The 7th Annual Sicilian Film Festival Announces 2012 Winners

     Miami – The 7th Sicilian Film Festival announced its award recipients on Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 at an elegant and start-studded closing  part at Villa Viscuso, located in Miami Beach.

   This year’s festival was very well attended by Miami residents and film professionals.  Along with the excellent films screened at the new Miami Beach Cinematheque, which has truly flowered at its new location, the many exciting social events contributed to its success.  The festival shined spotlights on the films of Cuba and Turkey.  This is what Salvo Bitoni, the creative director for the festival had to say:  “This year’s selection was about Miami as a melting pot”.

     The guest of honor at the closing event was Franco Nero, a coveted actor and also a director in his own right.  He accepted this year’s Special Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his wife, Venessa Redgrave.

     The recepient of the awards were announced by by Emanuele Viscuso, the president of the Sicilian Film Festival, and Salvo Bitoni, its creative director.

THE AUDIENCE AWARD
The Audience Award goes to Ferzan Ozpetek for Loose Canons (Mine Vaganti).

BEST DIRECTOR
The Best Director Award goes to Francesco Maselli, Carlo Lizzani, Ugo Gregoretti and Nino Ruso for Shock (Scossa).

 BEST ACTRESS
The award for Best Actress goes to Tilda Swinton for I am Love (Io Sono l’Amore), Luca Guadagnino’s movie.

BEST ACTOR The award for best actor goes to Treat Williams for Martino’s Summer (L’Estate di Martino). “We are very happy to have had the producer of Martino’s Summer, Mario Mazzaroto at the festival,” remarked the president of the festival Emanuele Viscuso, unfortunately had to leave this morning.

BEST MOVIE The award for best movie goes to Massimo Natale for Martino’s Summer (L’Estate di Martino).

SPECIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Venessa Redgrave

Martino’s Summer emerged as the clear winner of the festival and the producer, Mario Mazzaroto, accepted the honour.