The Taormina Film Festival, in partnership with the Golden Globes and Artemis Rising Foundation, announced that Golden Globe-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore will receive the Golden Globes Prize for Documentary in partnership with Artemis Rising Foundation for his film Brunello: The Gracious Visionary, about entrepreneur Brunello Cucinelli, at the 72nd Taormina Film Festival, which will run June 10-14.

The award ceremony will take place in the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. The prize recognizes a documentary filmmaker whose work demonstrates exceptional creative merit and the potential to inspire positive social change.

“We are delighted and deeply honored that an international award as important and prestigious as the Golden Globes has chosen Taormina for this special occasion,” said Tiziana Rocca, artistic director of the Taormina Film Festival. “Hosting the presentation of such a significant award to a master of cinema like Giuseppe Tornatore is a source of great pride for us and confirms our Festival’s central role in the international film scene.”

Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes, added, “We are honored to partner with the Taormina Film Festival and Artemis Rising Foundation to recognize Giuseppe Tornatore, a filmmaker whose work has had a profound impact on audiences around the world. Brunello: The Gracious Visionary reflects his continued dedication to storytelling that is both visually compelling and deeply human. We are proud to celebrate his contributions to documentary filmmaking at this year’s festival.”

Regina K. Scully, founder and CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation, said, “What a thrill it is to lift up the art and craft of Giuseppe Tornatore. His signature Cinema Paradiso and pioneering Dolce & Gabbana short films starring Sophia Loren have left a generational imprint, capturing the essence of Italian heritage and beauty for audiences around the world. We are proud to recognize his documentary of another Italian design legend, Brunello Cucinelli.”

Tornatore won a Golden Globe and many other awards for Cinema Paradiso (1988). He is the creator of films acclaimed for their visual elegance and emotional power, such as Malèna (2000), Baarìa (2009), and The Best Offer (2013). The awarding of this prize underscores the value of his work and his contribution to contemporary cinema. With Brunello: The Gracious Visionary, Tornatore crafts a portrait that seamlessly blends narrative sensitivity with human depth, reaffirming his status as one of the most authoritative and recognizable voices in world cinema.

The 2026 documentary chronicles the life of Brunello Cucinelli, a humanist entrepreneur who has united work and philosophy. Blending documentary and fiction, the film retraces the key places and moments of Cucinelli’s life, through testimonies, archival footage, and personal memories. It is a work that explores the value of beauty, ethics, and dreams.

The Taormina Film Festival is organized by Fondazione Taormina Arte Sicilia, directly promoted by Assessorato del Turismo, dello Sport e dello Spettacolo of the Sicilian Region, with the support of the Ministry of Culture – Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual Affairs, and under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism.

As a premier entertainment awards show since 1944, the annual Golden Globes honors achievements in television, film and podcasting. Over the last three decades, the Golden Globes has enabled donations of more than $55 million to entertainment-related charities including scholarship programs, film restoration projects and humanitarian efforts. This funding has also supported diverse programs in partnership with advocacy groups aimed at promoting greater access in Hollywood for underserved communities. Dick Clark Productions is the owner and producer of the Golden Globes. For more information on the Golden Globes, please visit GoldenGlobes.com and follow them on X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and TikTok.

Artemis Rising Foundation is dedicated to supporting media, arts and education projects that transform our culture. Regina K. Scully champions powerful stories about challenging issues with compassion including trauma recovery, mental health, addiction, regenerative farming and other important ecological issues concerning clean soil, seeds and food. Artemis Rising Foundation has helped produce some of the most impactful documentary films of our time, inspiring changes in education, public policy, and culture with such award-winning films such as What Would Sophia Loren Do? The Biggest Little Farm, The Fantastic Fungi, The Invisible War, All the Empty Rooms, Fed Up, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Comon Ground, Kiss the Ground, Bee Wild and Groundswell, 

The Foundation has worked with renowned filmmakers, including Morgan Neville, Katie Couric, Ross Kauffman, Louie Schwartzberg, Freida Mock, Liz Garbus, Amy Ziering, Josh and Rebecca Tickell, Laura Dern and Alex Gibney. Artemis Rising Foundation has supported hundreds of films, many Peabody, Emmy and Academy Award-winning. Artemis Rising Foundation supports documentaries, narrative film, television, theater, education, and sustainable regenerative farming that inspire innovation and change around the world. The Foundation can be reached on Instagram here and the Foundation film website here.