The Italian Institute of Culture will honor famed actress Gina Lollobrigida and fellow countrymen, Monica Bellucci during their Filming in Italy event January 31 thru February 2, in Beverly Hills. Filming in Italy is a three day cultural event designed to promote Italy as a cinematic set. The IIC (Italian Institute of Culture) Creativity awards are to be awarded during the event as a recognition for the excellence the two ladies have provided in the world of entertainment. During the corse of the three days, Filming on Italy will further celebrate Bellucci with a screening of the movie Malena by Giuseppe Tornatore, which was the film that made the style and beauty icon an international star. There will also be a US premiere of Bellucci's latest film, On the Milky Road by Emir Kusturica. It seems only fitting that one beautiful Italian, international star should be on hand to celebrate the other. After all, if it were for ladies like Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren paving the way years before, Bellucci might never have come to the attention of American audiences.
The Filming in Italy general director Tiziana Rocca said, “We are delighted to celebrate and honor Monica Bellucci and Gina Lollobrigida’s careers, two truly international artists. Here in the US, Monica has worked with so many great directors and actors, playing several roles and we can say that she is one of the few Italian actresses capable to act in many languages. [And] Gina is simply a legend.” As well as being a legend, the diminutive actress was, while in her prime, referred to as "the most beautiful woman in the world". A look at just a few of her films, such as Trapeze, Solomon and Sheba, and Come September will support such a grand, but certainly true, statement.
Filming on Italy in Los Angeles was created by Agnus Dei Tiziana Rocca, in cooperation with the Italian Institute of Culture Los Angeles director Valeria Rumori, and is made possible by the patronage of the the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles Antonio Verde, with the support of the Cinema Direction MiBACT.The IIC Creativity award itself is an original design, inspired by the roman Pantheon roof, made by Emilio Cavallini, a stylist and artist of international renown.