Sophia Loren

Friday, October 19----------Even though Queen Elizabeth is in town (not the real royal but the one played by Cate Blanchett in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE), and despite the fact that such industry heavyweights as Francis Ford Coppolla, Sidney Lumet and Tom Cruise are somewhere here in the Eternal City for screenings of their films this weekend, all eyes will be on Sophia tonight.....Sophia Loren that is. The iconic actress will walk the Red Carpet in advance of the screening of a new documentary film SOPHIA: IERI, OGGI, DOMANI directed by Massimo Ferrari, which has its world premiere screening tonight. Loren will then participate in an on-stage discussion of her 50 year career in both Italian and Hollywood cinema, recalling her favorite directors and leading men, and the influences that have sustained her as the only international actress ever to win an Oscar in a film not done in English (of course, TWO WOMEN in 1961).

The film highlights the most significant stages in Sophia Loren's career: from Rome to Hollywood, collecting two Academy Awards along the way. The documentary features a moving exclusive interview with Sophia herself and a large swathe of iconographic documentation with images from the Istituto Luce collection and excerpts of her most momentous performances. Finally, a number of interviews with other remarkable figures from Italian cinema (Dino Risi, Mario Monicelli, Lina Wertmuller and Francesco Rosi) contribute to a complete, multi-layered portrait of Italy's most well-known actress around the world. At the end of the special tribute, Loren will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Festival, in honor of her contributions to world cinema. This will be an unmissable moment of old Hollywood glamour.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor