Capri-Hollywood to Pay Homage to 'Django' Star Franco Nero

ROME – The Capri-Hollywood Film Festival announced Monday that it would honor Italian actor Franco Nero with the Capri Legend Award, the festival’s lifetime achievement honor.

our editor recommends

Mike Figgis to Chair Italy's Capri-Hollywood Film Fest

'Django Unchained' Trailer 2

Extended 'Django Unchained' Trailer Set for Tuscany's Lucca Movie Event

The Dec. 26-Jan. 2 festival will take place just after the Dec. 25 world premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, inspired by Sergio Corbucci’s 1966 Spaghetti Western classic Django, which starred Nero in the lead role. The 71-year-old Nero has a smaller role in Tarantino's film. Jamie Foxx plays the title role in newer film.

STORY: Hollywood Film Awards to Honor Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' Screenplay

The original Django was one of the most important films in Italy's Spaghetti Western genre, and Tarantino’s Django Unchained was reportedly scheduled to premiere at the International Rome Film Festival last month in a nod to its Italian roots. But the premiere did not materialize, at least in part because it was not finished in time. Now, the film is scheduled to premiere in Italy Jan. 17, three weeks after the U.S. premiere.

In addition to Django, Nero has acted in nearly 200 other films and television series, including the role of Sir Lancelot in Joshua Logan’s 1967 version of Camelot, Luis Buñuel’s Tristana from 1970, the role of fashion icon Gianni Versace in The Versace Murder from 1998, and he even had a part in 1990 action flick Die Hard 2.

Pascal Vicedomini, founder and artistic director of the Capri-Hollywood Film Festival said that Nero, and his wife, actress Vanessa Redgrave, will be on hand for the honor, which will include a full screening of Django, as well as an extended eight-minute trailer for Django Unchained. Vicedomini said Nero has been a long-standing backer of the 17-year-old Capri-Hollywood festival.

VIDEO: 'Django Unchained': Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx Face Off in New Trailer

Tony Petruzzi, president of the Capri in the World Institute, praised Nero’s talents in a statement.

“It’s no accident that a genius like Tarantino has always admired [Nero], wanted to meet him and involve him in his project,” Petruzzi said.

The festival previously announced it would honor Italian comic actor Paolo Virzi. The full lineup for the Capri-Hollywood event will be announced Dec. 20.