Skip to main content

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Announces Partnership with Istituto Luce – Cinecittà

ACADEMY MUSEUM ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP
WITH ISTITUTO LUCE – CINECITTÀ
Annual Series of Italian Film Screenings
Will Begin with Centennial Tribute to Federico Fellini


ROME, ITALY, October 8, 2019– The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures today announced Istituto Luce – Cinecittà as a Founding Supporter with a five-year agreement in support of an annual series of Italian films and accompanying public programs. The museum will be the world’s premier institution dedicated to the art and science of movies and moviemaking. Over the course of the five-year agreement, the Academy Museum team will curate an annual series of Italian masterpiece film screenings and programs in consultation with Istituto Luce – Cinecittà. The first will be a centennial tribute to the legendary writer-director Federico Fellini (1920–1993), which will travel to major museums and film institutes in Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States.

The partnership was announced today on the occasion of the first Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences member event in Italy, co-hosted by Istituto Luce – Cinecittà, with the support of Mastercard. At the reception and dinner to be held at Palazzo Barberni in Rome this evening, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson and Academy President David Rubin will welcome nearly 200 Academy members, filmmakers, artists, and dignitaries, and celebrate the great achievements of Italian cinema.

“We are pleased to partner with Istituto Luce - Cinecittà to bring iconic Italian cinema to movie fans visiting the Academy Museum from around the world,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “Federico Fellini was my first love in international film—his work defines the art of cinema. And through the years, many more of Italy’s great films and directors will be featured.” 
President and CEO of Istituto Luce - Cinecittà Roberto Cicutto said, “We are proud of our friendship with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which shares our deep commitment to preserving films and film heritage, and we are delighted to align ourselves with the Academy Museum. This new, Renzo Piano-designed, institution is certain to become one of the great international beacons for everyone who loves film. We look forward to launching the series in Los Angeles next year.”
Bernardo Rondeau, Head of Film Programming at the Academy Museum, said, “The Academy Museum is committed to celebrating the highest achievements in global cinema. We are excited to collaborate with Istituto Luce - Cinecittà for this five-year series of Italian cinema. We will provide an Academy experience to present each of the films in this series.
###
About Istituto Luce – Cinecittà
Istituto Luce - Cinecittà is the state-owned company for the preservation, restoration, and promotion of Italian cinema worldwide, from a merger of Istituto Luce (founded 1924) and Cinecittà (founded 1937). Since July 2017, Istituto Luce - Cinecittà has taken back the legendary Cinecittà Studios and post-production labs, as well as Cinecittà Digital Factory, the Studios’ digital center: which is responsible for post-production to restoration. It also houses the renowned Archivio Luce, (part of the Unesco’s Memory of the World Register), one of the largest European documentary and photographic archive; it is responsible for the distribution of European films and documentaries, and the promotion of Italian cinema domestically and abroad. 
The collaboration between Istituto Luce - Cinecittà and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences dates back to the 1990s. The two organizations have presented many great exhibitions and tributes together, honoring Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, Dante Ferretti, and Sophia Loren to name but a few.
Editor’s Note:
Four films directed by Federico Fellini won Academy Awards® for Best Foreign Language Film. He was nominated 12 times for directing and writing and, in 1992, received an Academy Honorary Award in recognition of his place as one of the screen’s master storytellers.
About the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The Academy Museum will be the world’s premier institution dedicated to the art and science of movies. The Museum will be simultaneously immersive, experimental, educational, and entertaining. More than a museum, this dynamic film center will offer unparalleled experiences and insights into movies and moviemaking. Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, the Museum is restoring and revitalizing the historic Saban Building—formerly known as the May Company building (1939)—at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. The Saban Building will feature six floors, including exhibition spaces, the 288-seat Ted Mann Theater, an education studio, special event spaces, conservation areas, a café, and store. The new spherical addition will connect to the Saban Building via glass bridges and will feature the state-of-the-art 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater and the rooftop Dolby Family Terrace with sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills.

The Campaign for the Academy Museum is headed by chair Bob Iger and co-chairs Annette Bening and Tom Hanks. These industry leaders join other generous philanthropists who have named spaces, including Cheryl and Haim Saban (The Saban Building), The David Geffen Foundation (The David Geffen Theater), Dalian Wanda Group (The Wanda Gallery), Rolex (Rolex Gallery), Dolby Laboratories/Family of Ray Dolby (The Dolby Family Terrace), The Walt Disney Company (The Walt Disney Company Piazza), Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg (The Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery), Steven Spielberg (The Spielberg Family Gallery), Shirley Temple Black and Family (Shirley Temple Education Studio), Cecilia DeMille Presley (Founders Room), Gale Anne Hurd (Hurd Gallery), NBCUniversal, Netflix (Netflix Terrace), Participant Media, Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman (Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman Mezzanine), The Simms/Mann Family Foundation (Ted Mann Theater), Jeff Skoll, The Fran and Ray Stark Foundation, Warner Bros. Entertainment (The Warner Bros. Entertainment Gallery), Wasserman Foundation (Wasserman Bridge), and Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events LLC/Compass Group USA, Inc. The Academy Museum’s Digital Engagement Platform is sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Conversation with Sergio Castellitto

Sergio Castellitto has made a profound impact on world cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. Born in Rome in 1953, Castellitto graduated from film school in 1978 and credits American cinema with pushing him toward a career in acting. His work has garnered numerous accolades, largely due to his immersive, original approach to projects in film, television and theatre. Castellitto is fluent in French and English, which has contributed mightily to his international stardom. But it's the actor's trademark brown eyes and charming everyman qualities that have lent his various characters -- even the ones that are rough around the edges -- an air of dignity that other actors might not have achieved. Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini, 2005 Films such as "Paura e Amore," "L'uomo delle stelle," "Caterina va in città," and "Bella Martha" heralded Castellitto as a versatile artist with far-reaching abilities. But it ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Life and Work of Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci as Malèna Born in Umbria in 1964, Monica Bellucci is one of the most recognizable faces of international cinema. But she didn't always have her sights set on the spotlight. She went to college to study law and modeled to pay her tuition. Her success in the fashion world coupled with the offers that were pouring in to appear on the big screen eventually took over, changing her fate. Bellucci made her on-screen debut in the 1990 television movie, " Vita coi figli." Just two years later, she scored her first American role in Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula."   In addition to her native language, she speaks fluent English and French, which has made for a smooth transition from Italian to international cinema. Stateside, she has acted in blockbusters such as "The Matrix-Reloaded,"     " The Passion of the Christ" and " The Sorcerer's Apprentice." She has also appeared in several French films, a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Golden Age Masterpiece: Luchino Visconti’s 1957 “White Nights”

Photo Credit: Archivio Luce Cinecittà Luchino Visconti’s 1957 film, “White Nights” (“Le notti bianche”), offers a thoughtful and poignant exploration of themes such as loneliness, desire and emotional vulnerability. Based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novella of the same name, it transports the tale from 19th-century St. Petersburg to a dreamy mid-20th-century Italian setting. While Visconti remains largely faithful to Dostoevsky’s narrative, his characteristic style infuses the film with emotional depth, striking visuals, and a focus on class and societal constraints.   The story follows a young man named Matteo, played by Marcello Mastroianni, who lives a solitary life in a small Italian town. One evening, he encounters a beautiful young woman named Natalia, portrayed by Austrian-Swiss actress Maria Schell, who is also feeling isolated. Although she is initially reluctant, Natalia eventually confides in Matteo about her love for a man who has promised to return and marry her, but he ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

Alessandro Gassmann: Born to Act

Alessandro Gassmannin his directorial debut "Razzabastarda" Alessandro Gassmann is the son of the iconic Italian actor/director Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel. He was born in 1965 and grew up around cinema royalty.  He made his cinema debut in 1982 at the age of 17 in his father's autobiographical film, "Di padre in figlio." He went on to study his craft under his father's direction at the Theatre Workshop of Florence.  Vittorio Gassman was very active in theater and seemed just as comfortable on stage as he did in front of the camera. Known for his powerful interpretations of Dante's "Inferno" and "Paradiso," it is no surprise that he nurtured his son's acting aspirations on stage before he launched his career in television and film. One of Gassmann's strong qualities, which he undoubtedly inherited from his father is his incredible range and ease in going from genre to genre. He can play ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ornella Muti: Five decades of Acting and Still Going Strong

Ornella Muti was born Francesca Romana Rivelli in Rome in 1955 to a Neapolitan father and an Estonian mother. She began her career as a model during her teenage years and made her film debut in 1970 with “La Moglie più bella” (The Most Beautiful Wife).  Her follow-up role was in the 1971 film, “Sole nella pelle” (Sun on the Skin), in which she played the daughter of wealthy parents who runs off with a hippie they don’t approve of. The film offers a telling journey through Italian society in the seventies, with its political climate, breathtaking seaside, and the styles and cars of that time.  Much of the film is set amid the sunny Italian seaside and captures the innocence and beauty of first love.   Muti made her American film debut in 1980 with "Flash Gordon." She played the role of Princess Aura. She’s appeared in two other American films, including “Oscar,” directed by John Landis and starring Don Ameche, Chazz Palminteri, and Sylvester Stallone. In 1992, she w...
Post a Comment
Read more