capri

Oscar-winning screenwriter Barry Morrow will chair the upcoming Capri Hollywood International Film Festival, which takes place over the new year on the picturesque Italian island.

The Rain Man scribe will lead activities for the annual festival, which is held during the prime period of Oscar season campaigning. This year’s fest is dedicated to the life of producer Dino De Laurentiis, who was a frequent visitor to the Blue Island.

Morrow has a long-standing relationship with Italy. He recently wrapped his directorial debut, Smitten!, in the country. The film stars Glee’s Darren Criss as a fashion exec who is kidnapped in Milan and taken to a remote Alpine village that is under a romantic spell. Madalina Ghenea and Angela Molina also star.

This year’s festival will be focused on issues of social justice and international politics. Morrow will present the Capri European Movie Award to Gianfranco Rosi for Fire at Sea, his documentary about the current refugee crisis. The film won the Golden Bear in Berlin this year and is Italy’s Oscar hopeful for best foreign-language film. Fire at Sea also is being submitted in the best documentary category.

Morrow also will preside over the festival’s “Cinema for Mercy” international short film contest, focusing on pics around the theme of mercy as a dedication to the Jubilee Year of Mercy inaugurated by Pope Francis.

“The screening of Fire at Sea, a docu-film which depicts the dramatic situation of the migrants in Lampedusa and their interaction with the heroic island inhabitants, adds to the spirit of our festival, which aims to be a place of exchange between film cultures, of opportunity for young authors as well as an important showcase of high quality movies at the height of the awards season,” fest director Pascal Vicedomini said in a statement.

Morrow won the best screenplay Oscar in 1989 along with Ronald Bass for Rain Man, which was inspired by his real-life friendship with mega-savant Kim Peek. The film won three other Oscars that year including best picture, best director and best actor for Dustin Hoffman.

ACCORDING TO ANSA:

http://www.ansa.it/campania/notizie/2016/10/23/b.morrow-oscar-chairman-capri-hollywood_aa1034ae-dff8-4aaf-a241-d7aae0aaaefc.html

CAPRI, ITALY, October XX, 2016 - Noted US screenwriter and producer Barry Morrow, who won an Academy Award® for “Rain Man,” will chair the 21st edition of ''Capri Hollywood – The International Film Festival, which will take place here from December 26, 2016 to January 2, 2017.

Deeply committed to issues of social and political interest, Morrow will present the Italian director Gianfranco Rosi with the "Capri European Movie Award" for his film "Fuocoammare," At the festival he will also preside over the jury of 'Cinema for Mercy,' a new international short film contest to be launched this year, and dedicated to the theme of 'Mercy,' a common thread that will characterize the festival as a tribute to the Jubilee inaugurated by Pope Francis.

''Barry Morrow will work alongside festival president Noa, the Israeli singer who has become a symbol of peace,” explained Pascal Vicedomini, founder and producer of Capri, Hollywood. “Their participation as well as the screening of "Fuocoammare" - a docu-film which depicts the dramatic situation of the migrants in Lampedusa, and their interaction with the heroic island inhabitants – add to the spirit of our festival which aims to be a place of exchange between film cultures, of opportunity for young authors as well as an important showcase of high quality movies at the height of the Awards season.”

Morrow’s celebrated screenplay of 'Rain Man' was inspired by the real-life story of Kim Peek, an autistic man, whom the author met while doing research for a project. The friendship between them encouraged Morrow to write his story and later, along with Ronald Bass, the script of the highly-awarded film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise and Valeria Golino.

Italy and Morrow have an long-standing affection for each other. He recently debuted as the director of "Smitten!" which he filmed there and where he received the Humitarian Award from Kerry Kennedy at the Social Cinema Forum in Ischia, which is also off the coast of Naples

The 21st edition of Capri Hollywood – the International Film Festival, which traditionally paves the way for the international awards season, will be dedicated to the iconic producer Dino De Laurentiis, who from a suburb of Naples (Torre Annunziata) set out to conquer the world, achieving global fame and establishing a profound relationship with the Blue Island.

The Festival is supported by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (D.G Cinema), the Region of Campania (Department of Tourism and Cultural Heritage), the City of Capri and the Municipality of Anacapri
www.caprihollywood.com