the landscape and cultural identity. Out of the 109 films selected for the festival, 54 will be enjoying their national premieres, 2 their international premier

Canada's Italian Contemporary Film Festival to Feature the Award Winning "Noi e La Giulia"

“We’re born with our hands full. That’s why as newborn babies, we clench our fists.. because we have the best gifts we could ever wish for.. innocence, curiosity, a will to live. But then they bring us up to be God-fearing. So, we can’t blame ourselves for fearing everything else as well.” Edoardo Leo’s “Noi e La Giulia” is a thought-provoking, hilarious trip on waking up one day over the age of 40 and realizing that you don’t have a whole lot in life to account for. “You turn 40 and you realize your best friends are a negro, a cammorista and a pair of losers” proclaims a tearful Fausto, Leo’s politically incorrect, right wing character. The film begins with a day in the lives of three Roman 40-somethings from completely different backgrounds. There is Fausto (Edoardo Leo), a macho, self-confident on-air personality that sells mock watches and is wanted by creditors, Diego (Luca Argentero), a disenchanted car salesman unable to show emotion and Claudio (Stefano Fresi), who i

Maria Grazia Cucinotta Kicks Off 2015 Shanghai International Film Festival

Sicilian movie star, Maria Grazia Cucinotta ( Our interview with Cucinotta )was in Shanghai over the weekend to kick off the 2015 Shanghai International Film Festival. Ratified by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the Shanghai International Film Festival will run for nine days. The festival offers cinema-goers the chance to see a number of Italian films that were never imported into theaters in China, which restricts the number of foreign films that can enter the market each year. This year, eight Italian films will be featured at the festival:    Ermanno Olmi's "Greenery will bloom again" "Black Souls" by Francesco Munzi: Focus Italy "Greenery will bloom again" by Ermanno Olmi: Focus Italy "Happily mixed up" by Massimiliano Bruno: Focus Italy "Invisible Boy" by Gabriele Salvatores: Focus Italy "Italo" by Alessia Scarso: Focus Italy "Italy in a Day" - Un gior

Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni.. What cinema dreams are made of

The Toronto International Film Festival is wrapping up its retrospective of the cinematic collaboration of husband and wife team, Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni. Over the last few days, the couple have participated in discussions, Q & A sessions and have introduced several of their films. Today, I attended a screening of "La voce della luna" (The voice of the moon). It was  Federico Fellini's last film and is a wonderful tribute to the director's signature poetic madness. The film gave Benigni the opportunity to team up with fellow beloved comic, Paolo Villaggio, and the two created a truly unforgettable adventure. Today's screening began with an introduction by Benigni. The moments leading up to his introduction were noticeably serious and somewhat tense. Benigni's publicist and TIFF security staunchly guarded his privacy. There was no interaction and no photos were allowed. Guided by his entourage, he walked quickly from the Green Room to th

The Diversity of Actress Valentina Lodovini

"I think cinema has a huge power, in that it can describe many things and awaken much in us.”   Those words come from Valentina Lodovini, one of the brightest stars in Italian cinema today. Valentina Lodovini was born in 1977 in Umbertide, a small commune in Umbria .   She spent her childhood growing up in San Sepolcro in Arezzo .   Since she was a little girl, she always had dreams of acting, but didn’t pursue them until she graduated from college and went on her first audition.   Since then, she’s done more than a dozen a films and is earning respect as one of the most sought after leading ladies in Italian cinema. Lodovini has had a very successful career on the big screen.   Her first role was in a film with some of the biggest names in the business.   Ovunque sei was directed by Michele Placido in 2004 and stars Stefano Accorsi and Barbora Bobulova. Despite her success in film, Lodovini continues to go back and forth between television, stage and the big screen.

A Conversation with Actor- Luca Calvani from Warner Bros. Upcoming Release "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

The cast and filmmakers of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  in Rome  A few years ago, I interviewed actor, Luca Calvani on the occasion of his U.S. release, When in Rome . Today, we are revisiting our conversation as he is promoting his much anticipated spy thriller, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the all-star cast includes Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. Based on the television series by Sam Rolfe, the story is set in the 1960's and follows CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin as they participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. The U.S. release date is set for August 14, but the cast recently did some press for the film in the Eternal City, where much of it was shot. Luca Calvani Born in Tuscany, Calvani has traveled the world following his career. He began working as a model in the 1990's