Luchino Visconti will be remembered on July 13th by British director Stephen Frears during the annual gala of the Global Film & Music Fest, in the bay of the Colombaia, the legendary Milanese director’s Ischia residence. Italian Minister of Culture Francesco Rutelli will honor 65-year-old Frears, who has received two Oscar nominations and is president of the jury at Cannes 2007.
On the eve of the Global Fest’s debut, Minister Rutelli sent the following message: “Ischia Global is an important appointment that no one who loves show business, cinema, music and quality television can afford to miss. The festival includes an exceptional program of events and the participation of key Italian and international personalities. I would like to wish all those who contributed to the realization of Ischia Global all the success that they deserve for the best possible outcome, together with my praise and my esteem for the professionalism and the commitment shown in the choice of the artists who will receive this coveted prize.” Minister Rutelli then went on to emphasize that he particularly appreciated the social themes present this year and the fact that “for the first time an award will be presented to international works dedicated to the theme of the family.”

Numerous film and music stars will join Frears on the “green island” from July 9 to 15, including: Hilary Swank (already a two-time Oscar winner), directors Oliver Stone, Alejandro Gonzales Iñarritu, Alfonso Cuaròn, Bille August, Giuseppe Tornatore, and Emanuele Crialese, screenwriter William Monahan, actors Ben Kingsley, Laura Dern, Treat Wiliams, Ioan Gruffudd, Laura Morante, Michele Placido, and Raoul Bova, producers Aurelio De Laurentiis and Mark Canton, musicians Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, David Foster, Gustavo Santaolalla, Luis Bacalov, Sheryl Crow (directly from the Live Earth concert in London), and Julio Iglesias who tomorrow night will officially inaugurate the intense week of film and music at the Negombo with the concert promoted by Gianni e Tonino Esposito.

Chairman of the V° Global Fest is director and producer Paul Haggis, assisted by Marina Cicogna, Franco Nero and for the musical section Tony Renis. Actresses Clotilde Courau (princess of Savoy) and Anna Falchi are the godmothers of the festival. After India, China, Russia and Germany, this year’s featured country is Brazil with screenings, many protagonists to meet, and an exhibit on nineteen films from the creative movement “La Retomada”. Along with 11 absolute previews, every night the best films of the season will be featured, as well as meetings with stars, which are open to the public in the theaters of Ischia Porto and Forio d’Ischia.

The Ischia Global Fest, founded and produced by Pascal Vicedomini with the International Art Academy of Ischia and the Tourist Board of Ischia and Procida, is organized with the support of the Film Board of the Italian Minister of Culture and the Regional Ministry for Tourism of the Campania region in collaboration with Kimbo coffee, Fiuggi mineral water, and the Venice Casino, with the participation of Cinecittà Holding, and the Chamber of Commerce of Naples and Medmar.