TORONTO – The 70th edition of the David di Donatello Awards were hosted at the iconic Teatro 5 in Cinecittà, this past Wednesday. The evening was hosted by actress Elena Sofia Ricci and musician Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., aka Mika. Ricci herself is a Donatello winner, having won the prize for Best Supporting Actress In 1988 – for her role in Carlo Verdone’s Io e Mia Sorella. Mika, whose music career launched with his 2007 pop anthem “Grace Kelly”, won over the Italian public as the first international mentor invited to the Italian X-Factor in 2014.
The beloved duo not only befitted the classy ceremony, but were likely chosen to compliment the evening’s honorees. Veteran filmmaker Pupi Avati, who helped to launch Ricci’s career in 1984 with his film Impiegati, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. While legendary emotive singer Riccardo Cocciante, who like Mika has produced French albums, graced the stage with his trademark powerful vocals.
Avati also didn’t waste the opportunity to turn his acceptance speech into a plea to the Italian government: “The Italian cinema is in code red, it is experiencing a terrible moment and until we establish a dedicated agency or ministry for cinema like in France, we won’t save it”. Avati is referring to a decreased government investment in film and television, and complicated regulations, such as a ban on product placement.
Another Honoree on the night was American A-Lister Timothée Chalamet, who was awarded the “David Special Award”, a special recognition given to prominent figures in Italian cinema. While Chalamet isn’t Italian, his career was launched in Italy under the stewardship of Luca Guadagnino in the Best Picture nominated Call Me By Your Name. “Luca is probably the most important person in my career,” said Chalamet.
“I started out as a 20-year-old kid from New York who was having a hard time breaking out in the American film industry,” Chalamet said. “My career happened overnight thanks to Luca Guadagnino and the chance he took on me playing in an Italian movie”. Chalamet earned a Best Actor nomination for the role in 2017, making him the third youngest nominee ever to achieve it – at 22 yrs of age.
Like Avati, Chalamet also used his speech to address something dear to his heart. His ardent fanatism for AS Roma. “If I hadn’t pursued my dream of acting, I probably would have broken Francesco Totti’s scoring record”, he jokingly proclaimed at the iconic Roman venue. “I have no familial bloodline that runs through Italy. I’m not related to anyone here, but I feel a deep connection to the cinema community here”, he added.
The night was especially fruitful for female talent as women dominated the evening’s awards. And there was no bigger winner than the Oscar snubbed Maura Delpero whose Vermiglio won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Producer, Best Cinematography, Best Casting and Best Screenplay. The Best Adapted Screenplay also went to Valeria Golino, Francesca Marciano, Valia Santella, Luca Infascelli and Stefano Sardo for Art of Joy. Francesca Mannocchi won Best Documentary for Lirica Ucraina.
Image of Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner courtesy of Vittorio Zunino Celloto; image of Timothee Chalamet on stage courtesy of Rai 1
Massimo Volpe is a filmmaker and freelance writer from Toronto: he writes reviews of Italian films/content on Netflix