Editor

Actress Vanessa Redgrave and director Bille August announced their participation in the Social Cinema Forum of Ischia devoted to “human rights” that will be held from July 13th to 20th within the 6th Global Film & Music Fest of Ischia. The event, supported by the United Nations through UNRIC – the United Nations Regional Information Centre- will be officially presented during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival at Spazio Italia on May 22nd. Mrs Redgrave, who has always been in the forefront as a political and humanitarian issues activist, will be the recipient of the Social Legend Award from the Campania Region. The awarding ceremony will take place on the occasion of the screening of Wake up World, a docu-film on poverty-stricken and abused children directed by the son of the actress, Carlo Gabriel Nero.
The legendary English actress winner of an Academy Award and the Danish screenplayer, author of 'Goodbye Bafana' (film on the detention of Nelson Mandela), join company with film directors Paul Haggis and Steven Zaillian, and with the Afro-American singer-actor Harry Belafonte who have already announced their participation, and confirm the growing enthusiasm expressed by the leading stars of the show-biz for an event that aims at celebrating the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the “Human Rights Chart” with a deep meditation and meeting of different cultures, on the eve of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Promoted by the ‘Accademia Internazionale Arte Ischia’ in association with the Research and Study Centre on Human Rights of the Luiss University (directed by Sebastiano Maffettone) “Respecting Human Rights” also includes a competition of new short films, video clips and commercials (www.socialcinemaforum.com).
The jury made up of international artists will be chaired by Steven Zaillian (recipient of an Academy Award for the screenplay of Schindler’s List) whereas his colleague Paul Haggis (winner of an Academy Award for the film Crash) will be, once again, the chairman of the event.
After India, China, Russia, Germany and Brazil, the Ischia Global Fest 2008 will welcome Japan that will land on the island with film screenings, exhibitions and many Japanese artists to be met during the events that will take place in the most beautiful squares of the island and in the movie theatres of Forio and Ischia Porto. Another contribution to the success of the most anticipated show-biz event of next summer will come from the new “master of ceremonies” of the Global Fest, Jason Weinberg (one of the most renowned managers of Hollywood talents) who is already working beside the “historical pillars” of the Accademia, who are Marina Cicogna, Franco Nero and – for music - Tony Renis. The event is organised in association with the Azienda Cura, Soggiorno e Turismo “Isole di Ischia e Procida” and with the support of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Assets of the Campania Region and of the Cinema Department of the Italian Ministry of Culture. Among the first sponsors who have announced their support to the Global Fest 2008, there are Caffé Kimbo, Acqua Minerale Fiuggi, Casinò di Venezia and Medmar.