Jonas Carpignano - H 2015
Getty ImagesItalian-American director Jonas Carpignano will be honored with the Capri Hollywood Rising Star Award for his latest film A Ciambra, which is Italy’s submission for consideration for the best foreign-language film Oscar. Carpignano will present a special screening of the movie at the upcoming 22nd edition of the festival.
A Ciambra won best European movie at Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes, and Carpignano is also up for an Independent Spirit Award for best director. Martin Scorsese is executive producer of the film.
A Ciambra stars 14-year-old Pio Amato and his entire Romani family, following him on his rocky road to adulthood after he tries to prop up the family when his father and brother are sent to jail.
Carpignano developed a unique style of filmmaking after moving to Gioia Tauro in Calabria, filming non-actors in fictional versions of their own life stories. A Ciambra is the second film in a triptych, after Mediterranea. His third film will focus on an Italian family, with the same characters acting as threads throughout the films.
“The Capri in the World Institute is presenting the Rising Star Award to this amazing and groundbreaking work by Carpignano, for a film that has been praised by the international media and that will be representing Italy for Academy Award consideration,” Lina Wertmuller, Capri Hollywood’s honorary president, said in a statement.
“Italian filmmakers are highly appreciated in the United States as it is obvious from the Spirit Awards nominations received by Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name and A Ciambra,” said the festival’s founder Pascal Vicedomini. “We are pleased to contribute to spreading the word about Italian cinema to the world through our two back-to-back festivals of Capri Hollywood and Los Angeles, Italia.”
It also was announced that Cinderella the Cat will receive the Capri Hollywood Award for best European animated film, Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of My Life will receive best documentary honors and Trudie Styler will receive the festival’s Person of the Year honor.
Capri Hollywood Fest is set to run Dec. 27-Jan. 2. This year’s edition is dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor.
