Award to Be Presented On Opening Night of the 14^th Annual

Ischia Global Film & Music Fest (July 10^th)

Legendary five-time Grammy® award-winner Dionne Warwick has been selected to receive the 2016 Ischia Global Film and Music Festival’s 2016 ‘Ischia Legend Award,’ it was announced here today by Festival founder-producer Pascal Vicedomini. The announcement comes on the heels of the recent revelation in Cannes that a biopic about the iconic singer will be made by Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Pictures.

The award will be presented to Ms. Warwick on July 10^th as part of the Festival’s opening night festivities at the Regina Isabella Resort on this picturesque Italian isle, which is located off the coast of Naples. Running from July 10^th to the 17^th, the 14^th annual edition of the Fest is presented under the auspices of the Ischia International Arts Academy with the support of International sponsors and Italian public institutions (MIBACT, ICE, ANICA, APT).

“Dionne,” starring LeToya Luckett (one of the original members of Destiny’s Child) in the title role, is moving forward. Danny Glover will portray Warwick’s father, Mansel Warwick, Olympia Dukakis will co-star as German songstress and actress Marlene Dietrich, who mentored her. The film will span the early days of Warwick’s career from 1962 to 1968. AMBI Pictures will finance and produce the film along with Dave Wooley, a longtime friend and collaborator of Warwick's. Producers are Iervolino, Bacardi, Wooley and Jacker Binder.

“We are thrilled to be honoring the brilliant Dionne Warwick who has become a cornerstone of American pop music and culture. She is currently celebrating 50 years as an international music icon and concert act having earned more than sixty charted hit songs and sold over 100 million records,” said Vicedomini. “We are glad that she’ll be coming to Ischia to accept this prestigious award.”

Prior music industry recipients of the ‘Ischia Legend Award’ include Sting, Burt Bacharach, Harry Belafonte, Julio Iglesias, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Tim Rice, and producers Clive Davis, Jimmy Iovine and David Foster.

Dionne Warwick began singing professionally in 1961 after being discovered by the young songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. She had her first hit in 1962 with "Don't Make Me Over." Less than a decade later, she had released more than 18 consecutive Top 100 singles, including her classic Bacharach/David recordings: "Walk on By," "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "Message to Michael," "Promises Promises," "A House is Not a Home," "Alfie," "Say a Little Prayer," "This Girl's in Love With You," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Reach Out For Me," and the theme from "Valley of the Dolls." They racked up more than 30 hit singles, and close to 20 best-selling albums, during their first decade together.

Warwick received her first Grammy Award in 1968 for her mega-hit, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" and a second Grammy in 1970 for the best-selling album, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again." She became the first African-American solo female artist of her generation to win the prestigious award for Best Contemporary Female Vocalist Performance. This award was only presented to one other legend, Miss Ella Fitzgerald.

The 2016 Ischia Global Film & Music Fest is sponsored by Mibact-Dg Cinema, the Campania Region and ICE, in collaboration with ANICA, APT 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 chairperson is Kerry Kennedy. The 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.