Numerous & prestigious guests at Ischia Global Film Festival 2008

Giancarlo Giannini, Rosario Dawson, Gael Garcia Bernal, Joely Richardson, Rodrigo Santoro, Jason Lewis, Dolph Lundgren, Giuliano Gemma, Elsa Zylberstein will join Joaquin Cortes, Trudy Styler, Andrea Griminelli, Claire Danes, Matt Dillon, Paul Haggis, Terrence Howard, Val Kilmer, Silvio Muccino, Michele Placido, Vanessa Redgrave, Fisher Stevens, Treat Williams and Stevens Zaillian. at the 6th Ischia Global Film & Music Fest which will take place from July 13th to 20th on the magnificent Green Island.

Among the numerous guests who have already accepted the invitation to attend the most highly anticipated event of worldwide cinema, we mention directors Bille August, Mimmo Calopresti, Pappi Corsicato, Alfonso Cuaron, Terry Gilliam, Vincenzo Marra, Carlo Gabriel Nero, Michael Radford, Lina Wertmuller, together with the authors Iris Yamashita, Marcello Garofalo, Federico Moccia and Valerio Massimo Manfredi, actors Armand Assante, Ambra Angiolini, Nancy Brilli, Carlo Buccirosso, Yvonne Catterfeld, Antonio Cupo, Piera degli Espositi, Ida di Benedetto, Anna Falchi, Pell James, Freddy Highmore, Sabrina Impacciatore, Randy Ingerman, Enrico Lo Verso, Valeria Marini, Dan McVicar, Matthew Modine, Gigi Proietti, Giuliano Depandi and Bill Rancic, Isabella Ragonese, Lina Sastri, Martina Stella. For music Oscar-winning composer Luis E. Bacalov together with Pino Daniele, Ron, Matia Bazar, Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, Andrea Mingardi and Gigi D’Alessio.

For the second year, the chairman of the event will be film director and producer Paul Haggis supported by Marina Cicogna, Franco Nero and – for the music section - Tony Renis whereas actress and film producer Maria Grazia Cucinotta will host the event.

This year’s edition will launch a new project to help international film productions in Italy: the Global Production Summit that will involve many of the most influential film producers in the world. Among those who have already announced their participation in the panel, we mention Lawrence Bender (President A Band a Part), Michael Burns (vice-chairman Lions Gate Films), Mark Canton (co-chairman & CEO Atmosphere Entertainment MM), Aurelio De Laurentiis (Filmauro), Daniel Frigo (Buena Vista), Nicola Giuliano (Indigo Film), Ryan Kavanaugh (CEO Relativity Media), Yukie Kito (Entertainment Farm), Avi Lerner (president Nu Image), Mike Nozik (Serenade Films), Valerio De Paolis (BIM Distribuzioni), Ben Siverman (NBC Universal Tv), Pietro Valsecchi (Tao Films). And also Richard Borg (Universal), Paolo del Brocco (Rai Cinema), Luciano Sovena (Luce), Osvaldo de Santis (Fox), Matilde Bernabei (Lux Vide), Paul Zonderland (Diseny), Gian Andrea Pecorelli (Aurora Films), Ida di Benedetto (Titania), Maurizio Totti (Colorado) and many others.

Among the main activities taking place at Regina Isabella in Lacco Ameno:

1) the Social Cinema Forum – Respecting Human Rights. Chaired by screenwriter and film director Steven Zaillian (Oscar winner with Schindler’s List), the Forum is promoted by the United Nations through Unric (the United Nations Regional Information Centre) in co-operation with the Research and Study Centre on Human Rights of the Luiss University (directed by Sebastiano Maffettone). The Forum is intended to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the “Chart of Human Rights” on the eve of the Beijing Olympic Games.

2) The World Script Market – Chaired by Lina Wertmuller it will welcome film writers Iris Yamashita (an Oscar nominee for the screenplay of “Letters from Iwo Jima” by Clint Eastwood), Fisher Stevens (Usa), Alfonso Cuaron (Mex), Micheal Radford (U.K.), Federico Moccia, Pappi Corsicato, Marcello Garofalo and the author Valerio Massimo Manfredi

3) The Movie Educational Seminar – Promoted in co-operation with the Consulta Universitaria del Cinema and Cinecittà Holding and chaired by film director Michael Radford, it will also involve film directors Mike Figgis, Carlo Gabriel Nero, and the actors Treat Williams (Usa) and Lina Sastri.

The event, produced by Pascal Vicedomini is organized in association with Azienda Cura, Soggiorno e Turismo “Isole di Ischia e Procida” and Accademia Internazionale Arte Ischia, with the support of the General Directorate of Cinema – Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities and of the Tourism Department of the Regione Campania, with the co-operation of Caffé Kimbo, Acqua Minerale Fiuggi and Casinò di Venezia and the participation of Chamber of Commerce of Naples and Medmar.

After India, China, Russia, Germany and Brazil, the Ischia Global Fest 2008 will welcome Japan that will land on the island with film screenings, meetings and two photo exhibitions that will be held at Museo Angelo Rizzoli – Villa Arbusto (Lacco Ameno) and at Museo Torrione (Forio d’Ischia), thanks to the moral support of the Japanese Embassy in Rome and of the Institute of Japanese Culture in Italy.

The event will also include several international premieres, a retrospective on the best Italian films of the past season, concerts, awarding ceremonies and meetings with the stars and the audience in the movie theaters of Ischia Porto and Forio as well as in the spectacular arena prepared at the Regina Isabella bay.

But, the doors of the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest 2008 have opened one month before the official opening when, on June 15th, the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest WebTV will start its programming.