ITALIAN-AMERICAN ACTOR ARM AND ASSANTE TO RECEIVE THE 2017 'ISCHIA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD'.   AT THE 15th ANNUAL ISCHIA GLOBAL FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL; HIS LATEST FILM, "ULUGH BEG: THE MAN WHO UNLOCKED THE UNIVERSE" NAMED THE FEST'S 'BEST DOCUMENTARY'

The Board of the Ischia International Arts Academy today announced that Italian-American actor Armand Assante ("The Lords of Flatbush," "Private Benjamin," "Gotti,") will receive the 2017 'Ischia Lifetime Achievement Award,' and that his latest film, the documentary feature, "Ulugh Beg. The Man Who Unlocked the Universe," directed by Bakhodir Yuldashev has been named 'Best Documentary."

Produced by Uzbekistan's ambassador to UNESCO, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, and her husband, Timur Tillyaev, the film traces the trials, tribulations and victories of this remarkable 15th century astronomer who ruled Transoxania, Central Asia, from 1411-1449 AD. The film also stars world-renowned actors Vincent Cassel and Francisco Ovalle, as well as Uzbek actors Maruf Otajonov, Javakhir Zakirov and Khashim Arslanov.

"The Italian-American icon Armand Assante, a four-time Golden Globe nominee and Primetime Emmy-winner, is a true acting legend," said festival founder and producer Pascal Vicedomini. "His body of work, which spans more than four decades and includes over 90 theatrical motion pictures and TV shows, includes many memorable performances alongside actors such as Sylvester Stallone, Goldie Hawn, Henry Winkler, Antonio Banderas, Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington, and others. We are pleased to be recognizing his illustrious career here in Ischia."

"We are honored to have both Mr. Assante and this historic film as key elements of our 15th annual festival," added Giancarlo Carriero, President of the Ischia International Arts Academy.

"I have been fascinated by Ulugh Beg's personality and the historical role he played ever since I was a child, and therefore the idea behind creating this film developed a long time ago. A great polymath and enlightened ruler, Ulugh Beg was an extraordinary man and it's fair to say his incredible impact and legacy reach beyond the boundaries of time and space," producer Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva said in commenting on the film.

Grandson of the conqueror Tamerlane who founded the Timurid empire, Ulugh Beg made some ground-breaking scientific discoveries, most notably in the field of astronomy. During his rule, Samarkand was transformed into the world epicenter for the most advanced studies in astronomy. The monumental observatory he built brought together some of the most prominent scholars of the time and their collaboration yielded astounding results. Ulugh Beg compiled a catalogue containing data on 1,118 stars and measured the year to within 25 seconds of its actual duration. And perhaps even more impressive, his calculation of the earth's axial tilt as 23.52 degrees is still the most accurate measurement to date.

The film features interviews with leading experts and scholars from the USA, France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Russia, Uzbekistan and the Netherlands.

The 2017 Ischia Global Film & Music Fest, which takes place on this picturesque island off the coast of Naples from July 9-16, is sponsored by Mibact-Dg Cinema and the Campania Region, in collaboration with ANICA, AMBI MEDIA GROUP, BNL-Group BNL-PARIBAS and the municipalities of the Green Island. The event will include a week of major film premieres, socially-relevant symposia, music performances, a master acting class and award ceremonies. The Festival's Honorary Board is chaired by the American producer Mark Canton and includes Oscar-winners Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo, Paul Haggis, Bille August and Luis E. Bacalov amongst others.