By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 2/19/25 – The 10th edition of Filming Italy Los Angeles kicked off on February 19 at the Directors Guild of America, running until February 22. The festival, founded by Tiziana Rocca, aims to strengthen the cultural bridge between Italy and the United States by showcasing Italian filmmakers and audiovisual works.
The opening day featured notable guests, including Marco Perego in conversation with his wife, Oscar nominee Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez), and Alec Baldwin. Director Gabriele Muccino also attended for the premiere of his film Here Now.
The festival, chaired this year by actor Dolph Lundgren, continues to attract major international stars. Over the years, it has welcomed talents such as Giancarlo Giannini, Rosario Dawson, Monica Bellucci, Oliver Stone, Spike Lee, and David Cronenberg.
Honoring achievements in film and entertainment, this year’s event recognized The Holdovers Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph with the Women in Power Award, actor Carlo Diehz (Conclave) with the Best Actor Award, and Billy Zane for Waltzing with Brando. Producer Tarak Ben Ammar was honored for his career contributions, and actress Abigail Cowen received the Rising Star Award. Other attendees included Valeria Golino (The Morning Show), singer Arisa, and actress Diana Del Bufalo, the festival’s Godmother.
The festival also marked the 20th anniversary of The Pursuit of Happyness with a special tribute featuring its director, Gabriele Muccino. Additionally, the Oscar-nominated short Dovecote, directed by Marco Perego and starring Zoe Saldana, was screened.
Tiziana Rocca, one of the few female film festival directors globally, emphasized the festival’s role in promoting Italian cinema and fostering opportunities for filmmakers seeking international distribution. “Reaching ten years is an important milestone. The festival has built an essential partnership between Italy and Los Angeles, giving visibility to many artists and their work.”
