THIRD ANNUAL MINGHELLA FILM FESTIVAL

ISLE OF WIGHT, 11 - 13 MARCH 2011

Fans of Antonio Carluccio will be sorry to hear that unforeseen circumstances now prevent him from attending this year's Minghella Film Festival, where he had hoped to be Guest of Honour at Sunday's Big Italian Brunch party.  Signor Carluccio OBE has sent the following message: "I wish everyone at the Minghella Film Festival 2011 all the best and look forward to joining you next time. Much Love Antonio"

The happy news is that the doyenne of Italian cuisine, Anna del Conte, has kindly agreed to come along to fly the Italian flag in Signor Carluccio's place.  Celebrated by the cognoscenti, Anna del Conte has never been a TV chef and whilst not perhaps a household name, her influence on the way we eat now has been absolutely fundamental.  She was in fact credited by Nigella Lawson as being one of only two real culinary influences in her life - the other was her mother - and is one of the leading authorities on Italian cookery in the world.  Nigella says she is ‘the best writer on Italian food there is', and she should know.

The Festival brunch has completely sold out, but Ms del Conte will be at the Quay for a little while afterwards so Festival goers could will have a chance to meet her if they are coming along for other events.

The festival is hosted by members of Oscar Winner Anthony Minghella's family, in partnership with the BFI and the Isle of Wight Young Chamber.  The charitable event is in its third year and has been attended by many of Anthony's close friends and colleague's including Alan Rickman, Jude Law, Lord David Puttnam, John Hurt, Martin Freeman & Duncan Kenworthy.

www.minghellafilmfestival.com/